CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.
CHICAGO — Two weeks in the past, Michael Mercado was in Allentown beginning towards the Norfolk Tides.
Taijuan Walker was wholesome. Spencer Turnbull was wholesome. The thought of Mercado discovering himself on the mound at Wrigley Area for his first major-league begin in entrance of the perfect group in baseball simply two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.
But there he was for the Phillies’ sequence opener towards the Cubs, making the primary of what may very well be 5 begins main into the July 30 commerce deadline.
The 25-year-old rookie allowed exhausting contact right here and there — principally to Cody Bellinger — however had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by permitting only one run on two hits over 5 innings in a 6-4 win, a job properly completed for any group’s fifth starter.
Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 rely to Ian Happ within the first inning however rebounded to strike him out.
He threw 28 pitches within the third inning and allowed a two-out RBI double, then cruised by means of the fourth and fifth.
“That is what’s most necessary is to have that composure and nonetheless compete and never get rattled,” Trea Turner mentioned.
“That tells you a bit of bit about his make-up and poise,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He threw strikes, fastball had good velo, seemed prefer it had good keep on it. Cutter was actually efficient and he landed his breaking ball sufficient to maintain them off every little thing else. I assumed he was actually good.”
Mercado did not even start the 12 months on the Phillies’ depth chart of beginning pitchers. They acquired him in November from the Rays, who did not have room on their 40-man roster, and he started the season as a reliever at Triple A.
However the struggles of starters like Kolby Allard, David Buchanan and Mick Abel, amongst others, gave him a chance.
“It was really (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan that got here up with it as a result of we had a few guys who weren’t throwing properly at Triple A to begin the season,” Thomson mentioned. “Simply the repertoire with excessive velocity, the strike-throwing means and the way in which he can throw his breaking ball, the effectiveness of it, he thought that it is likely to be a giant piece for us for depth. And thank god he got here up with the concept as a result of it is actually labored out properly.”
The top to Mercado’s first begin was particularly spectacular. He retired the ultimate seven hitters he confronted and wanted solely 21 pitches whole to get by means of the fourth and fifth innings earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen, which retired 9 in a row till Jose Ruiz allowed all three batters he confronted within the ninth inning to attain.
“Each instances I felt like I felt extra nervous simply warming up pregame,” Mercado mentioned of his first reduction look and first begin. “It is like making my debut, it is a kind of issues that you just dream about doing at a spot so historic. It was an excellent group win, too. I am simply glad that I may contribute.
“I feel simply the arrogance I’ve in myself and the arrogance the blokes on this clubhouse have in me. We return to what we have all the time been doing and for me, that is pitching. With the ability to settle in and deal with it like another recreation is big.”
It helped that the Phillies supported him early. Garrett Stubbs, who prides himself on the game-planning and strategic ingredient of catching, navigated Mercado by means of the beginning and additional helped him with a two-run double down the third-base line within the second inning.
Turner hit a solo residence run to left-center within the prime of the third, then brutalized a middle-in 94 mph fastball from Hayden Wesneski within the fifth, hitting it 439 ft out of the stadium onto Waveland Ave for a two-run shot. Two innings later, Turner fell behind within the rely 1-2 earlier than stroking a two-out, opposite-field RBI single.
“Oh, completely,” Thomson mentioned of the optimistic impression of early run assist. “However it could actually work the opposite manner, too. It will possibly put extra stress on a man as a result of he is obtained the lead and he does not wish to give it up. However he held his personal. He was nice.”
Turner had the game-winning two-run single on Sunday and will likely be much more essential than typical over the subsequent week to 10 days because the Phillies await the returns of Bryce Harper (hamstring pressure), Kyle Schwarber (groin pressure) and J.T. Realmuto (proper meniscus surgical procedure restoration). All three injured Phillies are making progress. They every jogged on the sector Tuesday, Realmuto did receiving drills and took batting follow on the sector for the primary time since his June 12 surgical procedure, and Harper and Schwarber hit within the cage indoors.
Harper and Schwarber may very well be again as quickly as July 9. Realmuto’s return may need to attend till after the All-Star break, although Thomson hasn’t closed the door.
“We’ll see,” the Phillies’ supervisor mentioned Tuesday afternoon. “He is a fast healer.”
The Phillies have gone 11-9 with out Realmuto and are 3-1 since Harper and Schwarber went down. They’ve gotten huge contributions from Turner and Nick Castellanos, and likewise from Stubbs.
Stubbs treats his offense like “icing on the cake” however he is held his personal on the dish since Realmuto’s surgical procedure, batting .275 with a success in 10 of the 11 video games he is performed.
The following-man-up mentality for the 2024 Phillies has been extra than simply lip service.
“A whole lot of guys wish to play,” Turner mentioned. “Everyone’s excited for the chance and that is actually necessary. Do not know if that is all the time the case however I really feel like guys are itching to play and that is actually cool. When their identify’s known as, it is their time to show what they’re able to, and we have numerous good gamers on prime of that. That mixture is what you are seeing.”
The Phils are 56-29, a season-best 27 video games over .500. The Braves misplaced to the Giants so the Phillies’ division lead is again as much as 9 video games. The groups meet this weekend for the primary time because the first three video games of the 12 months.
However first, they’re going to look to take at the very least two of three from a Cubs group that has misplaced six of seven sequence and 16 of the final 24 video games. Zack Wheeler takes the hill Wednesday night time and Cristopher Sanchez will begin the afternoon of July 4.