June 20 -- HOWARD SICK

BY SCOTT LAUBER

At 342 games, Ryan Howard has the longest active consecutive games streak in the majors. So, when he wasn't listed in the starting lineup here today, against Orioles rookie right-hander Brad Bergesen, something was clearly amiss.

"Hi, guys. Bye, guys," Howard said as a few reporters approached his locker.

Charlie Manuel offered an explanation. According to Manuel, Howard came down with the flu after last night's game, and things got so bad that he even checked into the hospital with 104-degree fever. (Update: The Phillies said Howard checked into the hospital at 3:30 a.m., checked out at about 10:30 a.m., and had a fever of 103.9.) Thus, Howard's consecutive-game streak may come to an end tonight. The last time he didn't play in a game was May 24, 2007, at Florida, his final game on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quadriceps.

Without Howard in the lineup, Manuel had to get creative. So, here's what he came up with for tonight's game vs. the O's:

SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
LF Matt Stairs
RF Jayson Werth
1B Greg Dobbs
3B Pedro Feliz
C Paul Bako
LHP J.A. Happ

***
A few other things:

--Even Manuel is banged up. He has a brace on his left wrist, the result of having his wrist jammed a few days ago when a player bumped into him in the dugout.

--Scott Eyre just told me he's planning to travel with the Phillies on next week's road trip, although he said he hasn't been given a rehab schedule for his strained left calf. He has long-tossed four times and said his calf is feeling "much better."

--Brad Lidge is still on schedule to pitch one inning tonight at Class AA Reading.

More later.