"Unless the National League plans on changing its rules in the next two weeks to allow a designated runner and fielder for Chase Utley, the top five in the batting order that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sent out for Tuesday's exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays could bear a strong resemblance to the five guys he uses in the April 1 season opener against the Houston Astros.

Provided, that is, the Phillies' injury du jour - a hyperextended left elbow that forced third baseman Placido Polanco out of the game in the second inning - is not more serious than the initial report from the team.

Assuming Polanco is ready for the opener, then you're looking at shortstop Jimmy Rollins leading off, Shane Victorino batting second, Raul Ibanez hitting third, Ryan Howard batting fourth, and Polanco hitting fifth.

The order of those five is probably subject to change depending on whom the opposition is pitching on any given day, but regardless of who moves where, we know one man is not going anywhere: Howard will be the cleanup hitter.

The former NL MVP has performed that job as well as anyone in franchise history the last four years, averaging 43 home runs and 133 RBIs since 2007. He took over the role from Pat Burrell in the middle of 2006, and there is no indication that he is going to relinquish it in the near future.

The least productive of Howard's seasons from the cleanup spot came a year ago when he batted .276 with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs. Given the departure of Jayson Werth via free agency and the uncertainty about when we'll see Utley again, it's fair to wonder how much impact the loss of the team's Nos. 3 and 5 hitters will have on the most productive man in the middle of the lineup.

A National League scout said that the pressure valve gets turned up more on Howard than on any other player in the absence of Utley and Werth.

"He's not going to see many pitches to hit," the scout said. "He's going to have to be patient. Things have become real interesting.""