Howard day to day with left knee injury
Franco could take live BP Wednesday; Altherr has bruised right elbow
PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard hobbled out of Citizens Bank Park on crutches Monday night.
He left with a bruised left knee, but the knee got worse, and he checked into the emergency room a few hours later to have it drained.
"That doesn't look good," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said before Tuesday night's game against the Nationals.
Mackanin said Howard is day to day, but he acknowledged that day to day "could be eight days from now."
Darin Ruf is expected to play regularly at first base while Howard is sidelined.
Other health updates:
• Third baseman Maikel Franco could take live batting practice Wednesday. If that goes well, he could head to Clearwater, Fla., Wednesday night or Thursday morning to face live pitching. If Franco, who has been sidelined since Aug. 12 with a broken left wrist, has no setbacks, he could rejoin the team next week in Miami.
"If he's 100 percent, he'll be back," Mackanin said.
• Outfielder Aaron Altherr has a bruised right elbow. He is available to pinch-run. Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon hit Altherr with a pitch Monday.
"There's a little bit of a mobility issue," Mackanin said about Altherr's elbow. "There's no structural damage. He's stiff and sore."