Phillies News: Alec Bohm injury update, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Austin Hays

The Philadelphia Phillies have stayed hot. After completing their intense sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays this week, they're now 18-8 since Aug. 14. They've accomplished this despite a myriad of injuries and bumps and bruises that have caused their lineups to resemble something closer to what you might see at an IronPigs game.

With multiple call-ups from Triple-A Lehigh Valley contributing to big wins lately, the Phillies find themselves in a good spot with 16 games left on the schedule. Thanks to contributions from Buddy Kennedy, Kody Clemens, Cal Stevenson and even fourth-string catcher Aramis Garcia, the Phillies maintained their lead at the top of the NL standings and head into Friday's action as the best team in baseball.

The Phillies have a crucial stretch of the schedule coming up, beginning with a three-game series against the New York Mets on Friday, followed by a trip to face the Milwaukee Brewers and then another four-gamer against the Mets in New York. Luckily, it sounds like the Phillies will be getting some reinforcements back into the lineup.

Phillies News: Alec Bohm injury update, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Austin Hays

Unfortunately, one injured Phillie whose status is still murky at this time is third baseman Alec Bohm, who went on the 10-day IL on Sept. 6 (retroactive to Sept. 3) with a left hand strain. He's eligible to come off the IL on Friday, but after hearing manager Rob Thomson's latest update on Thursday, that doesn't sound likely.

"Better," Thomson said about how Bohm is feeling, per a video posted by Dave Uram of KYW Newsradio. "He got the regular bat in his hand and he still felt some pain in there, but he can swing fine with the short bat."

Thomson noted that Bohm has been doing all his other regular baseball activities in preparation for his return to the lineup. He could potentially come back this weekend, per MLB.com.

Phillies should get J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber back on Friday

While Bohm is still questionable, it doesn't sound like we'll have to wait much longer to see catcher J.T. Realmuto and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber back in the Phillies lineup.

Realmuto has been out since fouling a ball off his left knee in last Friday's game in Miami. Thomson confirmed that his star catcher is on track to return on Friday against the Mets. He's hitting .266 with a .747 OPS in 86 games this season and is on track to play the fewest number of games in a non-shortened season since his brief debut with the Marlins in 2014.

Schwarber, who left Tuesday's game just innings after setting the MLB single-season record for leadoff home runs with his 14th first-inning dinger, is also on track to return on Friday. He has been dealing with a left elbow contusion and slight hyperextension that affected his swing. The Phillies will be glad to have his .251 average, .372 on-base percentage, .868 OPS and 35 home runs back at the top of the lineup.

Austin Hays progressing from kidney infection

Outfielder Austin Hays has been on the IL since Sept. 5 (retroactive to Sept. 2) with a kidney infection. As The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber reports, Hays is feeling better and is getting closer to a return, but there's no timetable for an activation date. While the Phillies' trade deadline acquisition is feeling better and resumed baseball activities this week, he's at the mercy of how his body responds.

“I feel good in my everyday life now — walking around, performing daily tasks,” Hays said, per Lauber. “I feel good doing that. Now, I just need to heal as far as being a professional athlete.”

Hays has only played in 19 games since coming over from Baltimore on July 26. He suffered a hamstring strain just 10 games into his Phillies career that kept him on the shelf for two weeks. He's batting .254/.275/.373 with a home run and a pair of stolen bases in red pinstripes.

Now we have to wait and see if he'll get back in time to play enough to make himself a viable piece for the Phillies' postseason outfield plans.