Yes, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly used the phrase “see where it goes” when describing his pitching plans for the opening game of the NL Wild Card series in Atlanta. That’s because he also had to use the phrase “bullpen game” to describe the pitching plans. It didn’t have to be this way. The Phillies won on the final day of the season to fall over the finish line and make it to the postseason. Had they played even .500 ball over the past week, they would have Zack Wheeler on the mound to face Chris Sale. Instead, we have to “see where it goes.”
Jesus Luzardo, who came off of the IL on Sunday and looked strong on all four of the pitches he needed to retire the Tampa Bay Rays in the the eighth inning, will get the start. With the recent shoulder inflammation that he battled through and just four pitches of work since then, nobody knows what to expect. Of course, Luzardo is optimistic, but what else would he say?
“I feel like I’m prepared to give this team whatever they ask and whatever they need,” Luzardo told reporters on Sunday.
It’s likely that starter Andrew Painter will be on the short list of pitchers ready to follow Luzardo and would be available to go multiple innings. Keep in mind that Painter has never pitched in the postseason and opponents are batting .299 against him in his first two innings of work this season and he has allowed nine home runs in the two innings through 25 games this season.
Arraez not ready to go
The Phillies have also left second baseman Luis Arraez off of the wild card roster because of a sprained ankle that he suffered during the last week of the season. His availability for the rest of the playoffs should the Phillies advance is also in question. Otto Kemp was added to the wild card roster to take Arraez’ spot.
“We still get improvement every day but not enough,” Mattingly said of Arraez’ progress. “He was going to try to hit today (Monday) and just wasn’t able to do it. So we kind of crossed that bridge today.”
Kemp spent the last four months of the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Kemp hit just .080 in 13 games with the Phillies this season and hit 17-54-.227/.334/.402/.736 in 103 games with the IronPigs. He did show strong improvement defensively while playing primarily at third base and left field. Kemp did play a pair of games at shortstop and at second base for Lehigh Valley. He also played one game at first base.
All three catchers on the roster
J.T. Realmuto, Garrett Stubbs, and Rafael Marchan are all on the wild card roster for the Phillies. None of the three were offensive stalwarts during the regular season, but Mattingly believes there is a good reason for bringing all three along.
“The third catcher is not terrible for us,” Mattingly said, “because our second or third catcher, however you look at it, is pretty versatile. We use him as a pinch-runner. We use him at first. We can play him at third. We can play him in the outfield. So he is a guy that gives us a lot of versatility, and really, not a true, true base stealer, but a guy that you really trust on the bases, that can get a bag if you don’t pay attention.”
For the record, Marchan was not used as a pinch-runner or at any position other than catcher during the regular season. Stubbs appeared as a pinch-runner seven times and played four times at first base, twice at third, and once in left field. His only time in left came back on July 6th and he has not played third since June 24th. It needs to be noted that he did pitch on four occasions, so perhaps that plays a role.
Bowlan is back
There is such a hot mess in the bullpen that Mattingly hasn’t officially announced who will be on the roster. He did tell reporters that Jonathan Bowlan will be available. The righty has not pitched since September 17 when he suffered a groin injury. He was never placed on the IL so that he would be available for the wild card series. Mattingly said he could have thrown Sunday, but because of the wet conditions he was held out for the extra game.
The rest of the bullpen will have left-handers Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks, and Tim Mayza. Right-handers Bowlan, Jhoan Duran, Alex McFarlane, Painter, and Chase Shugart will be in the pen. Cristopher Sanchez will start Game 2 and Aaron Nola will go in Game 3 (if necessary). Zack Wheeler is also on the roster and would be available out of the pen in a game three.
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