Manager Rob Thomson discussed the team’s preparations for the playoff roster with media earlier on Saturday, including Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, now that the Phillies have formally secured a postseason position. For this year’s playoffs, Coffey reports that the team seems to be leaning toward a 12-man pitching staff and an extended bench.
Currently, the club’s bench consists of Garrett Stubbs, Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens, Weston Wilson, and Cal Stevenson. As the team’s backup catcher and key utility infielder, respectively, Stubbs and Sosa are almost certain spots on the playoff bench; but, three spots are still available if the team choose to use a five-man bench. Coffey mentions that recently optioned infielder Buddy Kennedy might also be considered for a seat on the postseason bench, in addition to Clemens, Wilson, and Stevenson.
Most notably, even though he has been out of the lineup for the whole month of September because of a kidney infection, outfielder Austin Hays is expected to be discussed among the team’s bench players this playoffs.
The Triple-A season ends on Sunday, so Hays’ rehab assignment there is only expected to last two days. However, Thomson told reporters, including Coffey, that the team isn’t worried about Hays’ lack of in-game experience because, should the Phillies win the wild card round, as they appear to be doing, Hays will have plenty of opportunities to bat in intra-squad games during that break before the NLDS.
Hays, 28, began the season with the Orioles but was traded to the Phillies in July’s trade deadline transaction that sent right-hander Seranthony Dominguez to Baltimore. With a slash line of.254/.305/.388 (96 wRC+), he has been about league-average this year, though he was above average until faltering in Philadelphia as he adapted to a bench role.
Despite this, as seen by his incredible 166 wRC+ versus righties this season, he’s still a great source of offense against left-handed pitchers. This might make him something of a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh, whom the Phillies have spent a large portion of the season trying to shield from same-handed pitching.
Hays would leave two spaces open for the other four names that appear to be under consideration if he were to join Sosa and Stubbs on the team’s bench. While Clemens has the best record of the group as a pinch hitter this year, he could also be a desirable option. Over the past month, Stevenson has benefited from semi-regular playing time in a platoon with Johan Rojas in center field and could play in a similar role into the playoffs. That being said, if the team would rather have more right-handed bench options than Sosa and Hays, Wilson and Kennedy may both be good choices.
ready to go on a rehab assignment with Hays Spencer Turnbull, a right-hander, is scheduled to begin the season finale at Triple-A on Sunday and continue his rehabilitation at the club’s Florida facilities, according to MLB.com’s Injury Tracker. For the 32-year-old, who has been sidelined since late June because of a lat strain but may still play for the team in the postseason, it’s a positive step. In a swing job early in the season, the right-hander was nothing short of spectacular for the Phillies, pitching to a 2.65 ERA with a 3.85 FIP in 54 1/3 innings pitched.
Speaking of injured right-handers, Coffey mentioned that, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, top pitching prospect Andrew Painter may be considering a stint in the Arizona Fall League while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Painter has been throwing to live batters at the team’s Florida facilities, but Dombrowski pointed out that the organization hasn’t decided if he will be available for the AFL yet in order to avoid pressuring the 21-year-old to rush his recovery.
After an impressive spring training campaign last year, Painter—the club’s top pitching prospect and a unanimous top-30 prospect in the sport—was considered for the club’s Opening Day roster. However, he ultimately had Tommy John surgery, which kept him out of action due to injuries, and he eventually had surgery. Though a comeback this fall in Arizona would be an encouraging development for a young player who has lost a lot of reps over the last two seasons due to injury, the young player figures to be ready to return in time for the 2025 campaign.
