Philadelphia Phillies: Dream lineup with returning star Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper will make his long-awaited return to the Phillies lineup on Friday.

Entering Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies remain in control of their own destiny — to finally clinch their first postseason berth since their franchise-best 102-win season in 2011.

With 38 games to play in 42 days — including a doubleheader on the road against the Major League Baseball-worst Washington Nationals on Saturday, October 1 — interim manager Rob Thomson’s squad respectively holds 2- and 3 1/2-game leads over the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers for the second and third National League Wild Card spots. This does not account for the Phillies holding the tiebreaker over both clubs, should they end the season with an identical record.

While the Padres added slugger Juan Soto at the trade deadline, the Phillies are about to add a fellow former Nationals outfielder of their own — which will be a huge confidence boost at this stage of the season.

Before Thursday’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, Thomson announced that reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper — who fractured his thumb back in June — will be activated heading into the three-game weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Harper’s presence will significantly lengthen the Phillies lineup. Here is the dream order Thomson should consider for the final six weeks of the regular season.

1. Kyle Schwarber, left field

Despite his last home run coming on August 5, Kyle Schwarber continues to lead the National League in home runs with 34 — although St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is not far behind with 33, following his two-home run performance on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.

Schwarber has just one home run overall through 71 plate appearances in August  — after homering 12 times in June and 10 times in August. Still, Schwarber is slashing .262/.366/.410 in the month and has 40 extra-base hits batting first in the order overall this season.

2. Alec Bohm, third base

It’s pretty remarkable how Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has turned his season around at the plate — as well as in the field through spectacular plays almost seen on a nightly basis.

On June 12, the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year Award finalist had a season-low .246 batting average. Since then, Bohm has raised the figure 46 points to an impressive .292.

In the past 10 games — when the Phillies have gained some separation in the National League Wild Card standings — the former third overall pick is slashing .326/.356/.512 with 10 singles, two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, one walk, and just seven strikeouts spanning 45 plate appearances.

Bohm is currently on a six-game hitting streak — slashing .400/.444/.680 with a pair of home runs and 10 RBI. He and Nick Castellanos are tied for the team lead with 129 hits this season, which ranks as the ninth-most in the National League behind Freddie Freeman (156), Trea Turner (155), Paul Goldschmidt (151), Dansby Swanson (143), Austin Riley (138), Nolan Arenado (132), Francisco Lindor (131), and Manny Machado (131).

While Bohm is not a power-hitting third baseman like Machado — who the Phillies came close to signing following the 2018 season before ultimately inking Bryce Harper — he is great at “keeping the line moving” by getting on base by any means possible.

It’s hard to believe that way back on April 11, Bohm once said that he “[expletive] hate this place,” as it relates to playing in South Philadelphia. Fast-forward to late August, Bohm is once again viewed as a key piece in the short- and long-term future of the franchise.

3. Bryce Harper, designated hitter

Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper should bat in the same order of the Phillies lineup as the number on the back of his uniform — three. Before his June injury, Harper logged 61 games and 265 plate appearances hitting third in the batting order this season. At the spot, he slashed an impressive .310/.381/.582 with 19 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs and 44 RBI.

Harper in the three-hole guarantees he gets a plate appearance in the first inning. You always want a power threat who could potentially give the team an early lead and alleviate pressure off of the starting pitcher.

The Las Vegas native was originally slated to play through the weekend at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but his MVP-caliber play in two games with the IronPigs ultimately expedited the timeline. Through 10 plate appearances, Harper slashed .625/.700/1.625 with a single, pair of doubles and home runs, six RBI, two walks, and just one strikeout.

Entering Thursday, the Phillies have gone an impressive 31-20 since Harper broke his thumb against the San Diego Padres and was placed on the injured list. His presence in the lineup will surely be an added boost for interim manager Rob Thomson’s squad.

4. J.T. Realmuto, catcher

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto has stepped up in a big way in Harper’s absence. Since June 26, the three-time All-Star is slashing .329/.382/.617 with 10 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 32 RBI, 11 walks and just 33 strikeouts spanning 41 games and 165 plate appearances.

Realmuto’s offense was scary bad early in the season. As of May 22, he was hitting as low as .224 with a .293 on-base percentage. Now, the “Best Catcher in Baseball” has improved those figures to .273 and .341, respectively — making him one of the best hitters in baseball over the past couple of months.

Realmuto has logged 12 hits in his past six games alone. It would be hard to bat him anywhere but the cleanup spot, given the way his bat has come alive as of late.

5. Nick Castellanos, right field

With a National League-best 14-game hitting streak entering Thursday, Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos is another player who has stepped up in Bryce Harper’s absence. Since June 26, the former Silver Slugger Award winner is slashing .304/.327/.422 with nine doubles, five home runs, and 23 RBI in 51 games.

Castellanos has come up with big hits not always highlighted in the box score, such as Tuesday — when his RBI single gave the Phillies the lead in the eventual walk-off victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Through 29 games and 120 plate appearances batting fifth in the order this season, Castellanos is slashing .333/.367/.491 with six doubles, four home runs, and 13 RBI. Meanwhile, he is hitting just .203 in the three-hole (121 plate appearances) and .258 batting cleanup (267 plate appearances). Castellanos batting fifth seems like the perfect spot.

6. Bryson Stott, shortstop

On May 11, Phillies rookie infielder Bryson Stott was hitting as low as .111. Entering Thursday night’s four-game series finale against the Reds, the Las Vegas native has raised the figure to .228.

While the number may seem low, his .286/.348/.435 slash line in Harper’s absence has been one of the team’s many bright spots. Stott has had clutch moments this season, and his walk-off blast in one of Rob Thomson’s first games as interim manager in early June is among the highlights.

Like fellow young Phillies infielder Alec Bohm, Stott is often able to make contact, get on base, and keep the momentum going. Stott getting on base for the proposed seven-hole hitter in the lineup could produce some runs in the final stretch of the season.