Myers, an ultra-competitive and maximum-effort right-hander, has tossed at least 105 pitches in each of his last six starts. He has started on three days of rest only once before in his career and not since Oct. 3, 2004.

"We don't want to get somebody hurt by overusing them," Manuel said. "But, at the same time, we're trying to win games. The decision comes down to Dubee, and we'll go from there."

But none of the other alternatives is appealing. Kendrick has an 11.35 ERA in his last six starts; Happ has made three career major league starts; Eaton finished 0-4 with a 7.02 ERA in the minors and has a 6.10 ERA in two seasons with the Phillies.

--1B Ryan Howard crushed his majors-leading 43rd home run -- his sixth over the last eight games -- to straightaway center in the first inning against Brewers starter Ben Sheets, who hadn't allowed a run in his last 20 innings. Howard narrowly missed another with an RBI double off the top of the center field wall to open a 3-1 lead in the fourth.

In his last six games, Howard is 10-for-24 with four homers and 10 RBIs. He insists he doesn't feel any different at the plate -- "I'm just trying to do my part," he said -- but Phillies manager Charlie Manuel believes he's seeing the ball better and being more patient.

"When he gets on a roll, it's fun to watch," CF Shane Victorino said. "It's like a stretch he got on when I first started playing with him in '05. I'm glad he's on my side."

--C Carlos Ruiz provided a jolt of energy for the Phillies offense in the eighth inning. As he walked to the plate with the Phillies leading 5-3 and speedy CF Shane Victorino on third base in the eighth inning, Ruiz turned to the dugout and asked, "What's the squeeze sign?"

Said manager Charlie Manuel, "I said, 'Hell, I might as well let him squeeze.' When the count got to 2-1, I figured it was a good time to let him do it. I figured I might as well start trying to be a National League manager."

Ruiz's squeeze bunt scored Victorino, and the Phillies moved to within three games of the Brewers. They also shaved the idle Mets' lead to 2 1/2 games in the NL East.

--RF Geoff Jenkins spent 10 seasons with the Brewers and never reached the playoffs. So, nobody would rather see the Phillies edge the Brewers for the NL wild card. But Jenkins, activated this week after missing the past three weeks with a strained right hip flexor, won't be eligible to do much more than pinch-hit. Even after Jenkins went through an aggressive rehabilitation supervised by former Phillies athletic trainer Jeff Cooper, he hasn't been cleared to run or play defense, manager Charlie Manuel said. "We're obviously chasing for the division, but those guys (the Brewers) are in front of us, wild-card-wise," Jenkins said. "But every game is important. I couldn't really care less who we're playing. We've got to win."

BY THE NUMBERS: 11 -- Shutouts by the Phillies pitching staff. That number led the National League through games of Sept. 5.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think our guys, especially the ones that were here last year and the veteran guys on our team, I think they know what we have to do and what's at stake. And I think we know how we're supposed to handle it." -- Manager Charlie Manuel, on his team's thoughts during a showdown series with the Mets.