The Phillies ended an 11-year playoff drought when they held onto the final Wild Card spot in the newly expanded postseason format, edging out the 86-win Brewers and finishing with an 87-75 record on the year. They’re in St. Louis for a best-of-three showdown with a Cardinals team that’s hoping to extend the farewell tour of several iconic veterans. Zack Wheeler will take the mound opposite resurgent Cardinals lefty Jose Quintana in this afternoon’s series opener. Here’s how the Phillies’ roster breaks down…
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Andrew Bellatti
- Connor Brogdon
- Seranthony Dominguez
- Zach Eflin
- Kyle Gibson
- Aaron Nola (Game 2 starter)
- David Robertson
- Noah Syndergaard
- Zack Wheeler (Game 1 starter)
Left-Handed Pitchers
- Jose Alvarado
- Bailey Falter
- Brad Hand
- Ranger Suarez (Game 3 starter)
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Both Sosa, who’d been on the injured list with a hamstring strain, and Hand, who’d been shelved with elbow tendinitis, were formally activated from the IL today in order to be placed on the playoff roster. With each of Syndergaard, Falter and Gibson making the cut, the Phillies are effectively carrying six starting pitchers, though the majority of them will be working out of relief. Eflin technically gives them seven starters on the roster, though the veteran righty and free-agent-to-be shifted to the bullpen down the stretch after spending more than two months on the injured list this summer due to a knee injury.
The Phillies’ deadline pickups this year proved to pivotal in their return to the playoffs. Marsh, a longtime top prospect with the Angels, provided some needed defense in the outfield and hit .288/.319/.455 down the stretch with his new club. However, it’ll be the St. Louis native and right-handed-hitting Vierling getting the Game 1 nod in center against the left-handed Quintana. Both Syndergaard and Robertson, meanwhile, provided solid innings to help the Phils overcome injuries on the staff. Sosa, acquired mainly for his glove, hit .315/.345/.593 in a small sample of 59 plate appearances before landing on the shelf.
Taking a step back, the Phillies’ very presence in the postseason is somewhat incredible, given their catastrophic start to the season. As of June 3, the Phillies sat at 22-29 on the season — the result of a miserable losing streak that ultimately led to the firing of manager Joe Girardi. Bench coach Rob Thomson ascended to the manager’s chair, and while Phils fans might’ve hoped the shakeup would result in better play, few could’ve realistically forecasted a surge back into postseason contention at that point. It’s not quite a 2019 Nationals turnaround — the Nats were 19-31 at their low point — but the Phils will hope for a similar Cinderella story to play out in 2022.
Gibson AND Thor is a miss.
Onward and upward!
Phillies should sweep. Cards starting pitchers should get rocked.
No one gets rocked in the playoffs. Phillies SP could carry them, but the Phils looked bad in September. They need to go back to their June-August ways.
Love Thor out of the pen. Don’t see the need for Gibby here.
I think the Gibson inclusion is a business decision.
Would I rather see Guthrie/Hall…sure, but the DH thing changes that…
Pretty sure in the eyes of management, he’s one of the last on the roster….
Guy made 31 starts and was mostly decent until the last part of the season…..It sends a message to future signees, about loyalty….IMO
I wanted the Cardinals to face the Padres instead of the Phillies. I was hoping the Phillies to win the second wild card spot to face the Mets. But, I do know that the Phillies didn’t play well against them during the regular season. This is going to be a difficult series for me to watch because the Phillies are my second favorite team. I will have to go for the Cardinals, but good luck to both teams.
I want revenge for 2011. The image of Ryan Howard screaming in pain as the Cardinals celebrate (justifiably so, they just won the series) has summed up the last 11 seasons of Phillies baseball. We haven’t sniffed the playoffs since then.
Von, I’ve got no dog in this race, bur I’m rooting for the Phils just for you my man. And I love Schwarbs.
Francys01;
The Phillies played well against teh Cardinals this season.
Samuel- Yes, that’s true.
Dalton Guthrie played very well…too bad for him
They could field 8 and still sweep the cardinals.
Or field 12 and get swept. But I’d like to see them end the Cardinals season
not to worry, according to the phillies, they will cary gibson and syndgaard in case round 1 goes 7.
watered down series.
Noah will come out of the pen. I’m confused about Gibby.
Gibson wastes a roster spot. Darick Hall should have this spot; big bat lefty off the bench a la Matt Stairs.
Next round I suppose. Don’t really need a Matt Stairs in a DH league.
Yes, pinch hitters are still relevant, potential game changers. Yepez.
We had Marsh in the same spot. Struck out looking.
No room for Hall since 13 pitchers are mandated. Plus it would be bad PR to dump a veteran like Gibson. he earned the right to celebrate making the playoffs.
Technically 13 pitchers aren’t mandated. It’s the other way around – you can have any number of pitchers up to a max of 13. 12 would be fine (but would go against conventional thinking these days).
Gibson got his money. That’s payment enough.
Random thoughts: I remember that game in 2015 when the Mets brought Thor in from the bullpen in the 8th vs the Dodgers in the nlds when he was a rookie and he blew the hitters away. Wonder how he’ll be out of the pen. Maybe his stuff plays up a bit. Doubt it he was topping out at 93 but who knows? Also happy to see Wheeler get the nod. He deserves it. If you told me in 2016 what Wheeler and Syndergaard are what they are today I wouldn’t have bought it. That’s baseball.
What a great way to win a WC game. Love it. Hope it sticks in the Cardinals’ throats
I’m surprised Realmuto made the roster.
Euphoria
WOW !!!!
When you are up 2-0, and you need 3 outs, and you end up giving up 6 runs in an inning and losing the game, all the momentum goes to the team that scored 6. The Cardinals lost the series in GM1 by what happened, it is just deflating. Good luck to the Phillies though, it will be an interesting series with the Braves as you have a very good lineup.