Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg gave struggling first baseman Ryan Howard the night off Wednesday against the Mets, per MLB.com.
Howard went 0 for 3 on Tuesday, starting the season mired in a 4-for-27 slump. He has three doubles, 10 strikeouts and no walks in seven games. He also started the year on a 4-for-27 drought in 2013.