The Zo Zone

The Phillies have won 8 of their last 11 to improve to 22-22.

It's a start.

They're still 6 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the National League East standings. But, hey, they're only four behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL wild card race. The Phillies open a six-game road trip through Florida and Atlanta tomorrow night against the Marlins at Dolphin Stadium. Nine of their next 16 games are against National League East rivals (the Phillies play the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on June 5-7). The Phillies flopped earlier this season when they played the East. They're just 8-13 against those teams, including a 1-5 mark against the Braves and a 1-3 mark against the Mets.

Obviously, that must change.

The Braves and Mets aren't flawless, but neither are the Phillies. And if the Braves and Mets keep trouncing the Phillies, I can't see how they can win the division or wild card.

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Righthander Adam Eaton pitched well in yesterday's 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park.

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The computer doesn't like the Phillies. Baseball Prospectus figures the Phillies have just a 15 percent chance to make the playoffs.

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The Phillies optioned lefthander Fabio Castro (12.27 ERA in five appearances) to double-A Reading, which means the Phillies have no lefthanders in their bullpen.

Lefthanders? Hey, who needs 'em?

Manager Charlie Manuel hinted that might happen Saturday when he mentioned Ryan Madson, who is expected to be activated before tomorrow night's series opener against the Florida Marlins in Miami, had pitched effectively against lefthanders this season. Sure enough, lefthanders had hit just .219 against him. That's better than Castro, who had allowed three walks and one hit in six plate appearances against lefthanders. That's also better than lefthander Matt Smith, who had allowed six walks and two hits in 11 plate appearances against lefthanders.

Smith is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in seven appearances for triple-A Ottawa since the Phillies optioned him last month. In 6 2/3 innings, he has allowed six hits and two walks. Opponents have hit .231 against him.

Regardless of how well Madson has pitched against lefthanders, this bullpen desperately needs Smith to rediscover his 2006 form. Because there will be some situations late in a game in the very near future when a team's top lefthanded hitter is up and the Phillies don't have a good match up against him.

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Ryan Howard should be back Friday, when the Phillies open a three-game series in Atlanta.

But which Howard will show up? The one who struggled the first few weeks of the season, or the one who won the National League MVP last season? Howard said his strained left quadriceps affected his swing. So if 15 days is what it takes to get Howard back to his 2006 form, it will be well worth it.

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Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams is ticked that his bullpen blew two leads this weekend against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

We understand.