Placido Polanco Returns From Disabled List, Domonic Brown Optioned

The Philadelphia Phillies have been atop the NL East all season, and they've usually been doing it at less than full strength. Chase Utley came back at the end of May and the infield was intact for most of June, but third baseman Placido Polanco went on the the disabled list with a back problem on July 15. Now, though, Jon Morosi reports that Polanco is coming back:

Phillies activate Polanco, option Domonic Brown.

The good news is that Polanco is back, taking at-bats away from Michael Martinez, who was inexplicably hitting second whenever he played. The bad news is that Phillies connoisseurs don't get to watch super-prospect Domonic Brown anymore, with the Phillies hoping that there's a little more juice left in the husk of Raul Ibañez.

With the lineup fully healthy, though, and with the addition of Hunter Pence, the Phillies have never been stronger. Prediction: they make the playoffs. You read it here first.