The Philadelphia Phillies are counting down to clinching their fifth consecutive playoff appearance, and once that happens all eyes will be on the Wild Card Series, a chaotic three-game series to kick off postseason festivities. Such a short set of games gives teams the flexibility to optimize the fringes of their rosters with role players. Just who could those role players be for the Phils?
The Phillies' playoff roster is mostly set, but they can still squeeze out some extra value on the margins
Nestor Cortes Jr.
Former All-Star Nestor Cortes Jr. has had a rough go of it over the past two years. The crafty southpaw had most of his 2025 season scuttled due to multiple surgeries, and he has yet to throw a pitch in the big leagues this year for the same reason. However, the Phillies signed him in late August after an inspiring showcase in front of a multitude of teams.
So far the 31-year-old has made his way into three Triple-A contests, all in relief, and has picked up seven strikeouts over 5 ⅔ innings pitched. The Phils won’t need Cortes to start a playoff game, but giving opposing lineups a funky look from the left side late in games isn’t the worst way to use a roster spot.
Kyle Backhus
Speaking of funky left-handed looks, reliever Kyle Backhus was acquired this past offseason for that very reason. The lanky Texan appeared in 32 contests for the Arizona Diamondbacks the year before, with middling results, but the Phillies seemed to think they could coax more out of him.
Unfortunately, that has yet to happen at the major league level, as Backhus has posted an ugly 4.95 ERA in 20 innings pitched for the Phils. He’s been worlds better at Triple-A however, firing 26 ⅓ frames of 2.73 ERA ball with 31 punchouts. Considering the underwhelming state of the Phillies’ southpaw contingent, it wouldn’t be crazy for them to roster Backhus in the Wild Card round to match him up against pockets of opposing lefties.
Kameron Misner
The Phillies have plenty of outfielders on their roster already in Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, Derek Hill and Bryan De La Cruz, as well as superutilityman Edmundo Sosa. It would be tough sledding for a minor league callup to steal much playing time away from that bunch, but that doesn’t mean the team couldn’t add another outfielder to the roster.
Journeyman Kameron Misner was acquired from the Kansas City Royals back in July and has spent his entire tenure with the Phillies organization in Triple-A (aside from a one-day promotion for the Field of Dreams Game in which he didn’t see the field). The 28-year-old has been solid in 38 games with the IronPigs, posting a .776 OPS, but is nowhere close to cracking the starting outfield in the majors.
However, just because Misner won’t get any starts doesn't mean he couldn’t be useful in a playoff series. The lefty-swinger ranks in the 94th percentile in sprint speed per Baseball Savant, and has stolen 151 bases in his minor league career, compared to just 25 failed attempts. It may behoove the Phils to roster Misner for the Wild Card Series in case they need to pilfer a bag late in a game. Considering some of the slugs they have in their starting lineup like Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm, a blazing fast bench piece would be a nice luxury to have.
Gage Wood
Phillies fans will never stop clamoring for Gage Wood. The 2025 first-rounder is the top-ranked prospect in the farm system, and has climbed his way into the top 50 of the entire sport this season. Wood has spent the majority of the year at Double-A Reading, where he’s worked to a middling 4.72 ERA across 17 starts.
That last part is the most important piece of information, as the Phils are attempting to develop the former closer as a starting pitcher. They’ve been slow playing it so far, as he’s tossed just 68 ⅔ innings in those 17 starts, and the workload seems to be wearing on him down the stretch.
The reality is that there’s virtually no chance Gage Wood makes his major league debut in the playoffs this season. If the Phillies wanted to give him a taste of the Show, they would have done it earlier this month when rosters expanded. Still, there’s a reasonable case to be made that he would instantly become the third-best pitcher in their beleaguered bullpen behind Jhoan Duran and Alex McFarlane.
Would it be wise to push the best pitching prospect in the organization past what seems to be his comfort level? Almost certainly not. Still, the Phillies are quickly running out of chances to win the World Series and utilizing Gage Wood as a late-inning weapon in October may move the needle in their quest to raise a trophy.
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