The Phillies are chasing something they haven’t had since 2008, and that urgency hangs over every lineup decision now. With Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner all in the middle of an aging core, Philadelphia knows the window to cash in is not wide open forever.
That’s why Justin Crawford’s spot has become such a talking point. The 22-year-old center fielder brings speed, but the bat has not exactly screamed postseason difference-maker. He’s hitting .263/.311/.347 with a .659 OPS, has only two home runs, and his on-base percentage sits below league average.
There’s value in the legs, though. Crawford has 16 stolen bases in 20 attempts, but his walk rate is part of the reason there could be more in the tank. If he got on base more often, that speed would play up even more.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline pointed to the bigger issue: Philadelphia needs something to wake up a lineup that can vanish when the lights get bright. “Their rotation is elite, but questions crop up around the bullpen and especially the lineup, which has a maddening tendency to disappear in big moments, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper notwithstanding,” Kline wrote.
“The Phillies could really use an extra jolt. One potential avenue might be benching 22-year-old Justin Crawford, even if it means momentarily sidetracking his development.”
Kline also noted that the Phillies have stood by Crawford through the ups and downs of his season, and there’s been some payoff. Crawford hit .306 with a .761 OPS in August.
But he’s already slipping a bit in September, and Kline argued that his ground-ball-heavy, slap-hitting approach may not fit the modern postseason well. He suggested Philadelphia could turn to Derek Hill or Bryan De La Cruz for more power lower in the order.
For now, the expectation is that Crawford stays in center. Still, if he can’t provide real production at the plate, the Phillies may look back at this choice with regret once October arrives.
In Other News...
Cubs Face A Tough Seiya Suzuki Decision As Interest Builds
The Phillies are once again being tied to the kind of outfield upgrade that can change the shape of a lineup, with a right-handed bat at the center of the conversation. Seiya Suzuki has drawn attention as a free agent after a strong recent stretch, and his profile fits a clear Philadelphia need for more balance and pop from the right side.
For a club looking to keep adding impact pieces, Suzuki would check a lot of boxes if the market breaks that way. The hold-up is the obvious one: Chicago still has reason to try to keep him, and Philadelphia is left waiting to see whether a pursuit that makes sense on paper can turn into something more real. [Read more 🡒]
Derek Hill Is Becoming A Phillies Folk Hero For More Than One Reason
Since arriving in early June, Derek Hill has quickly carved out a role in Philadelphia that goes well beyond a late-inning bench piece. The Phillies have gotten timely offense from him, including multiple pinch-hit home runs, and he has backed that up with the kind of outfield defense that shows up in the numbers and in the moment, with difficult plays that have helped keep games under control.
Hill has also been building a reputation away from the box score, where his presence around town has started to matter almost as much as what he does on the field. After games, he has been spotted helping local Philadelphians with everyday problems like changing flat tires, the sort of quiet, hands-on kindness that tends to travel fast in this city and makes his rise as a fan favorite feel bigger than a hot streak. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Rotation Is Chasing A Level Of History Few Teams Ever Reach
The Phillies rotation has spent the season looking less like a strength and more like a nightly advantage, with Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo driving the groups success. Sanchez has been the headliner, leading MLB in bWAR and victories, while Wheeler and Luzardo have matched the standard with the kind of steady, high-end outings that have kept Philadelphia in position to lean on pitching the way it always wants to.
What makes the group so intriguing now is how rare the pace has become. All three starters are on track for win percentages of at least .700 and strikeout rates of 10.00 or better per nine innings, a blend of dominance and consistency that has put the Phillies on the edge of something unusual even by elite-rotation standards. It is the sort of benchmark that can define a staffs place in team history, and the final comparison line from OptaSTATS only sharpens the anticipation around where this trio might land. [Read more 🡒]