The Philadelphia Phillies will look to win their fourth straight game Wednesday night, as they play the third game of a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Maikel Franco isn’t with the Phillies in Cincinnati, but he’s also no longer playing with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, whose season concluded on Monday. Franco, who the Phillies optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 26 – his birthday – isn’t eligible to return to the major leagues until Thursday, after he’s spent 10 days in the minor leagues.
Apparently, the Phillies, with Franco’s best interests in mind, weighed not bringing him back at all.