Phillies' Ryan Howard: Gets the start Monday

Howard will start at first base and bat cleanup Monday against the Nationals, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports.

Howard will get what will be just his second start in the last eight games for the Phillies, as Tommy Joseph continues to see the majority of the starts at first base. A .154 batting average and 33.1 percent strikeout rate has made Howard more of an offensive liability in the early parts of 2016, so Monday's move doesn't necessarily mean he'll be in line for more playing time any time soon.