By Andrew Nagel

Cincinnati Reds second baseman, Brandon Phillips is expected to start in tonight’s National League Wild Card game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates despite nursing a bruised and sore shin. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com describes it as “some nasty swelling above his left shin.”

Phillips fouled off a Charlie Morton pitch in the fifth inning of last Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh in Cincinnati. His shin immediately swelled up to the size of a golf ball while he was in the batter’s box as captured by Fox Sports. Phillips remained in the game, later singled in that at-bat but was replaced by Cesar Izturis after Phillips could barely run to first base.

Phillips spent Sunday treating his shin. He participated in Monday’s workout in Pittsburgh as the Reds prepared for tonight’s game by taking a full round of batting practice and fielding practice. Reds skipper, Dusty Baker has been quoted in today’s Cincinnati Enquirer as saying “I expect Brandon to be in there. I saw him yesterday (Sunday). I told him, he wasn’t limping, he was pimping…not literally”.