Howard won a $10 million arbitration award from the Phillies before this season. "I talk about being a carrier, and Ryan's a carrier," Manuel continued. "He's the guy who knocks in 130 to 160 (runs). He comes up big in the big moment."

--LHP J.A. Happ made two solid starts for the Phillies in July when RHP Brett Myers was in the minors. The Phillies are banking on him doing it again. Happ, a 25-year-old rookie, will start Wednesday night against the Braves at Turner Field. On July 4, he allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Mets, and five days later, he gave up two runs and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings against the Cardinals. The Phillies won both games.

Manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee figured that Happ would match up well against a lefty-dominant Braves lineup that features Brian McCann, Casey Kotchman and switch-hitting Chipper Jones.

"It's definitely exciting," Happ said. "I'm sure it's not their first choice. It kind of happened because of the doubleheader (Sunday). They needed somebody."

The Phillies will need a fifth starter again Monday night against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. But neither Dubee nor Manuel would commit to giving Happ another start until after he pitches Wednesday.

--LHP Jamie Moyer started on three days' rest for the first time since 2004 last week, and after beating the Brewers, he cautioned that the full effect of working on short rest may not be felt until his next two or three starts. Moyer lasted only 5 2/3 innings Tuesday night against the Braves, allowing six runs on six hits and walking four. "His command wasn't as good as it has been," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He battled. Pitching on short rest may have had something to do with that."

--LF Pat Burrell went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts, tying a club record set by Jim Thome on July 2, 2004. Burrell is in a 12-for-78 (.154) with one homer, four RBIs and 27 strikeouts in his last 20 games.

--RF Geoff Jenkins played for the Brewers last season when they failed to make the playoffs despite leading the NL Central by 7 1/2 games on June 30. With another second-half swoon threatening to kill their playoff chances -- and after a four-game sweep last weekend by the Phillies -- the Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday. "It's one of those things where, after last year, I don't know if they saw it happening again, but they felt like they needed to make a change," Jenkins said. "It's definitely tough, but that's what they felt like they had to do, I guess."

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Times during Charlie Manuel's four-year tenure as Phillies manager that the team has scored a run via sacrifice bunt or a bunt single. Both times, C Carlos Ruiz has dropped a sacrifice bunt. Ruiz pulled off the squeeze play May 12, 2007, and again on Sept. 11.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We'll get (the umpires) a lot of cheesesteaks. Make sure we keep them happy." -- Manager Charlie Manuel, upon learning that the Phillies won all four coin tosses to assure any possible tie-breaker games against the Mets, Brewers, Astros or Cardinals for the right to advance to the playoffs will be played at Citizens Bank Park.