PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies positioned each Bryce Harper (left hamstring pressure) and Kyle Schwarber (left groin pressure) on the 10-day injured checklist previous to Friday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Marlins — however the information may have been a lot worse.
“We dodged a bullet,” supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned. “It’s totally delicate; each of them. … So hopefully, 10-14 days. We do not have a timeline, however I do not count on them to be out lengthy.”
Within the meantime, the membership reinstated infielder Kody Clemens from the injured checklist and recalled outfielder Johan Rojas from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the vacancies on the lively roster.
Beginning with Friday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Marlins, the Phillies have 15 video games remaining earlier than the All-Star break. The earliest the duo may return is July 9, when Philadelphia opens a six-game homestand in opposition to the Dodgers and the A’s main into the break.
After all, the Phillies may maintain them out till after the break to offer them an additional 7-10 days if the pair is not therapeutic as shortly as anticipated. But when Harper and/or Schwarber are prepared, the Phils may ease them again into motion main as much as the Midsummer Traditional, then use that four-day break as additional restoration time.
“I believe Schwarber and Harper, there’s an opportunity — probability — they will come again earlier than the All-Star break,” Thomson mentioned. “However having mentioned that, we need to be certain that they’re utterly healed.”
Added Harper: “I do not need to put timelines on something. I am not that sort of individual. However as you guys know, I need to beat each timeline on the market. So I’m simply going to attempt to come again as fast as potential, however the smartest manner, as nicely.”
Harper and Schwarber be a part of an more and more crowded injured checklist that already options catcher J.T. Realmuto, who’s recovering from proper knee surgical procedure. Realmuto hit off a tee on Friday and is progressing nicely, however not like Harper and Schwarber, he’s extra more likely to return after the All-Star break.
That trio has mixed for 44 homers and 127 RBIs this season. Getting into Friday, that accounted for 45% of the Phillies’ residence runs and 32% of their RBIs.
“Yeah, they’re fairly good gamers; they positive are,” Thomson mentioned. “However what are you going to do? It is out of our management now and we have simply acquired to exit and play.”
With that in thoughts, let’s check out just a few of the important thing questions going through the Phillies within the absence of their stars.
Who will play first base?
Clemens began at first base on Friday and can probably proceed to take action in opposition to right-handed starters in Harper’s absence, however issues will look a bit completely different in opposition to lefties.
Just like final season earlier than Harper took over first-base duties, Thomson is more likely to slide Alec Bohm throughout the diamond to first base and begin the right-handed-hitting Edmundo Sosa at third base in opposition to southpaws.
“Subsequent-man-up mentality — I believe we have executed a fantastic job of that each one yr lengthy,” Harper mentioned. “Pony up, cowboy up, play the sport.”
How will the DH spot be used?
Whereas Schwarber has been locked into the on a regular basis DH position, his absence will permit Thomson some extra flexibility in that spot.
On Friday, that meant getting Nick Castellanos a uncommon day at DH. Castellanos has began all 82 video games this season — and all however one got here in proper subject (he was additionally the DH on Might 13). With Castellanos out of the lineup, Brandon Marsh acquired the beginning in proper with Rojas in heart and Whit Merrifield in left.
Over the following few sequence, count on Thomson to rotate that DH spot amongst guys like Castellanos, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott. Recalling Rojas, who was demoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 17, provides Thomson extra potential outfield combos.
“That is why we wished Rojas out right here,” Thomson mentioned. “Not solely did he show to us that he did all the issues that we requested him to do, however he provides us slightly extra flexibility.”
Talking of Rojas, he’ll get common taking part in time in the meanwhile. The 23-year-old went 13-for-34 (.382) with one homer and 6 stolen bases in eight video games with Lehigh Valley.
“As I’ve at all times acknowledged,” Thomson mentioned, “if he is right here, he’ll play more often than not.”
Stott acquired the primary crack at hitting leadoff – a spot he’s not solely unfamiliar with. He primarily crammed that position over the primary two months final season when Schwarber was hitting third whereas Harper recovered from Tommy John surgical procedure.
Utilizing Stott because the leadoff hitter additionally permits Turner to remain in his traditional No. 2 spot, whereas Bohm bumped as much as No. 3. Marsh hit cleanup and Castellanos hit fifth on Friday.
“Proper now, it is Stott,” Thomson mentioned. “He is at all times been form of a prototypical leadoff hitter for us, however Schwarber’s been there. So I believe he’ll fill in rather well.”