Now that the Phillies have formally clinched a spot within the postseason, supervisor Rob Thomson spoke to reporters (together with Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer) earlier on Saturday concerning the membership’s plans for the postseason roster. Per Coffey, the membership seems to be leaning in the direction of a 12-man pitching workers and an expanded bench for the playoffs this yr.
Garrett Stubbs, Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens, Weston Wilson, and Cal Stevenson presently make up the membership’s bench combine. Stubbs and Sosa are all however assured spots on the postseason bench because the membership’s backup catcher and first utility infielder respectively, but when the membership plans to make the most of a five-man bench within the postseason then there are nonetheless three spots up for grabs. Along with Clemens, Wilson, and Stevenson, Coffey notes that lately optioned infielder Buddy Kennedy might be within the combine for a spot on the postseason bench as effectively.
Maybe most notably, outfielder Austin Hays additionally figures to issue into the membership’s bench dialog this postseason regardless of having spent your entire month of September thus far on the IL on account of a kidney an infection. Hays started a rehab task at Triple-A earlier on Saturday and whereas that rehab stint solely figures to final two days with the Triple-A season set to finish on Sunday, Thomson indicated to reporters (together with Coffey) that the membership isn’t involved concerning the lack of in-game reps on account of the truth that, if the Phillies safe a bye by the wild-card spherical as they presently appear poised to do, Hays would be capable to get loads of at-bats in intra-squad video games throughout that layoff previous to the NLDS.
Hays, 28, began the season with the Orioles however was dealt to the Phillies within the commerce that despatched right-hander Seranthony Dominguez to Baltimore forward of the commerce deadline again in July. Total, he’s been a roughly league-average bat this yr with a .254/.305/.388 slash line (96 wRC+), although he was above common earlier than slumping in Philadelphia as he adjusted to a bench function. With that mentioned, he’s nonetheless a wonderful supply of offense in opposition to left-handed pitching, as demonstrated by his sensational 166 wRC+ in opposition to righties this season. That might make him an ideal platoon accomplice of types for Brandon Marsh, who the Phils have labored to guard from same-handed pitching for a lot of the yr.
If Hays joins Sosa and Stubbs on the membership’s bench, that would depart two spots obtainable for the opposite 4 names that appear to be in dialogue. Stevenson has loved semi-regular enjoying time in a platoon with Johan Rojas in heart discipline over the previous month and will proceed in an identical function into the playoffs, whereas Clemens has the strongest document of the group as a pinch hitter this yr and will due to this fact be a gorgeous possibility as effectively. That being mentioned, each Wilson and Kennedy might be viable options if the membership prefers extra right-handed choices on the bench past Sosa and Hays.
Set to affix Hays on a rehab task Sunday is right-hander Spencer Turnbull, who MLB.com’s Damage Tracker notes is predicted to start out the season finale at Triple-A earlier than persevering with his rehab on the membership’s advanced in Florida. It’s a step in the appropriate course for the 32-year-old, who has been shelved since late June on account of a lat pressure however might nonetheless return to the membership through the postseason. The precise-hander was nothing wanting wonderful for the Phillies in a swing function early this yr, pitching to a 2.65 ERA with a 3.85 FIP in 54 1/3 innings of labor.
Talking of injured right-handers, Coffey famous that prime pitching prospect Andrew Painter might be within the dialog to take part within the Arizona Fall League as he works his method again from Tommy John surgical procedure, per president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Painter has been throwing to reside hitters within the membership’s Florida advanced, however Dombrowski famous that the membership has prevented making a agency resolution on his availability for the AFL in order to not put stress on the 21-year-old to get forward of himself in his rehab.
The membership’s prime pitching prospect and a consensus top-30 prospect within the sport, Painter was within the dialog for the membership’s Opening Day roster after a dominant spring coaching final yr however ended up present process Tommy John surgical procedure earlier than being sidelined by accidents and finally going beneath the knife. The teen figures to be able to return in time for the 2025 season, however a return this fall in Arizona can be an encouraging improvement for a teen who has misplaced loads of reps over the previous two seasons on account of damage.
