Manager Pete Mackanin confirmed Friday that Howard will open the year in a platoon with Darin Ruf at first base, Corey Seidman of CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard will start at first on Opening Day for the Phillies, but will sit in their second game Wednesday against the Reds. He will get the majority of the at-bats since he is on the strong side of the platoon. Howard had an .802 OPS and 20 home runs in 367 at-bats against right handed pitching last season.

Manager Pete Mackanin said that Howard will start at first base on Opening Day against the Reds, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mackanin would not confirm that Howard would also open the year in a platoon at first base with Darin Ruf, but that remains the expectation. The question is how much will Ruf play. Howard is in the final year of his contract and the Phillies are looking to the future. It would make sense to give Ruf more opportunity beyond just facing lefties, but Mackanin has yet to give any indication that is in the cards. Howard proved last season he can still be productive against right handed pitching with an .802 OPS and 20 home runs in 367 at-bats.

Howard went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the spring Thursday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

The home run is notable because it came off lefty Matt Moore. Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard will open the year in a platoon with Darin Ruf at first base if he does not show improvement against lefties. Thus far this spring, Howard is 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, one strikeout and no walks against lefties. It's a small sample size, but if Howard keeps it up he might be able to open the year with a chance for some additional at-bats. He has hit just .184 with 22 home runs against lefties since the start of the 2012 season.

Manager Pete Mackanin said that Howard (illness) will start Friday's game against the Braves as the designated hitter, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard has been sidelined since Saturday with the flu, but it appears he has finally healed enough to get into game action in some capacity. Depending on how well he feels after Friday's bout, he could return to first base sometime over the weekend.

Howard will likely miss the next two games due to the flu, CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard was pulled from Friday's game when he started feeling ill. He is unavailable Saturday and manager Pete Mackanin said he may miss Sunday's game as well.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard (knee) will be platooned at first base if he does not show signs of improvement against left handed pitchers this spring, CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard hit just .130 with a .418 OPS and 40 strikeouts against lefties last season. It seems unlikely that Howard will finally overcome his difficulties with lefties this spring. A more likely scenario has Howard opening the season in a platoon with Darin Ruf. That would continue the approach Mackanin took starting last August. Ruf hit .371 with 8 home runs and a 1.107 OPS against lefties last season.

Howard (knee) has filed a defamation lawsuit against Al Jazeera network, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Al Jazeera ran a report last month that said Howard and other professional athletes used the performance-enhancing substance Delta 2. Howard denies using Delta 2 or any performance-enhancing substance banned by MLB.

An investigative documentary which will air Sunday on Al Jazeera alleges that Howard (knee) received human growth hormones from a Texas-based pharmacist, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard has denied he has used HGH. The claim that Howard and other professional athletes received HGH is based on statements Charlie Sly, a pharmacist who once worked at an anti-aging clinic in Indiana, made and were recorded without his knowledge. Sly has since recanted his story.

Manager Pete Mackanin said he has not yet decided if Howard (knee) will enter next season as a platoon player at first base, CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mackanin started to sit Howard against lefties last August. Continuing that approach makes sense given Howard's struggles against lefties. The Phillies remain interested in trading Howard, but have been unable to find a trade partner. It seems likely Howard will open next season in a platoon with Darin Ruf at first base for the Phils.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard (knee) will not play again this season, the CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard has been out since Sept. 14 when he took a throw off his left knee. The knee is basically healthy at this point, but Howard has not faced pitching in weeks, so the Phils have opted to shut him down. He finishes the year hitting .229/.277/.443 with 23 home runs in 467 at-bats.