Phillies’ Spencer Howard misses game with back spasms

The Phillies could be motivated to be even more cautious with Spencer Howard after back spasms forced him to be scratched from pitching Monday against the Yankees.

Manager Joe Girardi did not seem overly concerned about Howard — “We expect him to be available in a couple days,” Girardi said — but the spasms could provide the Phillies more reason to tread lightly with their top pitching prospect.

Howard is competing for a spot in the starting rotation, but it continues to appear unlikely that he will begin the season as one of the five starters. Matt Moore and Chase Anderson — veterans who signed major-league deals — continue to impress, putting the Phillies in a bind regarding what to do with Howard.

Anderson pitched three scoreless innings Monday in a 4-2 loss to the Yankees in Tampa. Howard was scheduled to follow him with two innings. Anderson has not allowed a run in seven innings this spring. He allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out four Monday against a lineup full of Yankees regulars.

» READ MORE: Yankees 4, Phillies 2: Chase Anderson adds to rotation case

If Howard’s not in the rotation, the Phillies could place him in the bullpen on April 1 or stash him in Allentown at the alternate training site. Howard pitched just 24⅓ innings last season and was slowed by a sore shoulder. He has yet to log 100 innings as a pro and a shoulder injury limited him in 2019.

Starting him in Allentown already seemed to be the safest route to protect Howard’s health as his innings will have to be closely monitored this season. Monday gave the Phillies another reason to be careful.

Brad Miller will be reevaluated in five to six days, Girardi said, after an MRI exam Sunday revealed a slight strain of the oblique muscle in his side.

» READ MORE: Phillies’ Brad Miller not concerned about missing opening day ... yet

Miller suffered the injury on Saturday when he felt a tweak in his right rib cage while sprinting before the game. He is the team’s top left-handed bat off the bench and can handle playing the infield and outfield corners. Girardi said it is “definitely” a possibility that Miller will be ready by opening day.

Héctor Rondón walked the first two batters he faced and failed to finish the seventh inning as he followed up Saturday’s impressive outing with a dud. Rondón , a veteran reliever on a minor-league deal, was pulled after allowing a two-run, two-out single to Giancarlo Stanton. He threw 23 pitches, his fastball was at an average of 93.5 mph, and he seems to be on the outside of the team’s eight-man bullpen picture.

» READ MORE: How Jimmy Rollins, Ruben Amaro Jr., and ‘an insider’ helped the Phillies land Zach Eflin

“I don’t think his arm strength has been there,” Girardi said. “We expected him to be 96-97 and he hasn’t been there. I think that affects him. We’ll continue to watch him and hopefully it gets there and we can get him throwing the ball better than he has.”

Rhys Hoskins hit his first homer of the spring. ... Roman Quinn doubled while Scott Kingery and Odubel Herrera both went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The center-field race remains wide open. ... Jose Alvardo froze Gleyber Torres with a buckling, full-count curveball after throwing a 100-mph fastball. “If you throw a 3-2 curveball like that, that’s not really fair,” Girardi said. ... Aaron Nola will start Tuesday in Clearwater, Fla., against the Blue Jays.