Phillies 2024 NLDS roster prediction ahead of showdown vs. Mets
While much of the NLDS roster is obvious, there are some decisions that the Phillies will need to make before their first postseason game.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been waiting patiently for their NLDS opponent as the Wild Card round played out. After clinching a first-round bye, the club has had a chance to get healthy with their week off. Now that the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets' series has finished, they know who to expect at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday.
With their shocking 4-2 comeback win on Thursday night, the Mets won the Wild Card Series two games to one and will head to Philadelphia for a best-of-five showdown with the NL East champion Phillies.
During the Phillies' time off, the club has had some time to decide which players should make the NLDS roster, and which players will wait in the wings. Here's who we see lining up against the Mets in the NLDS.
Phillies 2024 NLDS roster prediction ahead of showdown vs. Mets
Clubs construct a 26-man roster for each series of the MLB playoffs that can contain no more than 13 pitchers. From the sounds of it, the Phillies are likely to carry an extra bench bat in lieu of a 13th pitcher. Here's a positional breakdown of which players the Phillies could take into October.
Catchers (2)
J.T. Realmuto
This is an obvious one to start with. J.T. Realmuto will be the Phillies catcher during each game of the regular season barring any unforeseen circumstances. The guy is a machine and will be an integral part of the club from an offensive and defensive standpoint. He works well with the pitchers, can throw out potential base stealers, and can be a damaging bat in the middle to backend of the lineup.
Garrett Stubbs
Any catcher who plays behind Realmuto is used to extended time off. Garrett Stubbs will be in that boat come Game 1 of the NLDS. In the previous two postseasons, the backup catcher has appeared in just one game and did not even see an at-bat. That is okay though. He is there to bring positivity and some cheerleading off the bench. Stubbs has accepted his role, and he will likely continue to not see much time in a playoff game.
Infielders (7)
Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper will be the starting first baseman for the Phillies during the postseason. The hope is that the extra time off during the Wild Card rounds will give him some time to heal his sore elbow/wrist that has been plaguing him since at least August. His health will matter as Harper has arguably been the most important postseason player for the Phillies over the last two years, hitting 11 home runs and posting an OPS of 1.160 in 2022 and 1.098 last postseason. Look for him to be a major player in 2024 as well.
Bryson Stott
Bryson Stott will be the starting second baseman against right-handed pitching this postseason. Given his struggles during the regular season, it would not be surprising to see a right-handed bat play more frequently against left-handed pitching. While he did not have a great season at the plate against either lefties or righties, he did hit marginally better against right-handed pitching. His defense brings value to his game when he is on the field still, however.
Trea Turner
There is no debate over who will play shortstop for the Phillies this postseason. Trea Turner will get the start in each game, presumably. Turner has only appeared in one postseason with the Phillies, but overall hit well in 2023, slashing .347/.400/.633. His ability to steal bases and hit for some power makes him a threat at the plate and on the paths. Despite missing some time due to injury, Turner had a solid regular season and will look to take that into the NLDS.
Alec Bohm
The Phillies' third baseman had an impressive regular season. He has continued to develop as a more complete player at the dish and defensively. He has been an integral part of the Phillies lineup knocking in 97 runs and finishing second in the National League in doubles with 44. Bohm's bat went cold toward the end of the regular season. His resurgence in the postseason will be paramount to the Phillies' offensive success.
Edmundo Sosa
When it comes to infield depth, the Phillies are in a pretty good spot. Edmundo Sosa is valuable in the field defensively but can also come through with the occasional big hit. While he won't see time in the lineup every day in the postseason, it would not be surprising to see him play for Stott against a left-hander or fill in defensively late in the game. His versatility adds even more value for him on the roster.
Weston Wilson
Like Sosa, Weston Wilson is versatile. He is listed here as an infielder, but he can also play left field in the event that the club needs another right-handed bat inserted into the lineup. Wilson's ability to hit left-handed pitching makes him almost a lock to make the NLDS roster. During the regular season, the 30-year-old hit .341 against lefties and slugged .614. His stats against right-handed pitching are pedestrian, but the pop he can bring against some left-handed relievers in the postseason can add tremendous value.
Kody Clemens
What do you know, another versatile utility man. Like Sosa and Wilson, Kody Clemens can play multiple positions. The reason he will make the postseason roster is because he is a left-handed bat. On a right-handed heavy bench, that brings value. He has come up with some big plays — including the season-ending catch in Washington on Sunday — and big at-bats as a member of the Phillies.
Outfielders (5)
Kyle Schwarber
Hopefully Kyle Schwarber will not see playing time in the outfield during the MLB playoffs. The Phillies' designated hitter has been known to set the stage with some big-time home runs to start the game. It happens in the regular season, and it has happened in the postseason. It seems that the Phillies offense goes when Schwarber goes. Being the table setter makes him one of the most vital players on the roster as the Phillies enter their third straight postseason. There are not many better sights than watching Schwarber crush a home run in the postseason.
Nick Castellanos
The lone Phillies player to play in all 162 games this season is a lock to appear in as many playoff games as the team plays. Nick Castellanos had a sneaky solid season despite struggling mightily at the outset. A big reason for this was improved plate discipline. In 2024, Castellanos struck out 139 times in 162 games. Last season, he struck out 185 times in five fewer games. As a middle-of-the-order hitter, the club will rely on him to put the ball in play against tough postseason pitching.
