Predicting the Phillies' Wild Card Series 26-man roster
The Phillies will release the official Wild Card round roster on Tuesday. Who will make the list?
The MLB 2023 Postseason begins on Tuesday with the NL and AL Wild Card round. The Philadelphia Phillies will be playing in their second straight Wild Card series. They will face the Miami Marlins in the best-of-three series beginning at 8:08 Tuesday night. The biggest difference between 2022 and 2023 is that this season, they will have the benefit of playing at home.
The rosters for each Wild Card team will be announced on Tuesday morning prior to the start of the games— the first game begins at 3:08 ET. Each team has plenty of decisions to make before finalizing the rosters. The Phillies are no different. While some spots are locks, there are a few roster spots that Rob Thomson and the front office will have to decide which position players and pitchers will best help the club advance to the next round.
Catchers (2)
J.T. Realmuto
The Phillies will not have a tough time deciding which catchers to place on the Wild Card roster. Realmuto— despite having an up and down 2023 season— is still one of the top catchers in baseball. He calls a good game, plays solid defense, and can still hit. Realmuto finished the regular season with the fourth highest OPS among catchers in all of baseball. The Phillies will need his right-handed bat to be effective in the series against his former club, especially as the Marlins plan on throwing two left-handed pitchers in the first two games of the series.
Garrett Stubbs
Stubbs did not have the same offensive season that he had in 2022, but he is still an effective backup catcher— especially when the starting catcher is Realmuto. Stubbs has just as big of an impact off the field as he does on the field. He is the clubhouse DJ and has been dubbed the Phillies' "vibes guy". Stubbs did not play in the 2022 postseason and likely will not get much playing time this postseason either, but he will undoubtedly be a cheerleader from the top step of the Phillies dugout.
Infielders (6)
Bryce Harper
Rob Thomson already stated that Harper would be the primary first baseman heading into the postseason. Harper's ability to play first has allowed Kyle Schwarber to be the permanent designated hitter and get him out of the outfield. Harper has already made himself a living legend in Philadelphia and he will look to continue that in the 2023 playoffs. Expect Harper to hit in the three or four spot each game. It would not come as much of a surprise if he came up in a clutch situation or two.
Bryson Stott
Stott has had a very good 2023 regular season. He moved to play second base permanently after the Phillies acquired Trea Turner in the offseason and he has transitioned seamlessly. Stott played excellent defense and raised his OPS by almost .100 points. His second year in the Big Leagues has been a success and the Phillies will rely on some of their younger players such as Stott to make important contributions this postseason.
Trea Turner
Turner's season has been one that has been spotlighted for the last two months. It was no secret that he had a rough start to the season, but he certainly turned his season around in August. Turner also has some significant postseason experience as he has played 43 postseason games heading into the 2023 playoffs. His career playoff numbers are not great as he has posted just a .614 OPS. Turner will certainly look to stay hot at the plate and help improve his postseason stats and help the Phillies make another deep run into October.
Alec Bohm
Much like Stott, Bohm has had a nice 2023 season. He hit the most home runs of his career and drove in a career high 96 runs. While Bohm still has some flaws, he has been another player who improved pretty drastically from 2022— both offensively and defensively. As another right-handed bat, Bohm will be important to help the Phillies put up runs on the Marlins starting pitching.
Edmundo Sosa
Sosa had some big plays and big at-bats in the 2022 postseason. He will mainly be used as a right-handed bench bat and defensive replacement, however, his importance to the roster cannot be understated. In the postseason each roster spot holds a crucial role. Even though he may not get as many at-bats as some of the previously listed infielders, the spots he will be called upon in will be important.
Weston Wilson
Wilson is one of the fringe players who could certainly make the Wild Card roster. He can play both the infield and outfield, so his versatility speaks for itself. He is also a right-handed bat that can hit for power and run with speed. He could be a key bench player to face some of the Marlins' tough left-handed pitchers.
Outfielders (5)
Kyle Schwarber
While Schwarber will not be playing in the outfield in the postseason, he still falls into this category as he may have to barring injury or some other unforeseen circumstance. The Phillies' designated hitter had quite a unique season as he hit below .200, yet still managed to log an OPS of .817 and hit 47 home runs. Schwarber hit some big home runs in the 2022 postseason and the Phillies will look to their slugger to hit more in 2023.
Nick Castellanos
Like Schwarber, Castellanos will be in the lineup every postseason game. He had a great bounce back season in 2023. Just like Bohm, Realmuto, and Turner, his right-handed bat will be invaluable in the Wild Card series. The Phillies will need him to have a big series if they plan to advance to the NLDS.
