1B Ryan Howard went 0-for-2 in Monday's loss to San Diego, but more notable was the fact that the 36-year-old slugger was yanked for pinch hitter Darin Ruf with the bases loaded in the sixth, something that would have been unthinkable when Howard was in his heyday. "I said I was going to do it, and I did it," manager Pete Mackanin said, noting that left-handed reliever Brad Hand had come on for starter Andrew Cashner. "It was the perfect time to do it." Howard, who has struggled against lefties, said he was not surprised, and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. He is expected to platoon with Ruf this season.

1B Ryan Howard provided the only offense Saturday night, when he hit an opposite field homer leading off the fifth inning.It was Howard's 45th homer against the Mets, most among active players and tied for fifth-most all-time with Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Of the four players ahead of Aaron and Howard, Willie McCovey (48 homers), Mike Schmidt (49 homers) and Willie Stargell (60 homers) are all in the Hall of Fame while Chipper Jones (49 homers) is expected to be a first-ballot inductee when eligible in 2018. "That's rarefied air," Howard said. "Some really cool company to be associated with. I mean, really, (he's) just kind of at a loss for words when you start mentioning guys like that."

1B Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the season Thursday. Howard hit a 418-foot, two-run shot to straight away center field against Cincinnati rookie Robert Stephenson in the fourth inning to cut the Phillies' deficit to 9-4.

1B Ryan Howard was not in the lineup Wednesday with LHP Brandon Finnegan scheduled to start for Cincinnati. Manager Pete Mackanin informed Howard in Spring Training that he'll often platoon to avoid lefties. "I told him, I think it's in your best interests because you're not going to have to worry about that breaking stuff from left-handed pitchers and your numbers are probably going to be about the same," Mackanin said. "He said, 'I don't like it, but I get it.' "

1B Ryan Howard started at first base and Carlos Ruiz behind the plate on Opening Day, something that manager Pete Mackanin said was ceremonious. "We'll look what we have on Opening Day at home, and we'd like to do that for sentimental reasons," Mackanin said. Howard committed a fielding error to allow the Reds' first run to score on Monday.

1B Ryan Howard is in the final year of his five-year, $125 million contact that also includes a $23 million club option for 2017 that the Phillies certainly will buy out for $10 million. While Howard led the Phillies with 77 RBIs last season in addition to topping them in home runs, it a far cry from the four-year span from 2006-09 when he averaged 50 homers and 143 RBIs a season. At 36, Howard might be entering his final season.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard (knee) will not play again this season, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard has been out since Sept. 14 when he took a throw off his left knee. The knee is basically healthy at this point, but Howard has not faced pitching in weeks, so the Phils have opted to shut him down. He finishes the year hitting .229/.277/.443 with 23 home runs in 467 at-bats.

Manager Pete Mackanin said "it doesn't look good" for Howard (knee) to play again this season, the Phillies' official site reports.

Howard was trending toward returning to the lineup in recent days, but showed up sick Wednesday. Mackanin said he will see if Howard wants to play in any of the Phillies' four remaining games. The Phils don't face a right handed pitcher until Saturday, so Howard may not return until then, if he plays at all again this season.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is unlikely to play again this season due to a knee injury, according to the team's official website.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is unlikely to play again this season due to a knee injury, according to the team's official website. Manager Pete Mackanin said "it doesn't look good" when asked of a potential return this season from Howard, who posted a .229/.277/.443 slash line in 2015.

Howard (knee) was available to pinch hit Tuesday and could return to the lineup Wednesday, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard has not played since Sept. 24 when he took a throw off his left knee while playing first base. The knee had to be drained after swelling up. Darin Ruf has been filling in at first base with Howard sidelined.

Howard (knee) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets, according to Stephen Gross of The Morning Call.

The Phillies were hoping that Howard would be able to return to action Tuesday, but he remains sidelined with his knee injury. Darin Ruf will get the start at first base Tuesday.

Howard (knee) is expected to return to the Phillies' lineup as early as Tuesday against the Mets, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports.

A bruised left knee has sidelined Howard for nearly two weeks, but he's demonstrated progress in recent days. He resumed taking batting practice Friday and appears fit to take the field as well, putting him on tap to see action in the final week of the regular season.

Howard (knee) took batting practice Friday, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

It's the first time that Howard swung in batting practice since being sidelined with a knee injury on Sept. 14. The 35-year-old is still hoping to return before the end of the season, but there's still no clear timetable. Darin Ruf figures to continue filling in at first base in his absence.

Howard (knee) is expected to resume hitting and fielding ground balls this weekend, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Howard has been sidelined since Sept. 14 with a knee injury. He is making an attempt to return, but the Phillies won't push him to do so with nothing to play for this season. Darin Ruf will continue to see playing time at first for as long as Howard remains sidelined.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is expected to resume hitting and fielding ground balls over the weekend while continuing his recovery from a knee injury, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is expected to resume hitting and fielding ground balls over the weekend while continuing his recovery from a knee injury, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Howard has been sidelined since Sept. 14, and while the team has not ruled out a comeback before the end of the year, they are unlikely to push for his return either with nothing left to play for.

Howard has a cyst in the back of his knee that has flared up, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

It doesn't sound like the Phillies will formally shut Howard down -- they're paying him too much money to close to door on him returning this season -- but the first baseman is considered unlikely to play again in 2015. The 35-year-old had his knee drained last week and has not taken batting practice since. Darin Ruf continues to fill in at first base.

Howard (knee) is unlikely to return this season, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Howard has been out since Sept. 14 after he was struck by a line drive while playing in the field. He eventually had to go to the emergency room to get his knee drained, but was optimistic he could return to the lineup sometime the following week. That optimism has clearly faded as Howard has still not taken batting practice since the injury, prompting Lawrence to believe Howard's season is likely over.

Howard (knee) will be reevaluated Tuesday, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

The Phillies have a day off Monday. If Howard does not begin taking batting practice this week the Phillies could decide to shut him down for the rest of the season. He has been sidelined since last Monday after taking a ball off his knee while playing in the field.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will be evaluated next week in hopes of returning from his knee injury this season, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will be evaluated next week in hopes of returning from his knee injury this season, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Howard, who has not played since Sept. 14 against the Washington Nationals as a result of the injury, was able to play catch Monday. "It's better than expected I think," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He's going to start moving around a little bit and then we'll just play it by ear and see how he adjusts or how he reacts." Howard was able to play catch with catcher Carlos Ruiz before Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves, and he will rest during the off-day Monday before attempting to get back to more intense activity Tuesday. Howard is hitting .229 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI in 129 games this season.

Howard (knee) is out of the Phillies' lineup Sunday against the Braves, Ryan Lawrence of Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Howard will now skip his fifth straight game due to the knee issue, and though he was expected to be available as a pinch hitter over the weekend, he hasn't been used in that role. Darin Ruf will start at first base in his place, batting sixth for the Phillies.