May 30 -- BASTARDO TO START TUESDAY

BY SCOTT LAUBER

And the Tuesday night start goes to ...

(drumroll)

... Antonio Bastardo.

That's right. After tonight's game, the Phillies announced that Bastardo, the 23-year-old left-hander who has emerged as arguably their most prized pitching prospect, will start Tuesday night against the Padres in San Diego. Bastardo was picked over right-handers Kyle Kendrick and Drew Carpenter, both of whom have major-league experience. In part, I'm sure Bastardo was selected because he'd been scheduled to pitch Tuesday night at Class AAA Lehigh Valley. But he also was outpitching Kendrick, Carpenter and just about every other pitcher in the Phillies' farm system.

Some background on Bastardo: He was a successful starter for the past two seasons. Last year, he was 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five starts at Class A Clearwater before going 2-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 14 starts at Class AA Reading, but he also missed nearly two months with shoulder inflammation. After inviting him to major-league camp this spring, the Phillies decided to make him a reliever. Then, after noticing improvement in his slider last month, they returned to the starting rotation at Reading.

Ultimately, it may turn out to be their most serendipitous move this season.

Bastardo was 2-2 with a 1.82 ERA in nine appearances (five starts) at Reading. Since being promoted to Lehigh Valley, he was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Last month, pitching coach Rich Dubee said Bastardo typically throws his fastball from 90-93 mph. But it's the development of his slider that has made him so effective. At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, some scouts have compared his body type to Johan Santana.

"We've got some real good reports on him," Charlie Manuel said. "He's had two real good outings since he's been at Triple-A, and he was real good at Double-A."

For the time being, the Phillies will have four left-handed starters, but Manuel said he's not concerned about a rotation that leans more to the left than Nancy Pelosi.

"Doesn't matter to me," he said. "I like lefties. I had rotations in the minor leagues with four lefties. That's fine with me."