Phillies News and Discussion 2025 Season

[Philsmania]

Just as long as Wheeler is straight with his manager, i think he'll be utilized correctly and if necessary, conservatively. This is where our starting depth coupled with our now-longer bullpen should help us - let Wheeler skip a few starts and be fresh for the playoffs.
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Six man rotation when Nola comes back?

[andyb]

Maybe a 6-day rotation rather than a 6-man rotation?

Depends on health of course but it seems letting Walker accumulate innings is a good thing of late.

[EastFallowfield]

Fangraphs, in a story about the Mets disappointing offense, has listed all the teams and the difference between what was projected for their offense before the season and what they've done so far.

Phils are in the negative category, down .004, with the caveat that MLB on the whole is down .007, so they're actually doing better than they would be if they just matched the average drop. The Mets, though, are indeed underperforming and you have to go way down the list to find them.

The Underperforming and Overachieving Offenses of 2025

[zambonir]

Harrison Bader to get opportunity vs. right-handed starter; David Robertson to...

[andyb]

I always thought they were going to get Bader up to about 4-5 starts a week which was going to be all the starts against LHP and maybe close to half against RHP. Kepler probably sits the most but they can give Casty a day off here and there also.

For the future I am fine leaving Crawford in the minors now because he really would not play every day and the guy he replaces (Kepler) might be only getting 3 starts a week these days anyway.

Next year I give Crawford the Kepler roster spot and let him earn a full time job if he can. Maybe we can have 2 prospects eligible for the draft pick bonus with Painter as well. For the rest of this season they should just bring Rojas back in September for defense and pinch running and not start Crawford's service clock.

[Ryles]

Why don't they give Casty a day off? He should have sat last night or else tonight against a tough RHP. His offense has been so-so & it's definitely not the best defensive OF with him out there. He does try hard & no question about his hustle. His tendency to be disruptive must influence the front office to keep a drama-free clubhouse.

[andyb]

Rolling out Bader, Marsh, and Kepler occasionally in the outfield is pretty good defensively. Might be a fit when our starters who give up more fly balls are pitching (Wheeler and Luzardo most likely). And we need to play Sosa at 3B when Sanchez and Suarez and Nola pitch.

[zambonir]

I don't think Casty is actually disruptive. He had one little heat-of-the-moment blow-up. It's not even true that he ever insisted on playing every game last year, it was something he said half in jest that Thomson decided was an admirable goal for him.

Kepler was more disruptive with his complaints about not starting, and while that has blown over, demoting him to full-on bench player might not go over well. But seems the only real path.

Problem is Kepler's results at the plate are just so poor. Casty's still got him beat against RHP by 50 OPS points this year. That doesn't mean going by the book/larger career sample and defense isn't still a good idea. But Thomson specifically called Nick an everyday guy just yesterday.

[BostonRoss]

Marsh now third on the team in OPS

[andyb]

And we get the Casty rest day with Bader in CF and Kepler in RF with the flyball pitcher throwing in Luzardo!

Maybe someone is reading my comments.

[zambonir]

Sounds like Rob is still managing egos with a bit of spin for now. Tomorrow will be all RHB OFs too.

Nick Castellanos is out of Phillies lineup on Saturday for a pre-planned rest...

Robertson is in Arlington. And Wheels is making his start tomorrow.

[zambonir]

4.5 up all of a sudden. The Mets have blown 5.5 leads twice I believe, but Phillies have never led by as much as 3.5 until now.

[Jazzhead]

I like how well Bader hit deGrom tonight. Heck, I like how the outfield looked defensively tonight and I'd like Robby to think about designing lineups with his pitchers in mind, as has been proposed above. When Luzardo pitches, use the Marsh-Bader-Kepler trio most of the time.

[Austinfan]

I hated what they gave up, but Duran is the real thing.
Absolutely filthy stuff, 4 seamer 100-102, splitter 96-98, knuckle curve 89, and a sweeper with great movement.
The kind of pitcher we hated to see come in when we were down a run or two.

[flyers19rw]

Robertson activated; Rangel sent down to LHV

[andyb]

Last easy pitching roster decision. Fitting Nola and Alvarado in will be more challenging.

[zambonir]

As decent as Lazar has been, still a pretty easy call to option him until September. Plus they all have to stay healthy for the next nine days [when Alvarado comes back]. Beyond that I assume they will just risk losing Ross on waivers.

[RolenRules]

Sosa fielded well at 3B as well

[EDmuch]

To me starting outfield should be Marsh, Bader & Casty with Kepler, Kemp, Sosa and Marchan on bench.

[zambonir]

And if you count the number of starts/innings played from August 1 until the end of the season that's what it will end up looking like. But the platoon match-ups work. Marsh is still not good against LHP. Kepler will play but not every often [he truly will be back-up/bench player instead of being the strong side of a platoon like he was until the deadline].

The sole remaining question is whether it is Wilson or Kemp who sticks on the bench once Bohm comes back.