Postseason FAQ: What’s next for Phillies?

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies clinched their first National League East title in 13 years on Sept. 23. Two days later, they clinched a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the best-of-five NL Division Series.

A loss on Saturday in Washington locked the Phils into the No. 2 seed in the NL, but Sunday’s 6-3 victory in the 2024 regular-season finale gave them the second-best record in the Majors (95-67) and ensured they will have home-field advantage in every postseason series except a potential NL Championship Series matchup against the Dodgers, who own MLB’s best record (98-64).

Got all that?

Here are answers to a few questions you might have.

What might the NLDS roster look like?
The Phillies have carried 13 pitchers and 13 position players in the past two NLDS, but things might change this year. Why? Because Philadelphia has uncertainty in left and center field, and an extra bench bat could help.

Let’s assume the Phils carry 12 pitchers and 14 position players.

C: J.T. Realmuto, Garrett Stubbs
1B: Bryce Harper
2B: Bryson Stott
3B: Alec Bohm
SS: Trea Turner
OF: Nick Castellanos, Austin Hays, Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, Cal Stevenson or Weston Wilson
INF/OF: Kody Clemens, Edmundo Sosa
DH: Kyle Schwarber
Rotation: Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez
Bullpen: Carlos Estévez, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, José Alvarado, José Ruiz, Tanner Banks, Max Lazar

Hays was reinstated from the 10-day IL on Tuesday. Manager Rob Thomson said as long as Hays is healthy, he will be on the postseason roster. (Hays did not play this weekend in Washington because of a sore back, but the club doesn’t think it’s serious.) The Phillies have potential platoon setups in left and center field in the postseason with the right-handed Hays and the lefty Marsh in left, and the righty Rojas and lefty Stevenson in center.

Stevenson was optioned Tuesday, but he will be eligible for the NLDS roster.

Whom the Phils carry on the bench could come down to the opposing team: Does the opponent have a bunch of left-handers in the bullpen? Right-handers? Philadelphia will have to consider that.

Lazar, Taijuan Walker, Kolby Allard and Spencer Turnbull are options as the last man in the bullpen. Turnbull might not be ready by the NLDS because of an injured right lat. Walker seems like a long shot considering his season-long struggles.

Who is eligible for the postseason roster?
Any player who was in the organization as of Aug. 31 is eligible, including Minor Leaguers. 

Which team will play the Phillies in the NLDS?
The Brewers will play the Mets in the NL Wild Card Series. That winner will play the Phillies in the NLDS.

Here is how the Phils fared against those four teams this year:

• Brewers: 4-2 (+4 run differential)
• Mets: 7-6 (+10 run differential)

When does the postseason begin?
Game 1 of the NLDS is Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

What’s the lineup?
The top seven spots in Thomson’s lineup have been consistent recently. But the final two spots could change depending on the matchups. Against a right-hander, it could be Marsh in left and Stevenson in center, unless there is a fly-ball pitcher on the mound. Then, Thomson could keep Rojas in center. If it’s a left-hander on the mound, Hays or Wilson could start in left and Rojas could start in center.

1. Schwarber, DH
2. Turner, SS
3. Harper, 1B
4. Castellanos, RF
5. Bohm, 3B
6. Stott, 2B
7. Realmuto, C
8. Hays, LF
9. Rojas, CF

How does the rotation set up?
Wheeler will start Game 1 on Saturday. There is no question about that. But who will start Game 2 on Oct. 6? It might be Nola because of his pedigree and experience. But Sánchez has a remarkable 2.21 ERA at Citizens Bank Park, compared to a 5.02 ERA on the road. Sánchez’s drastic home-road splits could be a fluke, but is it worth taking that chance?

Whoever doesn’t start Game 2 will start Game 3 on the road on Oct. 8. Suárez is the No. 4 starter. He could start Game 4 (if necessary) on Oct. 9.

What about the bullpen?
Estévez is the closer.

Thomson will deploy Hoffman, Strahm, Alvarado and Kerkering as needed. Ruiz has thrown the ball well in recent weeks, pushing him into more high-leverage situations. The Phillies feel better about the state of their bullpen than they have the past two postseasons.

Is anybody injured?
Hays has a sore back, which is something to watch before the NLDS.

Turnbull hasn’t pitched since late June. He pitched on Sept. 22 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and he continued his recovery from a strained right lat by pitching a live batting practice session on Friday.

The Phillies don’t think it’s an impossibility that Turnbull could be back for the NLDS or a later round.