Dodging a bullet is practically impossible, since it travels faster than the speed of sound, but if it were possible, the Phillies would be pretty good at it by now. They’ve been practicing a lot.
The latest came on Friday afternoon, when it was announced that first baseman Bryce Harper (left hamstring strain) and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (left groin strain) had been placed on the 10-day disabled list.
Johan Rojas was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Cody Clemens returned from a rehab assignment with the IronPigs and was placed on the disabled list. Both started against the Marlins, with Rojas in center field and Clemens at first base.
So for the foreseeable future, a lineup that entered Friday night tied with the Dodgers for the lead in the National League in runs scored will be noticeably absent three key players: Harper, Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Manager Rob Thomson noted the fact that things could have been a lot worse. “They’re pretty good players,” he said with a wry smile. “But what are we going to do? It’s out of our control now. We’ve just got to go out there and play.”
“They’re both very mild. Harper’s symptoms are similar to what (Brandon) Marsh had. Kyle’s symptoms are very mild. We don’t have a set recovery timeline, but we’re hopeful it’ll be 10 to 14 days. I don’t think he’ll be out long. We’re very lucky. We’ve definitely averted a crisis.”
It’s an analogy Thompson has had occasion to invoke often this season. Marsh missed just eight games after straining his hamstring. When left-hander Ranger Suarez was hit in the hand by a liner against the Cardinals, it initially looked like a serious injury, but he didn’t miss a single at-bat. So did third baseman Alec Bohm, who was hit in the hand by a 98-mph fastball from Mets closer Edwin Diaz and started the next day.
That means the baseball gods are smiling on the Phillies. Try that for the Braves, who lost their best pitcher this season in Spencer Strider and their best hitter in Ronald Acuña Jr. Try that for the Dodgers, who will be without Mookie Betts for six to eight weeks after he broke his hand after being hit by a pitch.
Harper limped out on a grounder for the final out against the Marlins on Thursday night, and Schwarber strained his groin while stepping in to throw to the infield in the eighth inning.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing to go on the disabled list,” said Harper, who was just named the National League’s starting first baseman as the league’s leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game on July 16. “Obviously, you don’t want that to happen.
“But it was the best decision for our team. Hopefully we can come back in the smartest way possible. The quickest way possible. I don’t like to set timetables for myself. I want to beat all timetables. Of course, it’s a next man up mentality. I think we’ve done a great job of that all year. So let’s just go all out and hang in there and be a Cowboy.”
Bryson Stott is expected to start in Schwarber’s place. Clemens will likely start at first base against right-handed pitchers, and Bohm will start at third if a left-handed pitcher is starting. The DH position will be used as a warm-up for the regulars. And defensive stalwart Rojas, who batted .235 as an option, will likely see plenty of action.
“Like I always say, if Rojas was here, he’d play the majority of the time,” Thompson said. “He did everything we expected of him (while at Lehigh Valley): watch the pitches. Work hard at the plate. Use the field. Use the speed game on bunts. Swing less. He did it all and proved to us he has the aptitude and the athleticism to do it.”
“Stott’s always been the prototypical leadoff hitter, but Schwarber’s been there too, so I think he’ll fill that void really well.”
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