Phillies notes: Turner's progress, Castellanos prepares for October originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies have to be excited to get back in front of their home crowd to close out the regular season.
Despite a huge series victory, where they clinched the NL East, against the Dodgers, some glaring offensive numbers stood out.
Including Emmett Sheehan, who followed lefty opener Anthony Banda, Los Angeles’ starting pitching shut down the Phillies’ offense all series.
Between Sheehan, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell, the trio combined for 17 ⅔ innings, allowing just three hits and one run (0.51 ERA) while racking up 24 strikeouts.
Luckily, timely hitting proved to be the difference, as Philadelphia took two of three at Dodger Stadium.
But with LA likely looming as an NLDS opponent, it’ll be worth watching whether Rob Thomson’s group can adjust to their starters.
When the Phillies went into Chase Field to face the Diamondbacks, the offense didn’t fare much better. With runners in scoring position, the bats went cold, going just 4-for-30 in those situations.
Whether Arizona still has their number from two seasons ago or not, the Phillies will look to right the ship with their RISP struggles during this final homestand.
Trea working back
The Phillies’ star shortstop was on the field this afternoon taking live at-bats against minor leaguers Danny Harper and Andrew Walling.
When asked if Trea Turner would return before the end of the regular season, Thomson kept it short with reporters.
“We’re hopeful,” he said.
Thomson added that Turner is running at about “70 to 75 percent.” He emphasized it isn’t essential for Turner to play before the postseason begins, though getting him some reps would certainly help.
In Turner’s absence, Harrison Bader has done a phenomenal job atop the lineup. He’s slashing .339/.383/.518 with six extra-base hits in 60 plate appearances and credits hitting in front of Kyle Schwarber.
“Hitting in front of that caliber of bat is awesome,” Bader said. “I think when you have a really good bat behind you, it changes the mentality of the pitching staff.”
“Honestly, hitting leadoff has been awesome,” Bader added. “I’m just trying to keep the spot warm until Trea comes back, and I’ve enjoyed it.”
Reyes receives MVP honors
Earlier today, Minor League Baseball announced its Double-A All-Stars and awards — and Phillies prospect Felix Reyes took home hardware.
The 24-year-old, who spent almost the entire season with Reading, was named Eastern League Most Valuable Player.
In his fifth professional season, Reyes broke out in a big way. He hit .335 with 15 homers and 67 RBIs, posting a .937 OPS over 95 games.
“He can really hit … and he’s a really good player,” Thomson said.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2020, Reyes finished just shy of the Minor League batting title, trailing only Rangers prospect Cody Freeman.
My take on Casty
Obviously, it was a hectic road trip — and Nick Castellanos’ comments to reporters only stirred the pot further.
After a few days to cool down, one key takeaway remains: Castellanos is clearly playing with a chip on his shoulder. And that hasn’t been a negative in the batter’s box.
Since the start of September — when he fully assumed the platoon role, he’s slashing .306/.333/.500 in 36 at-bats. He’s also excelled against right-handed pitching in that span, hitting .333.
With free agency ahead this offseason and his constant emphasis on staying focused on bringing a World Series championship back to Philadelphia, I see the storyline as a positive heading into October.
Wouldn’t it be something if, after all the controversy, Castellanos played a key role in a championship run?
As Philly fans have heard often: trust the process.
Tuesday preview
The Phillies open a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park against a red-hot Marlins club. Miami has won 10 of its last 11 under first-year manager Clayton McCullough.
The Marlins, who sit four games out of the last Wild Card spot, are 2-4 against Philadelphia this season.
They’ll send out right-hander Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.57 ERA). The 27-year-old is making his first start since Aug. 30 after an elbow sprain landed him on the IL.
In his lone start against the Phillies, back on June 19, Cabrera went 6 ⅓ innings, allowing just two hits and one run in a 2-1 Phillies win.
His numbers at Citizens Bank Park, though, haven’t been as sharp. In three starts, he’s posted a 4.91 ERA, allowing 16 hits in 14 ⅔ innings.
His last outing at The Bank? Six earned runs in just four innings.
For the Phillies, it’ll be the ever-reliable Cristopher Sánchez (13-5, 2.66 ERA). The southpaw gutted through his last outing in Los Angeles, rough early but finishing strong with seven innings of four-run ball.
In what’s likely his final start of a Cy Young-caliber season, the Phillies should feel good about their chances of securing the coveted first-round bye.
With a win and a Dodgers loss (to Arizona), they’ll clinch an automatic bid to the National League Division Series.
First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET.
