PHILADELPHIA – Now the real planning begins.
On Tuesday night, the Phillies secured a postseason berth for the second straight year. Before they celebrated, manager Rob Thomson told his players they were ready for another run well into October. He explained what he meant before Wednesday night’s game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.
“Just because of all the parts of the club,” Thomson said. “We have good starting pitching. We have a good bullpen. We have a good offense. We have some really quality starters up front. I think we are made for this. It was just a matter of getting in. Now we’ll see what we have.”
Here are some questions you may have about what’s next for the Phillies:
What could the NL Wild Card Series roster look like?
C: JT Realmuto, Garrett Stubbs
1B: Bryce Harper
2B: Bryson Stott
3B: Alec Bohm
SS: Trea Turner
OF: Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, Cristian Pache
INF/OF: Edmundo Sosa, Jake Cave
DH: Kyle Schwarber
Rotation: Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez
Bullpen: Craig Kimbrel, José Alvarado, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, Michael Lorenzen, Taijuan Walker, Cristopher Sánchez, Orion Kerkering
Who will the Phillies play in the Wild Card Series?
If the season ends today, the Phillies would play the D-Backs in a best-of-three series starting Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Game 2 would be October 4th. If necessary, Game 3 would be October 5th. But the Cubs and Marlins remain in the mix.
Philadelphia won the regular season series against Arizona (4-3), but lost the season series to both Chicago (5-1) and Miami (7-6).
How is the rotation structured?
Wheeler will begin Game 1 on Tuesday and Nola is scheduled for Game 2 on Wednesday. Game 3 is still open.
Suárez is the favorite to start Game 3, but Thomson could use him as a substitute in Games 1 or 2. Thomson used Suárez as a substitute in the 2022 postseason. He made the save in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series and had some big outs in Game 1 of the World Series.
Wheeler will start Thursday’s series finale against Pittsburgh as scheduled, preferring to be sidelined regularly. However, Nola will not make his scheduled start on Sunday in New York. Instead, he will rest before Game 2.
“I think it’s best for him,” Thomson said. “Throw a full bullpen and touch-and-feel, and he should be good to go.”
Will Orion Kerkering really make it to the postseason bullpen?
Based on Kerkering’s dominant performance on Sunday against the Mets and Thomson’s comments on Tuesday, yes.
Asked if Kerkering has enough time to earn a spot on the postseason roster, Thomson said: “From what I saw the other night, that’s pretty much it. He didn’t even sweat. He didn’t even look like he was affected by anything.
“After seeing what I saw on Sunday, I honestly have no concerns with him anymore.”
Kerkering hasn’t pitched two days in a row this season, but Thomson said Kerkering could do it if needed.
Why Jake Cave ahead of Rodolfo Castro and others for the final bench job?
Stubbs, Pache and Sosa are the regular spots on the Phillies’ four-man bench. Cave is most likely the fourth. He makes sense because he can play the infield and outfield and bat left-handed, meaning he can pinch-hit for Pache or Rojas, both of whom bat right-handed.
Castro has barely played since being acquired from the Pirates on August 2nd. Before Wednesday, he had fought just four times since August 29th. He was the last man on the roster because the Phillies want to keep his last remaining option for 2024.
Is anyone hurt?
Everyone except first baseman Rhys Hoskins is healthy. Understandably, there has been a lot of interest in Hoskins’ recovery from left cruciate ligament surgery in March. Thomson said if Hoskins plays in the postseason, it would happen in the World Series. But if it happens, he could only DH or pinch-hit, which would essentially be a two-player move since he can’t play the field.
“I think there’s a chance,” Thomson said. “I really do. He has made such good progress. There were no setbacks. We’re knocking on wood, but he might have a chance to see live pitching here soon. But some testing still needs to be done. So it’s not a guarantee. That’s why it’s not a castle. But I’m optimistic.”
If Hoskins is close to a return, Thomson said he would join the team’s stay-ready camp in Clearwater, Florida. The group includes catcher Rafael Marchán; first baseman Darick Hall; infielders/outfielders Kody Clemens and Weston Wilson; right-handers Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon, Yunior Marte, McKinley Moore, Nick Nelson and Luis Ortiz; and left-hander Michael Plassmeyer.
How is the lineup?
Thomson recently played a lineup that makes sense for a potential Game 1 against someone like D-backs right-hander Zac Gallen.
1. Kyle Schwarber, DH
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Alec Bohm, 3B
4. Bryce Harper, 1B
5. JT Realmuto, C
6. Bryson Stott, 2B
7. Nick Castellanos, RF
8. Brandon Marsh, LF
9. Johan Rojas, CF
Harper is expected to play first base every day once the postseason begins. It gives the Phillies a big defensive boost if he can do that. Harper’s presence at first base allows Schwarber to be the DH, and that gives them their best defensive outfield with Marsh in left and Rojas in center. Against a left-handed starter, Pache could start in left field.
Who is closer?
Thomson said he will use his late-inning relievers interchangeably, meaning left-hander Alvarado and right-hander Kimbrel could pitch the eighth or ninth inning, depending on the situation.