After rainout and off-day, Phils shuffle rotation

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies shuffled their rotation this week after being rained out on Wednesday and an off-day on Thursday, which resulted in Kyle Kendrick's next start being pushed back to Monday against the Blue Jays.

Kendrick (0-2, 3.52 ERA) was scheduled to start against the Mets on Wednesday, but the game was postponed and management decided to skip the right-hander and keep this weekend's rotation against the Nationals the same: Cliff Lee on Friday, A.J. Burnett on Saturday and Cole Hamels on Sunday. Roberto Hernandez will start Tuesday against Toronto.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg explained the decision on Friday, saying he wanted to keep his top three starters on a normal routine before things get complicated again in two weeks with a two-game series against the Angels sandwiched between off-days on May 12 and 15.

"Just played it out for about three weeks to see how that would look because in about two weeks we have the same scenario with an off-day Monday and another one on Thursday," Sandberg said. "But the biggest thing was to keep as many guys on schedule and on track as possible. I like the way that KK [Kendrick] has pitched up until now. But it was a matter of having Lee pitch on his sixth day and Burnett on his sixth day and then Cole will stay on his fifth day this first time through, up until the next two days off that we have. So it kept more guys on track."

Entering Friday's series opener, Phillies starters had yet to be credited with a win in 10 games at Citizens Bank Park despite a collective 3.72 ERA.