Brandon Marsh
Marsh did not really play against left-handed pitching in the final months of the regular season. There is a chance that he does not start one or both of the two games in which Miami is starting a left-handed pitcher. It would be likely that he would come off the bench after the starter is removed to hit against right-handed relievers. His ability to play both left and center field gives him some versatility.
Johan Rojas
Rojas has been a surprisingly good call up for the Phillies. In his first season in the Major Leagues, it is very likely that he could be the starting center fielder in the Wild Card round. His above-average defense makes him invaluable, besides, his bat has been better than many anticipated.
Cristian Pache
Pache struggled offensively late in the season. It is unclear whether he will get starts or be used as a defensive replacement. Like Rojas, Pache is an above-average defender and can play multiple outfield positions. He should be valuable in a short series.
Starting pitchers (5)
Zack Wheeler
Wheeler is the undisputed ace of the club. He has already been tabbed to start Game 1 on Tuesday night. The Phillies need their top right-hander to pitch well in the Wild Card Series and beyond if they plan on going deep into the playoffs.
Aaron Nola
Nola has been a storyline all season for the Phillies. His inability to remain consistent has caused fans to lose faith in their once stable pitcher. Nola pitched better to end the regular season, so perhaps he found something and can roll that success over into the postseason. The Phillies will need him to do that in Game 2 to stabilize the top part of the rotation.
Ranger Suárez
Suárez has not officially been named the Game 3 starter (if necessary), but there has been speculation that he could get the ball if he is not needed out of the bullpen prior to Thursday. The left-handed pitcher would likely be more valuable as a starter if needed. He has experience in the postseason pitching in starting and relief roles, so it will be interesting to see how Thomson decides to use him.
Taijuan Walker
Walker likely will not get many starts in the postseason if it is avoidable. The right-hander really struggled down the stretch and does not look like a viable option to go deep into games. The Phillies may put him on the roster to come in out of the bullpen for this series and see how he manages. He could lose his roster spot to someone like Yunior Marte if the Phillies do not trust Walker.
Cristopher Sánchez
Sánchez had been a bright spot for the Phillies since he became the fifth starter early on in the summer. As another left-hander he could be useful in the postseason in both starting and relief roles. He likely would not start a game in a three-game series, but his changeup and his overall performance this season should have earned him a spot on the Wild Card roster.
Bullpen (8)
José Alvarado
Alvarado is one of the relievers the Phillies will rely on most this postseason. He has experience in the playoffs and nasty stuff. They will look for him to be a shutdown relief pitcher against left-handed and right-handed hitters.
Craig Kimbrel
Like Alvarado, Kimbrel will be a huge part of the back end of the bullpen in any postseason series. He had a great regular season and can pitch in multiple roles. The Phillies trust him in big spots and Kimbrel will certainly see some of those spots.
Seranthony Domínguez
Domínguez has been inconsistent toward the end of the regular season. He has given up some big home runs and struggled with command. The Phillies will still put him on the Wild Card roster because of his track record. He has potentially great stuff and could get tough right-handed hitters out. He may not see as many high-leverage situations as he did last postseason, but he will get some appearances.
Gregory Soto
Soto is similar to Alvarado in that they are both flamethrowing left-handed relievers. Both can struggle with command as well. Soto can certainly get big outs against tough left-handed hitters if he is spotting the ball. Thomson trusts him and it is likely he could be used in some middle-leverage situations.
Jeff Hoffman
One of the Phillies' best relievers this season. Hoffman showed up big in 2023 and has shown that he can get big outs. It is unclear how much he would be trusted in the eighth or ninth innings, but Thomson will certainly go to his trusty right-hander in the middle innings.
Matt Strahm
Strahm has been about as reliable as they come out of the bullpen. He is great for getting out of a jam in the middle innings or going a full inning, especially if multiple left-handers are coming to the plate. Thomson trusts Strahm and he could be used in big spots this postseason.
Mike Lorenzen
Lorenzen's ability to be a long man out of the bullpen probably helps his chances of making the roster for this upcoming series. Since throwing his no-hitter, the right-hander has struggled. He will likely not be used in any big spots but may be needed if a starting pitcher struggles.
Orion Kerkering
Kerkering was only added to the Phillies' Big-League roster during the last week of the regular season. He showed a nasty slider and a hard fastball in his three Major League appearances. His late callup may have been an audition for the postseason and Thomson was impressed with what he saw. Even though Kerkering only has three Major League appearances under his belt, do not be surprised to see him get called upon out of the bullpen.