Phillies finalize National League Wild Card Series roster
ST. LOUIS – The Phillies announced their NL Wild Card Series roster on Friday, three hours before first pitch of Game 1 against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The 26-man roster includes an even split of pitchers and position players.
There were a few notable decisions:
-- Infielder Edmundo Sosa was activated from the 10-day injured list (strained right hamstring) and added. It puts him on the bench alongside catcher Garrett Stubbs, infielder/outfielder Nick Maton and outfielders Matt Vierling or Brandon Marsh, whomever is not starting that game in center field. Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said it would not be out of the question to see Sosa used as a late-inning defensive replacement at third base for Alec Bohm.
-- Left-hander Brad Hand was activated from the 10-day injured list (left elbow tendonitis) and added to the roster.
-- Right-hander Nick Nelson is not on the roster, which is somewhat notable only in that Thomson said earlier this week that one of his Nos. 4-6 starters might not make the roster (Bailey Falter/Kyle Gibson/Noah Syndergaard) because one of them would likely start a potential Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Braves, if the Wild Card Series goes a full three games.
Here's the roster in full:
Pitchers (13): Left-handers – José Alvarado, Bailey Falter, Brad Hand and Ranger Suárez. Right-handers – Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon, Seranthony Domínguez, Zach Eflin, Kyle Gibson, Aaron Nola, David Robertson, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler.
Catchers (2): J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs.
Infielders (6): Alec Bohm, Rhys Hoskins, Nick Maton, Jean Segura, Edmundo Sosa and Bryson Stott.
Outfielders (5): Nick Castellanos, Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber and Matt Vierling.
The roster includes 10 players with a combined 106 games of postseason experience: Schwarber (35), Robertson (33), Harper (19), Castellanos (5), Syndergaard (5), Hand (3), Alvarado (2), Stubbs (2), Gibson (1) and Sosa (1).