The Phillies have 12 games left, and the next two could matter a lot as they try to keep pace in a crowded race.
After a needed day off following a rough weekend against the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia is set to face the Washington Nationals on Tuesday and Wednesday. The matchup comes at a good time on the schedule, at least in one sense: Washington is out of contention and not playing well. But the rest of the road for the Phillies is not especially friendly, and with the wild card picture still tight, these are games they need to bank.
A big reason Philadelphia has steadied itself is the work from the mound, with the starting rotation drawing plenty of credit lately. Zack Wheeler, in particular, has rebounded after a poor August. The lineup has done its part too, and one of the biggest reasons for that has been Alec Bohm.
Bohm, a former All-Star, has turned his season around after a miserable start. His overall line now sits at .248/.309/.390 with 15 home runs and 82 RBI, and that’s a far cry from where things began.
The second half has been the better story, and August showed just how much he has helped. He hit .327/.391/.439 that month with one home run and 17 RBI, getting on base and driving in runs for a lineup that needed exactly that.
Through September, he has an OPS just under .900.
That kind of finish is forcing a bigger question for Philadelphia beyond this season. Bohm is set to become a free agent at the end of the year, and his strong stretch - paired with that All-Star nod on his résumé - is going to make him a notable name when he reaches the market.
For the Phillies, the fit is becoming clearer. They need right-handed hitters, and keeping Bohm is starting to look like a move that makes a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Lost A Depth Piece To A Rival For Nothing
The Phillies roster churn this week reached a familiar kind of crossroads, with infielder Christian Cairo moving on after spending the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Cairo never got into a big-league game for Philadelphia, but he was part of the organizations infield depth picture, the kind of player teams like to keep nearby in case the major-league roster needs a quick patch.
Instead, Cairo is headed to a division rival after being claimed off waivers by the Mets, who had an open spot on their 40-man roster following the designation of reliever Chris Devenski. For the Phillies, it is a small move on paper but a reminder that even depth pieces can disappear quickly when another club has room to grab them. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies May Have Found An Expensive Answer To Their Outfield Problem
The Phillies have spent enough time looking for a long-term fix in the corner outfield that even an expensive option starts to make sense if it solves the problem cleanly. Seiya Suzuki fits that conversation because his recent work suggests a player who can handle right field and bring impact at the plate, which is exactly the kind of profile Philadelphia has been hunting as it tries to stabilize the edges of its lineup.
Suzukis appeal comes with the usual catch for a player in that tier: he is no bargain, and the age-and-contract side of the equation matters as much as the bat and glove. Still, the fit is easy to see for a Phillies club that wants more certainty in the outfield, and the question is less about whether Suzuki checks boxes than whether Philadelphia is willing to pay the kind of price a true answer at the position would require. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Are Already Second Guessing One Bullpen Deadline Decision
The Phillies went into the deadline looking for relief help and came away with Brooks Raley, a move that made sense at the time for a club trying to tighten up the back end of games. Since then, though, the fit has looked shakier. Raley has stumbled in recent appearances, and the kinds of late-inning spots Philadelphia wanted to stabilize have instead turned into fresh anxiety.
Relief markets are always part performance, part timing, and the Phillies are already facing the sort of hindsight that comes with every bullpen deal. Erik Miller, Luke Weaver and Tyler Wells all drew attention as alternatives because they were available and pitching well this season, which only sharpens the questions around Philadelphias choice. The season is still unfolding, but the early returns have made this one deadline call look far less certain than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]