Not only was the Reds' day game against the Cubs coming after a night game Wednesday, Phillips had an 0-for-13 track record when facing Chicago starter Ted Lilly. Manager Dusty Baker has also taken notice of Phillips' pressing during Cincinnati's five-game losing streak.

"I think he needs it. He's played every day, every inning," Baker said. "You see him swinging at bad pitches and taking good ones. He's not trusting himself right now. I could see him getting really upset after games. He's in the dugout by himself, the last one out of the clubhouse."

Phillips entered the day 6-for-31 (.194) on the road trip, and he has been held hitless over his last 10 at-bats.

Ryan Freel started at second base in Phillips' place. There was no sulking from Phillips over his forced holiday. He sat pleasantly in front of his corner locker as he ate breakfast and worked on his laptop computer.

"I think this is the best thing that could happen to me," Phillips said of the break. "I've been trying to do too much because we're struggling a little bit. Instead of me just going out and playing my game, I'm trying to make things happen. Dusty saw that and took me to the side and told me to just play my game, instead of trying to do too much."

Phillips admitted that he got caught up in the hype of the series and Baker's first trip to Chicago since he was replaced as Cubs manager in 2006.

"This is a team everybody wants to beat," Phillips said.

Overall this season, Phillips is batting .271 with one home run and five RBIs.