Realmuto seems ready, but Girardi gives him night off

A day after leaving a game early with a painful muscle bruise near his knee, J.T. Realmuto reported to Nationals Park Wednesday, available for work.

Not willing to press that good fortune, Joe Girardi planned to give his All-Star catcher a night of rest, allowing Andrew Knapp to catch Zack Wheeler.

Realmuto left a 6-2 victory Tuesday after taking a foul ball inside his shin guard.

“He’s OK,” Girardi said before the game. “He came in for treatment and tried to get it going. He went out and did some things. We just thought it was best that we give him the day off. “But he’s day-to-day.” According to Girardi, Realmuto did not require X-rays or an MRI.

Knapp replaced Realmuto Tuesday and contributed a two-run single to the Phillies’ threerun eighth inning.

“Andrew has been good behind the plate for us all year long,” Girardi said. “I thought he did a great job for us last year. Like J.T., he is very prepared. They actually work a lot together, in tandem.

“The other thing is, he’s had some big hits for us, when you think about it. He’s had a walkoff. He had the two-run single (Tuesday) night.”

Knapp entered the game hitting .176. “His average may not be as high as he wants it,” Girardi said. “But he’s driven in seven runs for us in limited time, and they have been big for us.” Knapp believes he is warming at the plate. “It was nice to get that one in,” he said. “When I am going good, those hits go that way for me. This is a good time for me.”

Scott Kingery was on call as the emergency catcher.

• • • The Phillies lost their first four games started by Chase Anderson, but have won their last three behind the 33-year-old right-hander.

“I’ve worked on a few things,” Anderson said. “I have been working on things the whole season to kind of get back on track to be consistent as a starting pitcher.”

Though he continues to struggle to provide length, Anderson struck out five and walked one in five innings, allowing three hits Tuesday.

“(Pitching coach) Caleb (Cotham) and I have been working tirelessly on the side sessions and on a throwing program,” Anderson said. “We’ve done a couple of minor things. It’s good to see them paying off.”

Anderson is 2-3 with a 5.23 ERA and has not pitched past the fifth inning in any of his seven starts.

• • • Odubel Herrera entered the game Wednesday

with seven hits, including a home run, in his last six games. He had two doubles and walked twice Tuesday.

“I said five days ago that we like the way he is swinging the bat,” Girardi said. “He made some adjustments working with (hitting coach) Joe Dillon and it has seemed to carry over. He’s had good at-bats.”

••• Recovering from an oblique injury, Archie Bradley began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Lehigh Valley Wednesday. The plan is to allow him to pitch for the IronPigs again Saturday before returning.

On a one-year, $6 million contract, the versatile relief pitcher has made only four appearances for the Phillies, none since April 10.

••• NOTES >> Roman Quinn, out since May 4 after requiring nine stitches in his lacerated left index finger, has resumed pregame activities . ... The Phillies will play a weekend series in Dunedin, Fla., against the Blue Jays. That will allow them to reconnect with Matt Joyce, who is rehabbing from a calf injury in nearby Clearwater . ... Recovering from a quad injury, Spencer Howard threw three hitless innings for the Pigs Tuesday and soon could be promoted . ... Zach Eflin (2-1, 3.38 ERA) and Nats lefthander Patrick Corbin (1-3, 7.36) will start in the series finale Thursday afternoon at 1:05.