PHILADELPHIA - For the second game in a row against the Colorado Rockies, Maikel Franco and Cameron Rupp are not in the Phillies starting lineup.

But for different reasons.

It appears manager Pete Mackanin is sending a message to Franco and hoping to see initiative. Hoping to see the 24-year-old third baseman come to him and ask why he's not in the starting lineup before he gets back in. Mackanin hasn't talked to him about riding the bench so far.

"It's a day to day thing, I'm telling you," Mackanin said prior to Wednesday's game. "No specific plan."

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out though because Franco doesn't have plans to talk to Mackanin, even after being told the manager might want him to come in his office on his own.

"I’m not that kind of guy," Franco said. "I’m just trying to stay mentally ready, and if I see the lineup and I’m playing, I’ll go to play. If I’m not, I just try to get relaxed, enjoy the day, and do everything I can do."

This season Franco is hitting just .221 and he's been pretty consistent in hitting that low. His batting average over the last 21 games is exactly the same.

Mackanin is looking for anything to jumpstart a team that has lost four straight and 19 of its last 23.

As far as Rupp is concerned, there's nothing specifically wrong there. Mackanin would just like to see Andrew Knapp a little more. And Mackanin's talked to Rupp to explain the plan.

"I want to get to see Knapp a little bit more," Mackanin said. "Like I said, he's made a good impression. Not that he's going to play more than Rupp. At this point, I don't think he's had two games back to back. Just give him two days back to back."

The skipper indicated that Rupp will likely start Thursday's afternoon game and series finale against the Rockies.

Here's the Phillies complete lineup tonight:

2B Cesar Hernandez

SS Freddy Galvis

LF Aaron Altherr

1B Tommy Joseph

3B Andres Blanco

CF Odubel Herrera

C Andrew Knapp

RF Michael Saunders

P Jeremy Hellickson

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Twitter @SteveGrossMCall