Sunday feels a lot like the start of a new unofficial era for the Philadelphia Phillies.
It’s the first game after Bryce Harper suffered a left thumb fracture with a 97.2 mph fastball from Blake Snell. Harper has been far and away the team’s best hitter thus far, and his absence leaves the team with numerous roles to fill.
Sunday’s lineup looked accordingly irregular, though that’s also partially because J.T. Realmuto has the day off.
Not ideal, but it’ll be the new normal — or close to it — for the foreseeable future.
Castellanos moves to the three-hole — and out of right field
It hasn’t been the season Nick Castellanos imagined. After signing a five-year, $100 million contract in March, he’s hitting .242 with a .677 OPS, and he passes neither the eye nor the analytical test in right field.
Castellanos wasn’t supposed to play right field often, but he was forced there due to Harper’s elbow injury that affected his throwing but not his hitting. Now, with Harper out, Castellanos should slot into the DH spot more frequently.
Manager Rob Thomson was asked pregame whether that will have a positive impact on not just the Phillies’ defense, but also Castellanos’ production.
“I think they all [Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber or whoever’s at DH] can benefit from it,” Thomson said. “Because it gives them a day off their feet. But I know that both him and Schwarb like playing defense because it keeps them engaged in the game, keeps them moving. But I think the DH spot, and rotating it around, can help a lot of different people, just giving them a little breather.”
As for the three-hole, Thomson said the Phillies are “working through some different ideas” regarding who could fill Harper’s void. Castellanos was the choice on Sunday, in part due to a quick turnaround after Harper’s injury.
Moniak to play “a lot” against upcoming righties
As of approximately 11:20 a.m. PT, Thomson said Mickey Moniak — the corresponding move to Harper’s injury — hadn’t landed in San Diego yet, but he’d be at the stadium by first pitch at 1:10. He said Moniak will play “a lot” the next couple weeks because the Phillies are slated to face quite a few righties against the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals (two series) and Washington Nationals.
“He’s been swinging the bat well,” Thomson said of Moniak, who slashed .313/.353/.604 in his most recent Triple-A stint. “He went down, worked hard and got his swing back … He’s been slugging a little bit and he can play defense as well as anyone. So it’s good.”
Thomson views center field as Moniak’s best defensive position. When the Phillies do face lefties, Matt Vierling can slot in at center. But Vierling will also mix in at second and third base to give days off to other regulars. (Vierling is in right field on Sunday with Odúbel Herrera in center, because Herrera is more comfortable in center than right.)
“I just like the energy those guys bring every day,” Thomson said of the younger players.
Other notes:
- Thomson isn’t sure exactly what day Harper will see a specialist in Philadelphia, but he confirmed he is seeing one.
- Thomson said the Phillies were looking at Zach Eflin, who has dealt with a knee bruise recently and was pulled at 80 pitches on Saturday. “I don’t think it’s real bad,” Thomson said. “But they’re looking at him.”
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