ARLINGTON -- Phillies manager Rob Thomson had plenty of updates heading into this weekend’s series against the Rangers -- including a potential bullpen reinforcement joining the team on Sunday -- but one thing that did not change was his outfield alignment.
Though he had hinted that changes could be coming in the outfield, Thomson stuck with his usual platoons for Friday’s series opener at Globe Life Field. That meant Max Kepler started in left field and Brandon Marsh in center field against Texas right-hander Merrill Kelly.
Marsh more than did his part, connecting for a season-high four hits -- including one of the hardest-hit home runs of his career -- to lead the Phillies to a 9-1 victory. After a leadoff double in the second, Marsh ripped a 109.3 mph homer to lead off the fourth, marking the second-hardest-hit home run of his career (109.8 mph vs. the Yankees on April 4, 2023).
Marsh later added a bloop double off left-handed reliever Robert Garcia and a single off righty reliever Cole Winn.
But those changes are still coming -- as soon as Saturday. Even with another righty on the mound in Jacob deGrom, Thomson already committed to starting right-handed-hitter Harrison Bader. It’s unclear who will start in left field between Marsh and Kepler.
“I'm going to try to mix it up a little bit the next couple days,” Thomson said. “Because I want to find out: Who's hot? Who's not? Then, go from there.”
After acquiring Bader at last week’s Trade Deadline, Thomson committed to sticking with platoons in both left and center for six games. Those six games came and went, with Bader hitting a clutch homer on Monday, Kepler turning in one of his best games of the season on Tuesday and Marsh continuing to swing the bat well (albeit primarily against right-handed pitchers).
“Kepler had a good day the other day and has swung the bat pretty well lately,” Thomson said. “I really like Bader. Marsh is a guy.”
With Thomson committing to starting Bader in center on Saturday -- and almost certainly on Sunday against left-hander Patrick Corbin -- it seems as if Bader is likely to get regular reps in center. The question would then become what happens in left field, where Thomson could give Marsh a longer look in a somewhat everyday role or continue with a platoon of either Marsh or Kepler paired with right-handed hitters Weston Wilson or Otto Kemp.
There’s also the Justin Crawford factor.
Another option could be to platoon Bader and Marsh in center while calling up Crawford -- the club’s No. 3 prospect -- and giving him a run in left field, though that seems far less likely. With the team seemingly intent on getting Bader more reps and with Marsh hitting well enough to command at least a platoon role, there doesn’t seem to be a path to regular playing time for Crawford -- something the organization has said Crawford would need to have if he were to be called up.
While that situation will play out over the next few days, Thomson also gave an update on Zack Wheeler, as well as progress reports on David Robertson, José Alvarado, Aaron Nola and Alec Bohm -- all of whom are at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Robertson
Robertson faced only one batter for Lehigh Valley on Thursday night -- but that was by design. After throwing 15 pitches on Wednesday, the Phillies just wanted to see Robertson pitch on back-to-back days for the first time.
Robertson struck out Spencer Jones (Yankees' No. 4 prospect) on five pitches, freezing him on a 92.6 mph sinker on the low-outside corner.
“We’ve checked about every box we need to check,” Thomson said. “So if he feels good, we'll activate him on Sunday.”
Don’t expect to see Robertson thrown directly into high-leverage spots, though the Phils are confident he will get there.
“He was 94 [mph], cutter was good, breaking ball has been good and he's hitting his spots,” Thomson said. “So we'll just have to see, but I see sort of easing him in a little bit.”
Alvarado
Alvarado made his first rehab appearance for Lehigh Valley on Thursday, tossing a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts. He allowed one hit and did not walk anyone, while hitting 98.6 mph and throwing eight of his 12 pitches for strikes.
“Alvarado was unbelievable -- 97, 98 [mph],” Thomson said. “He looked great. Cutter was fantastic.”
Alvarado is eligible to rejoin the Phillies on Aug. 19 following his 80-game PED suspension.
Nola
After another solid start for Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, Nola is lined up for his third rehab outing on Tuesday.
If all goes well, could Nola (sprained right ankle/stress fracture in rib) potentially rejoin the Phillies after that one?
“I think so, yeah,” Thomson said. “There's a chance.”
Sidelined since May 15, Nola would be lined up to return to the rotation for next Sunday’s series finale against the Nationals in D.C.
Bohm
After successfully going through all baseball-related activities over the past few days, Bohm (left rib fracture) will begin a rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley on Sunday. The timeline for his return will depend on how long it takes to get his timing back, though it figures to come by the time the Phillies return home on Aug. 18, if not sooner.
“[We] want to make sure that his timing is right and he's going to produce when he gets back here,” Thomson said. “So, however many at-bats that takes, we'll do it.”
Wheeler
Wheeler, who had his start pushed back two days after feeling some shoulder soreness following his last start, remains on track to start Sunday’s series finale in Arlington.
“He had a bullpen [session] today,” Thomson said prior to Friday’s opener. “As long as he comes in fine tomorrow, he's starting Sunday.”