"Once a long Sunday at the ballpark ended, the only item in Jimmy Rollins' locker was a red bag with No. 11 on it. Rollins was long gone, and thus it was difficult to discern how serious a right groin strain he suffered sometime in the first three innings was.

Across the room, Placido Polanco dressed with a smile. He was upbeat because he received clearance from the team's doctors and athletic trainers to come off the disabled list for a sports hernia when eligible on Monday.

So it goes in the Phillies infield, where injuries have become a nagging reality. At least one half of the Phillies' left side of the infield will play when the Mets visit Citizens Bank Park.

As for Rollins, he was scheduled for an MRI Monday morning in Philadelphia, Charlie Manuel said. The manager said Rollins never told him how he injured the groin or how much pain he felt during the 5-4 loss to the Nationals. Rollins was not available for comment to reporters.

"He didn't say anything to me about it," Manuel said.

Rollins hobbled around after making a fine play up the middle on a Jesus Flores ground ball in the second inning. He grounded out in his first two at-bats and did not run particularly hard on either play.

Wilson Valdez replaced Rollins at shortstop in the bottom of the third.

Valdez had been splitting time with Michael Martinez at third base in Polanco's absence. Polanco said two weeks' worth of rest has him confident he can manage the pain the injury causes. He is not 100 percent healthy and will not be until he undergoes offseason surgery."