Brandon Marsh
While Castellanos will play every day, the next few outfielders will likely have their playing time dictated by the dexterity of the opposing pitcher. Brandon Marsh falls into this category. He will see plenty of at-bats against right-handed pitching but could cede time to his fellow outfielders who hit right-handed against a lefty. His .792 OPS against right-handers is clearly preferable to his .552 OPS against left-handers.
Johan Rojas
Johan Rojas will see more time against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching, however, there are times where he could still be in the lineup against the latter. His defensive abilities could end up being a priority for Rob Thomson which could get him more playing time. Rojas set a low bar last postseason so anything better than that performance will be a plus.
Austin Hays
Austin Hays has had an injury-riddled start to his Phillies career. Recently, a kidney infection kept him sidelined for much of the final month of the season. It would be unfair to judge the type of player that the Phillies received at the deadline in such a small sample size, but given his track record, he figures to make the NLDS roster as an additional right-handed hitting outfielder if healthy. Hays was scratched last weekend due to back tightness but appears to be on track after playing in the team's intrasquad game this week, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Starting Pitchers (4)
Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler has been the Phillies' ace since his arrival after the 2019 season. He has been a perennial Cy Young Award contender, and his 2024 season was no different. He will get the ball in Game 1 of the NLDS, and the club will look to follow his lead. His dominant pitching can be an absolute game-changer in the postseason. Over the last two playoff stretches, Wheeler has a 2.42 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. Look for that dominance to continue this weekend.
Aaron Nola
The longest-tenured Phillies player is no stranger to pitching in big situations. Aaron Nola will get his chance to pitch in big games again this postseason. The order of the rotation behind Wheeler is still up in the air but count on Nola starting Game 2 or 3 of the Division Series. He is a workhorse and if he is on, he can be a real threat on the mound in the postseason.
Cristopher Sánchez
Cristopher Sánchez has perhaps been the biggest breakout player for the Phillies this season. His 2024 has been nothing short of fantastic — especially at Citizen's Bank Park. His ERA at home this season was 2.21 compared to his 5.02 ERA on the road. That stat could sway Thomson to pitch his left-hander at home in Game 2 of the NLDS and push Nola back to start Game 3. The Phillies' top three starters can go head-to-head with just about any playoff team rotation.
Ranger Suárez
The other left-hander of the starting staff has had a tale of two seasons. Ranger Suárez was one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball through the All-Star break. After suffering an injury and hitting the IL after the break, the calm and collected pitcher has struggled while posting a 5.65 ERA post-All-Star break. That shakiness causes him to likely be the fourth starter in the rotation entering the playoffs. However, his career 1.62 postseason ERA could help ease the mind of his manager and the fans.
Bullpen (8)
Carlos Estévez
One of the newer additions to the Phillies bullpen has taken the majority of ninth innings since his acquisition. He will continue to see high-leverage innings in the postseason. Carlos Estévez is just one arm that Thomson trusts in big spots. The bullpen has three or four other pitchers that can get big outs in the postseason, but Estévez figures to see some ninth-inning save situations.
Jeff Hoffman
One of those pitchers is Jeff Hoffman. He has been a force to be reckoned with in the late innings this season. That should continue throughout the Phillies' time in the playoffs. He is one of the most trusted relief arms the club has and for good reason. Last postseason he posted a 2.57 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP in seven relief innings.
Matt Strahm
The Phillies have yet again another high-leverage reliever in Matt Strahm. Since joining the Phillies after the 2022 season, he has been solid in any role asked of him. The 2024 season was no different and Thomson will be happy to deploy the left-hander in almost any situation.
Orion Kerkering
Orion Kerkering has flourished in his first full MLB season. After playing in four different minor league levels in 2023, Kerkering was asked to pitch in some big postseason innings despite pitching only three regular season innings last year. He struggled with command in some of those outings, but that should not discourage him or the Phillies. He has shown the ability to get Major League hitters out, striking out 74 batters in 63 innings. Kerkering will get his name called when the Phillies need to get tough right-handed hitters out in the coming days.
José Alvarado
José Alvarado's up-and-down season ended on a positive note as he posted a 2.89 ERA over the final month of the season. At various points the flame-throwing left-hander struggled with command. It seems that he may have corrected some of his issues after returning from the restricted list in early September. He may not get the same type of high-leverage innings this postseason, but he could be called upon to get a tough left-handed hitter out.
José Ruiz
The 29-year-old José Ruiz was a solid middle-inning reliever for the Phillies since his call-up in early May. In a postseason setting it is hard to see Ruiz getting big innings over some of the previously mentioned pitchers, but he could see some appearances in the middle innings or if the team needs someone to throw more than one frame.
Tanner Banks
Since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline, Tanner Banks has done his job. He has pitched to a 2.74 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. With left-handers like Strahm and Alvarado getting higher leverage situations, Banks figures to be more of a middle-inning reliever like Ruiz. His performance with the Phillies so far should instill some confidence that he can effectively get left-handed hitters out.
Taijuan Walker
This last bullpen spot is a toss-up. Taijuan Walker has been awful, and there is no sugarcoating that. The other option here could be Kolby Allard, but Walker has more Major League experience and is getting paid much more money. This spot will not be used unless there is a blowout or a long extra innings game so even if he does make the roster, there is no guarantee that Walker would actually step on the mound.
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