Phillies News: Nick Castellanos shows off power, bullpen continues to impress

Phillies News

The Philadelphia Phillies took the third game of a four game series against the Colorado Rockies. The Phillies have won two of three games played in the series, which wraps up today.

The Phillies looked to Cristopher Sánchez to steady the rotation on Saturday as they deployed a sixth starter. Sánchez pitched reasonably well in his 2023 debut. In 4 1/3 innings the young left-hander struck out five batters and surrendered three earned runs. Sánchez kept the Phillies in the game which is what he was asked to do.

The Phillies' bullpen continued their impressive run once Sánchez was removed from the game. Connor Brogdon, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Domínguez, and Craig Kimbrel managed to hold the Rockies scoreless. The bullpen pitched a combined 4 2/3 innings striking out six Rockies' hitters while not allowing a baserunner.

The Phillies offense was lead by Nick Castellanos who hit two home runs in the club's 4-3 victory. Castellanos had been hitting the ball well up to this point in the season, but had yet to hit one out of the park. His last home run came on August 27, 2022. Castellanos showed that his power is still there in his two-home run performance. He also hit another double on Saturday and leads the Major Leagues in the category with ten doubles on the season.

The other two runs the Phillies scored came from the bat of left fielder Cristian Pache. Pache has had an up and down start to his Phillies' tenure as he had come up short in some big spots with men on base. On Saturday, Pache showed off some power as he hit a 421 ft. two-run home run in the third inning. Pache is now .300 on the season with a home run, three RBI and run scored.

The Phillies will look to win the series on Sunday with Zack Wheeler on the mound. He will be opposed by Rockies' right-hander José Ureña. Ureña has struggled to begin the season. In his first four starts, he has managed to go five innings just once and has allowed at least three runs in each of his starts. The Phillies will look to Wheeler to go deeper into the game and improve upon his last start.

Phillies injury updates

To make room for Cristopher Sánchez on the roster, the Phillies placed Andrew Bellatti on the 15-day injured list with triceps tendinitis. Bellatti has already pitched 8 2/3 innings this season. He has thrown the ball reasonably well until recently. The right-hander's heavy workload to begin the year may have contributed to the injury.

Left-handed starter Ranger Suárez threw another simulated game prior to Saturday's game. Reports say that Suárez felt good and is getting close to making a rehab appearance. Rob Thomson stated that the left-hander will need to make a few rehab starts to build up his arm strength prior to making his 2023 debut. The Phillies rotation will get a huge boost when Suárez is able to return.

MLB News

San Diego Padres' star Fernando Tatis Jr. made his first Major League appearance since 2021 earlier this week. On Saturday Tatis hit his first home run since being injured, then suspended for 80 games due to PED use. He joins a potent Padres' lineup. The return of Tatis will be instrumental in the Padres hopes of winning the National League West Division.

Texas Rangers' Adolis García hit three home runs on Saturday. The right fielder knocked in eight runs and scored five runs of his own. The Rangers handed the Oakland Athletics an 18-3 loss. García has an .851 OPS on the season and seven home runs.