MIAMI — Watching the scoreboard certainly isn’t what it used to be. Remember what it was like at Citizens Bank Park on the final day of the 2007 season, when a Phillies win and a Mets loss put the home team in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years? How New York, which started a half-hour earlier, allowed seven runs in the first inning? How the sellout crowd in South Philly roared its approval as the Phils edged ever closer to the postseason before the first pitch of their game had even been thrown?
Today the situation is different, as there are multiple wildcards and home-field advantage in the World Series, where the better record in the regular season, etc. is decisive.
As the Phillies took the field at LoanDepot Park on Thursday night to begin a four-game series against the Marlins, several of the large blue numbers on the away board in left-center this weekend caught their attention.
After the 5-2 win against the Fish, they have won five games in a row and ten of twelve games.
They have an 8-game lead over the Braves (who lost to Colorado and now host Toronto), but the Mets (at home against Cincinnati) are hot on their heels. That could impact which team in the NL East will be a potential future playoff opponent. More importantly, they are tied with the Dodgers (at home against Guardians) for the best record in the National League. They are three games ahead of the Brewers (at home against Rockies), giving them home-field advantage until the World Series. And they are a slim lead over the Orioles (at Rays), Guardians (at Dodgers), and Yankees (at Cubs) for the best overall record.
That’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s important because the Phillies are money in the bank (47-24) and mediocre everywhere else (37-32).
Which brings us to Bryce Harper.
The Phillies superstar admitted last week that he was suffering from discomfort in his surgically repaired right elbow and wrist and was taken out of the game in Toronto on Wednesday after a pitch hit him in the right elbow.
He started Thursday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 9, 97 at-bats ago. Logic suggests a few days’ rest could do wonders for him. But even with a comfortable lead in the division, finishing with the best record remains a goal. What’s a manager to do?
“There’s a balance there and we have to keep an eye on it as we get there,” Rob Thomson said of his overall approach to navigating the remaining three-plus weeks of the schedule. “There’s that final incentive of having the best record in baseball. So that’s there and I’ve said all along that it’s so important to play at home in front of our fans. It just energizes our group, so I think that’s an important part. Without putting people at risk.”
As for Harper specifically, he said a week off would be the answer. “But if we need to rest him at some point, we will,” he added.
HE IS NO. 5: The Phillies have confirmed that right-hander Seth Johnson will be called up to the team and will face the Marlins on Sunday, replacing Tyler Phillips in the rotation, who was sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after his last start.
Johnson was acquired from the Orioles along with right-hander Moises Chace in a trade deadline deal that also brought reliever Gregory Soto to Baltimore. “The reports have been very good,” Thomson said. “The fastball is 94-96. He’s got a four-pitch mix. We’re really happy with what we have.”
This means that on Friday night at 6:40 p.m., Zack Wheeler (13-6, 2.63) will face RHP Edward Cabrera (3-6, 5.33), on Saturday at 4:10 p.m., RHP Aaron Nola (12-6, 3.29) will face RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 8.74), and on Sunday at 1:40 p.m., in the series finale, Johnson (making his major league debut) will face RHP Max Meyer (3-5, 5.68).
ROSTER ROULETTE: Outfielder Aaron Hays was placed on the injured list Thursday because of a kidney infection and outfielder Cal Stevenson was called up as his replacement. “It’s a kidney infection, so we’re sending him back to Philadelphia to do more tests and make sure it really is one,” Thomson said. “Obviously, I’m not a doctor, but they tell me it’s hard to say how long it’s going to last. We thought 48 hours of antibiotics would knock it out, but that didn’t happen. In fact, it’s worse.” … Alec Bohm was unable to play because of a sore wrist. “It’s just a spot where he’s starting to roll his hand over it, and he can feel it. It feels a little better every day, but it hasn’t progressed as quickly as we had hoped,” Thomson said.
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