Brandon Phillips (illness) is back in the lineup Friday, batting cleanup.

Phillips (illness) is back in the lineup Friday, batting cleanup.

Analysis:

A stomach virus knocked Phillips out of the lineup for the past two days, but the veteran second baseman will be ready to go for Friday's matchup against the division rival Pirates. He'll serve as the cleanup hitter against Francisco Liriano, a pitcher he's had mixed results against in his career. In 37 at-bats against Liriano, Phillips has collected nine hits and two RBI while racking up five strikeouts.