Utley takes some grounders at third

HOUSTON -- Chase Utley took some groundballs at third base again before Friday's game, but manager Charlie Manuel doesn't expect to play Utley at the hot corner in the stretch run.

"Not right now," Manuel said. "Sooner or later, I'll talk to him and see where he's at."

Manuel did say that he wouldn't be surprised if Utley improved defensively at third base very quickly. He's been taking grounders at third for a couple weeks now.

"He'll work until he gets it," Manuel said.

Utley has never played at third base in his 10-year Major League career. He did play 123 games at third base in 2002 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, making 28 errors.