MIAMI – They’re picking up the wins, but the cuts and bruises are piling up, too.
The Phillies attempted to complete the sweep on Sunday without Trea Turner (hamstring strain), Kyle Schwarber (lower back soreness) and JT Realmuto.
According to manager Rob Thompson, Realmuto’s knee “cracked,” but he would have played on Sunday. The Phillies are cautious about their catcher. Garrett Stubbs caught Zach Wheeler for just the sixth time in three seasons.
Thompson said Stubbs homered for Realmuto in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 8-2 win, but that was only because the Phillies were leading comfortably. Realmuto appeared Sunday with some knee pain and had the day off.
Schwarber said Saturday that he is progressing and hopes to return Monday or Tuesday in New York. The Phillies face a left-handed pitcher for the fourth straight time on Monday at ShawnMania, so Thompson could opt to give Schwarber an extra day either way.
If they give Schwarber an extra day on Monday, it looks like Nick Castellanos could excel for the first time this season with the improved outside defense of Johan Rojas at center and Brandon Marsh and Cristian Bache at the corners.
Bryce Harper, the designated hitter on Sunday, looked grim after his first swing on Saturday, then took a half-swing on the next pitch. He ended up going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but expressed no discomfort during or after the game.
Thompson said Harper reacted as he slid into the batter’s box. The Phillies have dealt with muddy hills at times this season, and Thompson said it was similar in the box on Saturday. Harper, at several points in the game, kicked some clay off his cleats onto the pitcher’s mound before the start of the half-inning on the field.
“Student. Incurable problem solver. Amateur baconaholic. Introvert. Infuriatingly humble music fanatic.”