The Phillies are deep enough into September to start making the little decisions that can shape a run, and Kyle Schwarber’s role is one of them.
With 32 games left, Philadelphia is looking at more than just the standings. The club has trimmed the gap to the Braves to 3.5 games after being eight back on August 1, and a nine-game winning streak helped fuel the climb.
But the push has also left the roster nicked up. Luis Arraez is dealing with lower body cramps, Alec Bohm has tightness in the hamstring/groin area, and Derek Hill is battling a neck injury after an impressive coach against the Cardinals earlier this month.
That’s part of why Schwarber was at first base on Sunday, his fifth game there this season, while Bryce Harper shifted out of right field and into designated hitter. Edmundo Sosa handled third, Bryson Stott was back at second, and Bryan De La Cruz was in right.
The Phillies want to see more of Schwarber in the field before the season ends, and manager Don Mattingly made it clear that possibility is very much on the table.
“I think he could," Phillies manager Don Mattingly said. "I don’t know if we’ve been willing. I didn’t think we’ve been willing to in the past.
"I think he’s been fine over there. The more you get out there and get some reps. I don’t think LF should be out of the realm for Kyle either, but we do have to take care of him - make sure he stays healthy."
That flexibility matters because the DH spot is already part of a crowded setup. Harper is 33, J.T.
Realmuto is 35, and Harper has also had some knee soreness since moving to right field for the first time since 2022. The Phillies have to manage that wear while keeping the lineup intact, and first base is off the table for Harper the rest of the way, especially with Alec Bohm swinging it well lately.
“There’s gotta be 12-15 games a year where Bryce DHs," Mattingly said. "We gotta be able to get Bryce off his feet.
He’s not 19 anymore. And there’s definitely going to be wear and tear on the body from playing all the time.”
Bohm, for his part, said the clubhouse isn’t fixated on the Braves. Philadelphia knows the calendar, knows the games left, and knows what each night can mean.
“I mean anything’s possible right" Bohm said Friday on the Phillies trying to catch the Braves. "We play them a lot coming up here. I don’t think that’s the main focus in here.
"I think we’re, you know, showing up each day and trying to play winning baseball and do what we can to win the game that’s right in front of us today."
There’s also good news on the pitching side. Painter worked seven innings in a start for the first time since September 3, 2022, when he was pitching for Double-A Reading. That was before Tommy John surgery, back when he was one of the most discussed pitching prospects in the sport.
He also threw 103 pitches, the most he’s logged in a game this season. The Phillies have not been overly cautious with him as the stretch run approaches, but this outing carried extra weight because it was the first time he reached 100 pitches in his major league career, or in professional baseball. He came out of it with no issues or fatigue the next day, which was a strong sign for the Phillies.
“As far as the first medical this morning was. After the game, that’s kind of what we were getting, how he was feeling. ," Mattingly said. "But he didn’t come out of the game bad, so I figure he’s probably feeling pretty good today.”
In the bullpen, Kerkering has become the kind of arm the Phillies can drop into almost any situation, and that’s been especially true since the trade deadline passed. He’s been used in the seventh and eighth innings, including an up down on Friday, and the numbers show why the club keeps leaning on him there: a 3.86 ERA in the seventh with 22 strikeouts and six walks, and a 4.26 ERA in the eighth with 22 strikeouts and 15 walks.
When everyone is available, Jonathan Bowlan handles the eighth inning. If Bowlan isn’t, the Phillies have trusted Kerkering to bridge the late innings, usually against pockets of hitters they like his matchup in.
"I think it’s just picking pockets right?" Mattingly said.
"Sometimes it’s just - let’s say Bowlan isn’t available. 7-8 is a left-right pocket someway. If it’s a righty pocket in the seventh, it’s Kerkie in some way.
Usually you’re trying to get him the better hitters. In that role, he’s getting the left and right (handed batter).
"But if we can we get right. If it’s a lefty pocket in the seventh, and that’s where we’re at - Kerkie gets the eighth. It’s where the pockets fall.”
For the first time since his 2023 call-up, Kerkering appears to have a clear lane in the bullpen. If the Phillies are protecting a lead in the seventh or eighth, there’s a strong chance he’s the one coming out of the pen.
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