6 Ryan Howard, 1B

The Phillies have reached a point with Ryan Howard's knee where they don't know whether he is available to play each day until he reaches the park. Manager Charlie Manuel told the News Journal Tuesday he had to check with Howard after writing his name into the lineup against the Nationals.

"If he’s hurting, I'll talk to him when he gets here," Manuel said hours before the game. "I might have to change my lineup."

Manuel also admitted that Howard's left knee has been a big part of his struggles this season; Howard has just eight home runs, including just two in the last 131 at-bats.

"In Ryan's situation, to use his strength and quick swing, the back side is definitely important," Manuel said. "Push off and balance is what counts. How much it bothers him, I guess he tells us by the way he plays. I've seen where he hasn’t used his legs for quite a while."

Howard has been replaced for pinch runners and defensive replacements at many points this season, and Manuel does not seem to know if that will change moving forward. Howard is hitting .274 with a .784 OPS, the second-lowest mark of his career. 

Known for providing power and not much else, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has put up some curious numbers over his last seven games. Not only has he compiled a .462 batting average on 12 hits, but of those 12 hits, only three are for extra bases, including a homer.

It's as if he's stopped caring how far he hits the ball and just hits it. He basically said as much after Monday night's game against the Nationals.

"I've been trying to put together some good at-bats and let the power come when it comes," Howard said.

Maybe that's just a throwaway explanation for one of the many oddball trends that inevitable result when you reduce 162 games down to just a handful -- in fact, that's probably the case -- but I'm curious to see what comes next. Howard's power numbers aren't up to snuff, but if he's able to compensate with a higher-than-usual batting average, he'll still be a useful corner infielder or utility player in mixed leagues.

Right now, his .274 batting average would be his fourth-best mark for a full season.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit his first home run of June as part of a 3-for-3 performance Monday against the Nationals. He also walked and drove in two runs.

Howard has posted three straight multi-hit efforts while going 7 for 11 over the last three days. He's 18 for 52 in June to raise his average to .274 in 237 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hasn't hit a home run since May 29.

Howard is actually hitting .306 during June, but is still looking for his first long-ball of the month. Howard got off to a hot start this year, clubbing six home runs through his first 32 games of the season. He's slowed down since.

Howard is hitting .265/.314/.440 in 234 at-bats. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard had a pair of hits in Tuesday's loss to Minnesota.

Howard finished 2 for 4 with an RBI. Even though he clearly hasn't been himself since returning from an Achilles injury last year -- he's hitting just .236/.296/.429 in 131 games -- he's still averaging 108 RBI per 162 games played.