July 1 -- LOPEZ TO START FRIDAY NIGHT (UPDATED)

BY SCOTT LAUBER

ATLANTA -- Rodrigo Lopez is listed as the Phillies' starter for Friday night. More in a few minutes after the clubhouse opens.

(Updated, 5:41 p.m.): So, we just finished talking to assistant GM Benny Looper, and he offered this explanation for why the Phillies chose Lopez instead of Carlos Carrasco or Drew Carpenter.

"We just thought with Rodrigo, the experience he has, he pitched very well on Sunday when I saw him, it was time to give him a chance to see how he'll throw," Looper said. "You have to consider everything, and [experience] is one of the factors you think about."

Lopez was a two-time 15-game winner with the Orioles (he also lost 18 games for Baltimore in 2006). But he's a different pitcher now, after undergoing elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery in August 2007. "He doesn't have the arm he used to have, but it's still good enough," Looper said. "He commanded his fastball and slider really well [Sunday], and he did a good job of pitching."

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Looper said Raul Ibanez will work out with double-A Reading again today with the hope of playing tomorrow. The Phillies still believe he needs to get at least 10-12 at-bats in the minors, which would likely rule him out of the series this weekend against the Mets.