ATLANTA — The hours earlier than Sunday’s collection finale at Truist Park had been superb for the Phillies. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber stepped on the grime and ran the bases with intent beneath the watchful eyes of 4 Phillies officers. Everybody was inspired. Each sluggers might return on Tuesday.
Then, all of them went inside for a 12:25 p.m. clubhouse assembly. Supervisor Rob Thomson revealed that this group has extra All-Stars than any Phillies group earlier than it. 1 / 4 of the roster — seven gamers — obtained the respect. 4 of them are first-time All-Stars. There was cheering and hugging.
And, after that, they slogged by way of a 6-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves that was over quickly after it started.
Michael Mercado, a rookie making his second begin, couldn’t throw strikes or preserve the ball within the yard. It occurs. However the Phillies left right here eight video games forward of Atlanta and feeling as in the event that they survived the time with out Harper and Schwarber.
They’re 5-4 with out them. Schwarber will probably be in Tuesday’s lineup in opposition to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. Harper is trending towards it.
“I really feel good,” Harper mentioned. “We’ll see what occurs.”
The Phillies might use them. They’re seeing the boundaries of a depleted lineup. They didn’t have an extra-base hit in Saturday’s loss. They had been held scoreless Sunday for less than the third time this season. A compromised roster needed to keep away from being swept at Truist Park, and the Phillies achieved that. They’ll look completely different the following time they arrive right here in late August.
This can be a group constructed on its stars, however one way or the other the All-Star bulletins confirmed how full a roster the Phillies have constructed. The seven All-Stars are a membership document. The Phillies have had 5 All-Stars six instances — 2011, 2009, 1995, 1981, 1979 and 1976. The Nationwide League document for many gamers despatched by one membership is eight — achieved by the 2023 Braves. The Phillies fell simply brief.
Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman, who’ve shaped among the best bullpen duos in baseball, had been voted into the sport by way of the participant poll. Neither is a standard nearer. It was a satisfying feeling for each pitchers, who’re first-time All-Stars.
“The way in which the sport’s going,” Strahm mentioned, “I believe guys are beginning to see that you simply win ballgames not solely within the ninth inning. So it’s good to see. It’s good for the sport.”
The 2 relievers have develop into shut mates and have elevated their video games by way of a non secular every day sport of catch. Thomson, throughout Sunday morning’s assembly, known as Strahm’s identify first.
“That in all probability took extra of a weight off my shoulders,” Hoffman mentioned, “than listening to my very own identify known as.”
“I wasn’t anticipating a lot,” Strahm mentioned. “I hoped Jeff would get the nod. … He’s achieved an unbelievable job with how he’s turned his profession round. He’s so deserving of it.”
Ranger Suárez, who ranks second within the Nationwide League in ERA, is a candidate to start out the midsummer basic. The Phillies imagine he might use a break to handle a mounting workload, however they’ll defer to Suárez’s needs.
“If I’m going, I need to pitch,” Suárez mentioned. “I imply, it’s my first All-Star Recreation. I need to have that feeling of my first All-Star look.”
“I need him to do what he needs to do,” Thomson mentioned. “I’m fairly comfy with it.”
Zack Wheeler just isn’t eligible to pitch; he’ll begin on the ultimate day earlier than the All-Star break. Harper mentioned he intends to play within the All-Star Recreation. “For positive,” Harper mentioned. It’ll be the primary time Harper seems in an All-Star Recreation as a Phillie.
The Phillies are extra excited to see him again within the lineup, and that might occur Tuesday. They’ve six extra video games earlier than the break. A robust push would assist.
They’ve pitching selections to make within the wake of Sunday’s loss. The Phillies will take into account numerous choices for the fifth spot within the rotation. Mercado is slated to pitch yet one more time earlier than the break: Friday in opposition to the Oakland A’s. He might nonetheless make that begin. Or Tyler Phillips, who logged some innings as a mop-up man Sunday in his debut, might slide into the rotation.
“Now we have to debate some issues,” Thomson mentioned.
Phillips struck out the aspect — Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Travis d’Arnaud — on 12 pitches to start his big-league profession. He regarded sharp in 4 innings. The South Jersey native was raised as a Phillies fan and this accomplishment meant quite a bit to generations of Phillipses. Tyler’s father, Dan, was at Truist Park. So was Tyler’s 3-year-old son, Frank, named after his late grandfather who taught him to like the Phillies.
The 26-year-old righty grew to become the primary Phillies pitcher with seven strikeouts in his big-league debut since Cole Hamels in 2006. Hamels was one among Phillips’ favourite Phillies gamers rising up. Phillips confirmed the Phillies one thing.
“I hope so,” he mentioned. “I knew I had a job at present. I had a job. I simply need the ball. Give me the ball, and I’m going to go on the market and do every thing I can to go as deep as I can. Clearly, in my previous, I’ve by no means been a strikeout pitcher. I had just a few extra strikeouts at present. I’m going to chalk that as much as some adrenaline. Hopefully, we will simply preserve that going.”
Phillips and Mercado are auditioning for now and later, when the Phillies will want spot starters all through the summer season. They need to shield others within the rotation.
Taijuan Walker (blister) has been rehabbing with the group. He’ll throw a bullpen session Wednesday at Residents Financial institution Park and will progress to face hitters in a managed session over the weekend. He may need a minor-league begin sooner or later, however the Phillies might need to speed up issues if they need Walker within the rotation quickly after the All-Star break ends.
That All-Star Recreation may have a definite Phillies slant. It’s a mirrored image of what the Phillies have achieved thus far. They’ve greater objectives. Two unproductive days in Atlanta had been disappointing however not derailing. That may be a testomony to how good it’s proper now.
“The entrance workplace has constructed a very good roster,” Thomson mentioned. “And I’m happy with the seven guys.”
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(High picture of Jeff Hoffman: Alex Slitz / Getty Photographs)