The Philadelphia Phillies are wrapping up their regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Nationals. With their No. 2 seed in the National League locked up for the impending playoff run, there's not much left to play for aside for getting some last-minute reps before a five-day hiatus while the Wild Card Series play out.
Despite Sunday's finale meaning nothing except the chance to tack on another win in what has been a wildly successful season, the Phillies aren't throwing in the towel.
Phillies make one final roster move before regular season finale
Before today's game, the team announced one final roster move of the season, recalling infielder Buddy Kennedy. To make room for Kennedy on the 28-man roster, left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert was optioned to the spring training complex.
Prior to today’s game against the Nationals, the Phillies recalled INF Buddy Kennedy from the spring training complex. To make room for him on the 28-man roster, LHP Tyler Gilbert was optioned to the spring training complex.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 29, 2024
Officially, this is Kennedy's third call-up this season, although his first trip at the end of August only lasted two days, and he didn't get in a game. He was recalled on Sept. 6 and played in seven games before being optioned on Sept. 17 when Edmundo returned from the IL.
He batted just .200/.333/.300 in 12 plate appearances but came up with some big moments for the Phillies in his short time. The 25-year-old Millville, NJ, native heard a packed Citizens Bank Park chant his name during a ninth-inning at-bat on Sept. 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He worked a key two-out walk to set the stage for a walk-off win. He contributed an RBI single the following day as part of a Phillies' eighth-inning rally.
Kennedy's most significant moment came against the New York Mets on Sept. 15 when he came up with a clutch eighth-inning, game-tying RBI double. The hit helped the Phillies eventually win on a walk-off, securing a crucial series victory.
Gilbert, 30, appeared in six games out of the bullpen for the Phillies in two stints this season. He posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 8 1/3 innings. He last pitched two innings during Friday's 9-1 loss to the Nationals, giving up a run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk.