As expected, Brandon Phillips is not in the Cincinnati Reds lineup today as the club wraps up a three-game series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.
The Reds' Gold Glove second baseman left last night's 2-0 win in the eighth inning after being hit on the left forearm by a Tony Watson pitch.
Phillips was replaced by Cesar Izturis, who is starting at second base today and batting eighth. Manager Dusty Baker moved right fielder Jay Bruce up to Phillips' customary cleanup spot in the order.
Phillips told reporters in Pittsburgh he initially feared the arm was broken, but X-rays came back negative.
"He got me good," Phillips said. "When he hit me, I thought it was broke for sure. That was the first thing that hit my mind. It made one of those sounds. I was like, 'Oh man, I think I might be done.' I can't really close my fist all the way."
Baker said Saturday night he did not expect Phillips to play Sunday, and he was unsure how long his absence might last.
"It might be a couple of days," he said. "One thing that saved him was the wristband. We're just lucky it's not broken."
