Phillies: 3 players that can help avoid late-season collapse

Alec Bohm

The stats are undeniably impressive for Alec Bohm, who continued to show his light-tower power stroke in a recent loss to the Marlins, launching an absolute missile to right-center.

Bohm’s ability to work away helps his chances against left-handed pitchers, who favor pitches that work away from righties. The defensive issues are a limited concern, but if Bohm even marginally improves, it only helps the rest of his tools.

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Scott Kingery does deserve another chance to produce in the lineup on an everyday basis, so if the Phillies are looking for a better defender come playoff time, Bohm becomes a DH option. And Bohm focusing solely on hitting could be dangerous for opposing teams.

While Bohm went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Monday’s loss, he still is slashing an impressive .318/.369/.482 as a rookie.

Zach Eflin

We’ve seen instances from greatness from Zach Eflin, and justifiably so. Mid-90s fastball, hard sinker, slider, and a rapidly progressing curveball that could prove to be key in Eflin’s career.

Eflin’s ERA still exceeds five this season, but he’s likely the best chance the Phillies have at establishing an effective third arm in the playoff rotation.

It seems as though his prowess as a strike-thrower is hurting Eflin. When he has feel for the curve and can work black rather than the middle third of the plate, Eflin has the stuff to miss bats, as evidenced by the seven-inning, one-run performance against the Braves on August 29.

If Eflin can make the appropriate tweaks, he becomes an important factor in the Phillies pitching staff in the final weeks.