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Utley to Reading Tonight, Could Return this Weekend

(AP)

The Phillies have announced that Chase Utley will begin a rehab assignment in Reading tonight. Utley has been out since May 20 with an oblique/rib cage injury.

Before going to the DL, Utley hit .272/.339/.475 with 7 homers and 25 RBI. With Ben Revere and Michael Young hitting their stride, the addition of Utley – which could be as early as this weekend – should strengthen the top of the order, adding to it another on-base guy.

It’s my own speculation he’ll be back this weekend, but you’d think with the way Carlos Ruiz

was handled – playing in just two rehab games – the same will likely hold true with Utley. The Phillies finish up with the Nationals tonight and will look to sweep, but they also get the Mets this weekend, which is a winnable series.

Pat Gallen

Pat joined Phillies Nation in July 2009, coming over from Examiner.com. As a previous employee of both Comcast SportsNet and the National Basketball Association, Pat prides himself on being a well-rounded individual when it comes to sports. However, the Phillies are first on the list. You’ll usually find Pat chiming in on the Phillies Nation Facebook or Twitter account, weekdays on 97.3 ESPN radio or hosting Phillies Nation TV. He’s also a Senior Writer for the site, and in his free time is a music enthusiast and Will Ferrell movie-follower. His favorite beer: Philly’s own Yards. In 2015, Pat moved on from Phillies Nation as a sports anchor and reporter for CBS-3 in Philadelphia.