"Chase Utley turned up at the ballpark Sunday, and will return to the Phillies lineup on Monday night. Utley has missed the entire season with knee tendonitis, but had played nine rehab games for Single A Clearwater, where he went 9 for 32 with a homer, two doubles and six strikeouts.

Utley, as usual, chose against discussing baseball with the local media, but manager Charlie Manuel says he will have a spot for Utley in the lineup.

"Third is what comes to mind first," Manuel said. "Excited to have him back, looking forward to it."

Manuel said he and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. had a chat with Utley where, presumably, they laid out a plan for days off for the second baseman. Known for his hardnosed play, Utley is notorious for playing through pain and injuries when it would be wise to rest.

Yet, because his knee injury is related to overuse, Manuel says he expects more honesty from Utley about his health moving forward.

"There will be times when he gets days off," Manuel said. "Chase will be honest with me. He'll be totally honest with me."

Then again, Utley played 159 regular season games and 14 more in the postseason with a torn labrum in 2008. He also rushed back after offseason surgery in 2009 and played 156 that season, too. Had he not torn the ligament in his thumb last season, he likely would have played in 150-plus in 2010, as well.

So how does Manuel know Utley will be totally honest this time?

"This is different," Manuel said. "I think he sees this as something that makes sure that we have him for the rest of the season and makes sure that we have him for a couple of years. I think knowing him like I do, I think he'll be totally honest with me."

Utley might not bring instant offense to the Phillies, but any little bit will help. Though they beat the Rangers in two out of the three games this weekend, the Phils scored just five runs and were shutout in the series finale. Additionally, the team has scored three runs or fewer in 10 straight games, which is two shy of the club's all-time worst streak of 12 games with three or fewer, set last season from May 22 to June 4 and also in 1968."