Phillies Notes: Help Could be on the Way

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. confirmed Thursday that Cole Hamels might only need two more rehab starts.

The Phillies ace lefty allowed two runs over four innings on Sunday in a rehab start with High-A Clearwater.  He is slated to make his next start tomorrow and then again on April 17.

It sounds like April 22 could be the target date for activation.  Jonathan Pettibone will start tomorrow against the Marlins - it's the first time the Phillies have needed a fifth starter with Hamels unavailable

The Phillies bullpen could be getting a lift, that's because set-up man Mike Adams could be activated from the disabled list Monday. Adams is working his way back from off-season shoulder and hernia operations, has made three appearances with Class A Clearwater and is schedule to throw tomorrow at Lehigh Valley.

Also a possible help to the bullpen could be coming from Ethan Martin, who is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today.  Martin was forced to begin the season on the disabled list after being diagnosed with a strained right shoulder capsule during spring training - the Phillies announced he will be used strictly as a reliever after starting games last season for the Phillies.

So if the Phillies add these two bullpen arms, who would be the odd men out?  Most likely Brad Lincoln, B.J. Rosenberg or Jeff Manship  at this point.

The Phillies bench could also be getting a lift.

The Phillies are hopeful that Darin Ruf will begin baseball activities early next week.  Ruf landed on the disabled list after suffering a strained left oblique toward the end of spring training.  The original time table was 4-6 weeks, so the Phillies hope he could be back by the end of the month.

The addition of Ruf could allow the Phillies to use him at first base against tough lefties, it also should give the Phillies much more right-handed power off-the-bench.

And utility man Freddy Galvis could be activated as soon as today.  Galvis suffered a staph infection in his leg late in spring training and was later diagnosed with MRSA, but he has made it through two minor league rehab games without incident.

There is a good chance Galvis could be used in a starting role, playing multiple positions, one day starting at thrid, the next at short and the following at second base giving  Cody Asche, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley days off in the process.