WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after pulling closer Brad Lidge in the ninth inning, Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel wouldn’t commit to keeping him in that role.

“He might be right in there tonight,” Manuel said before Wednesday’s game against Washington. “I’m not saying he’s going to be, 100 percent. He might be and he might not.”

Lidge converted all 48 of his save chances last year for the Phillies as they won the World Series.

Lidge has struggled this whole season, blowing 10 of 38 save chances. He is 0-7 with a 7.11 ERA for the NL East leaders.

On Tuesday night, Lidge took over to begin the ninth with a 5-3 lead against the Nationals. He faced four batters, resulting in a single, walk, hit batter, wild pitch and a lone out before Manuel replaced him with Ryan Madson.

Madson preserved the lead for his fifth save

After the game, Lidge said Manuel told him he’d be pitching the next time the Phillies were in a save situation.

Manuel, however, didn’t specify if Lidge would keep the closer position when he addressed the media after Tuesday’s game – and still didn’t a day later.

“I’m getting kind of tired of it, to tell the truth,” Manuel said. “I am. I figure I can put him in the game when I want to.”

Manuel said he would use whatever pitcher he felt gave the Phillies the best chance to win. Asked if that meant he may use multiple closers or put someone else in the role — Madson or Brett Myers are the main candidates — Manuel didn’t give a definitive answer.

“These are very important games, and we need to win, and I’m going to pitch on that night who I think can do the job,” Manuel said. “If (Lidge) gets in there and gets consistent, then he can take the job back.”

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