Howard went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, his 11th of the year, in Thursday's win against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Thursday marked Howard's first multi-hit game since April 29. The 2005 NL Rookie of the Year and 2006 MVP is having an embarrassing year, becoming one of the most expensive bench players in the history of the sport. He's making $25 million this season while slashing .150/.204/.350 and obliterating his career lows in practically every meaningful category. At 36-years-old, the writing is on the wall for Howard, and he's sadly become irrelevant in most fantasy formats.

Howard is back at DH, batting fourth, against Minnesota on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's likely a temporary move as the Phillies do not normally have the luxury of utilizing the DH position. Howard has started only three of the last 11 games and he's batted 1-for-13 (.077) during that time. His season average has dipped to .145 as well, making the scenario of an option to the minors in the realm of possibilities.

GM Matt Klentak said the Phillies have no plans to release Howard, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Klentak said Howard has not been a distraction since being demoted to a bench role, and the Phillies still value his power bat coming off the bench. Howard has made just four starts this month, and two of those came as a DH while the Phils were in Toronto. His opportunities will be limited over the remainder of the season.

Howard is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

With the Phillies' interleague series headed back to Philadelphia, the DH spot is no longer an option so Howard will head back to the bench. Tommy Joseph will start at first base and he'll continue to do so for the foreseeable future, which severely caps any remaining value Howard has.

Howard went 1-for-4 with a solo homer while serving as the DH in Monday's 7-0 victory over the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

This is too little too late for the veteran, who has lost his first base job to Tommy Joseph. Howard will probably have one more try to prove his worth as the DH in the second leg of this two-game series Tuesday, but he's likely to be relegated to pinch-hitting duties as the Phillies return home for six games after that.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard will probably be used as the DH during the Phillies' two-game series in Toronto that starts Monday, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mackanin let Howard know Friday that he has lost his starting job at first base to Tommy Joseph. He will be limited to spot starts and pinch hitting duties moving forward.

Manager Pete Mackanin met with Howard before Friday's game and told him that he has lost his starting job to Tommy Joseph, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mackanin had already shifted the majority of the playing time to Joseph, but this further solidifies things. Howard has hit just .150 with a .559 OPS this season. He will be limited to spot starts and pinch hitting moving forward.

Howard is in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Cubs, Meghan Montemurro of the News Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard has struggled mightily at the plate this season, but hit his first homer since May 11 on Tuesday. Manager Pete Mackanin will slot him in at fifth in the lineup for a second consecutive start against a righty starter, John Lackey.

Manager Pete Mackanin said that Howard would start Wednesday against the Cubs, Matt Bree of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard had a good outing on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk. The southpaw will get the chance for the second consecutive game to hit against a right-handed pitcher on Wednesday, John Lackey.

Howard went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old slugger has endured a forgettable year, and has lost a solid amount of playing time recently to rookie Tommy Joseph. Tuesday's production was therefore a sight for sore eyes as far as Howard is concerned, and his homer was the first time he'd gone deep since May 11 versus the Braves. While he's struggled at the plate plenty over the last two seasons, he seems to have hit a new low this year, as his average continues to sit well below the Mendoza Line. It remains to be seen if Tuesday's output will garner Howard a stretch of starts on a surprisingly competitive Phillies squad.