June 30 -- ON IBANEZ, HAPP, FRIDAY NIGHT

BY SCOTT LAUBER

ATLANTA -- A few notes before Jimmy Rollins takes his highly anticipated first swing here tonight:

1. Raul Ibanez has left the team to begin working out with Class AA Reading. It's possible, Charlie Manuel said, that Ibanez could play in a game for Reading tomorrow. Assistant GM Benny Looper, who is on this trip with the team, said Ibanez likely needs 10-12 at-bats in the minors before he's ready to play. So, it's unlikely that Ibanez will be back by Friday night's game against the Mets, but a weekend return isn't entirely out of the question. Of course, the Phillies won't rush Ibanez either, and groin injuries can be tricky. If he needs a few extra days to make sure he's OK, he'll get them.

2. As we Tweeted earlier today, J.A. Happ will start here Thursday night on his regular rest. Jamie Moyer could start on normal rest Friday night, but the Phillies "most likely" will give him an extra day and start him Saturday. That means they'll need a starter for Friday night. ...

3. ... which brings us to the ongoing storyline of who that starter might be. Looper said the Phillies are "pretty close to making a decision." Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter remain the frontrunners, but it's possible they could opt for veteran Rodrigo Lopez, a solid starter for the Orioles once upon a time. Lopez has one thing working against him: He's out of minor-league options, so if the Phillies choose to send him back to Lehigh Valley, he'd be exposed to waivers. Carpenter and Carrasco can be shuttled between the majors and minors without that risk. Looper said Antonio Bastardo will be shut down from throwing for at least three weeks, so the Phillies aren't considering Friday night's game a spot start. That said, I think they may bring Carrasco here and let him make a few starts. If he pitches well, who knows, maybe it will make it less urgent for them to trade for a starter. If he doesn't, well, he'll just go back to the minors and get more seasoning. Regardless, we may know something more definitive tomorrow.

So, that's the latest. Enjoy the game.