Phils improve to 18-6 in June
The Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen has been dealing as of late. Yes, you read that correctly. And no, you’re not going crazy. They played a large role in the team's win on Sunday, and in turn, allowed them to take three of four games from the San Diego Padres. Overall, it was an impressive effort from the Phillies’ relievers and offense, as they overcame a poor performance from starter Kyle Gibson and didn't go down quietly against Yu Darvish. —Lauren Amour, Inside the Phillies
Pitching performances:
PHI Nick Nelson: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
SDP Yu Darvish: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 9 K
Standout bats:
PHI Kyle Schwarber: 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 K
PHI Nick Castellanos: 4-for-5, RBI
SDP Austin Nola: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
SDP C.J. Abrams: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Report: Harper to require surgery on broken thumb
During Saturday night’s contest between the Phillies and Padres, Bryce Harper was hit on the hand by a pitch from San Diego starter Blake Snell.
As a result, Harper was diagnosed with a fractured left thumb. The Phillies placed him on the 10-day injured list on Sunday, and called up Mickey Moniak in a corresponding move.
According to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia, the broken thumb will require surgery, but Harper hasn’t been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The recovery period is approximately 6-8 weeks, which spells a late August/early September return.
The injury couldn't have come at a worse time, though, as Harper had been excellent all season long, perhaps on his way to a second consecutive MVP Award. However, getting him back for a playoff push in September would be huge. —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Braving a divisional opponent
The Phillies have not performed well against NL East teams this season, sporting a 12-16 record when facing them. They hope to find some better luck when the Atlanta Braves visit Citizens Bank Park for a three-game set beginning on Tuesday. In their first meeting this season, the two teams split a four-game series back in May. Philadelphia will look to come out victorious and gain some ground in the division this time around. —Declan Harris, Inside the Phillies
Game 1:
PHI starter: Zack Wheeler (6-4, 2.77 ERA)
ATL starter: Charlie Morton (4-3, 4.84 ERA)
First pitch: June 28, 7:05 p.m. EST
NBCSP/94.1 WIP
Game 2:
PHI starter: Ranger Suárez (6-4, 4.23 ERA)
ATL starter: Kyle Wright (8-4, 3.18 ERA)
First pitch: June 29, 7:05 p.m. EST
NBCSP/MLB Network/94.1 WIP
Game 3:
PHI starter: Aaron Nola (4-5, 2.98 ERA)
ATL starter: Ian Anderson (6-4, 4.60 ERA)
First pitch: June 30, 6:05 p.m. EST
NBCSP/MLB Network/94.1 WIP
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Lauren Amour, Alex Carr, Kade Kistner, and Leo Morgenstern discuss Bryce Harper's injury and what the Phillies must do to succeed in his absence, a possible trade at the deadline involving Alec Bohm, our love for Matt Vierling, and much more!
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Phillies claim Mercado off waivers from Guardians
The Phillies announced on Monday that they claimed outfielder Óscar Mercado off of waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. He was added to the 26-man roster on Tuesday, while Zach Eflin was placed on the 15-day IL with a right knee bruise.
The move comes in wake of Harper being out and the Phillies needing to stock up on some outfield depth. Mercado is a more than serviceable pick-up.
Mercado is 27, and was drafted in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his debut with the Guardians in 2019.
In 2022, Mercado is batting .202 alongside a .604 OPS, four homers, and 16 RBI. He does possess some speed, defensive upside, and bat-to-ball skills that should serve well as a platoon option in Philadelphia's outfield. —Lauren Amour, Inside the Phillies
IronPigs score 26 runs in big weekend
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs mashed 26 runs across three games this weekend, outscoring the Norfolk Tides 26-15. They did manage to drop a single game, but persisted nonetheless thanks to major contributions from guys like Mickey Moniak, Dustin Peterson, and most of all, utility man Dalton Guthrie, who logged seven hits between the three-game set.
Pigs' pitchers impressed as well, as Kent Emanuel, currently on a MLB rehab assignment, tossed four solid innings without allowing a single earned run. Bailey Falter also managed six one-hit innings, continuing his remarkable Triple-A campaign.
Triple-A: Dalton Guthrie has monster weekend
Guthrie was off to a hot start early on this season, but missed some time due to injury, and has since slumped. This weekend, however, was likely one of the best of his minor league career. Guthrie logged seven hits, including two home runs, and drove in eight runs. He ended Sunday's game hitting .283 alongside a .763 OPS.
Double-A: O'Hoppe misses final two games of weekend
O'Hoppe missed the final two games of Reading's series against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies this weekend. The reason for his absence is unknown at the moment. The third-ranked prospect in the Phillies' system has been on a bit of a skid in June, hitting just .227 on the month. That said, he's still reaching base frequently, and is slugging at a .530 clip. If that's what you'd call a "skid," that's pretty impressive.
High-A: Mick Abel dazzles versus Cyclones
Abel had himself a night this past Friday, as he spun 6.1 innings of four-hit ball versus Brooklyn, allowing just two earned runs and walking one, while striking out six.
Single-A: Rodolfo Sanchez continues intriguing season
Sanchez, since being converted to a full-time relief role, is thriving. The 22-year-old features a three-pitch mix, though he looks to be working primarily fastball/slider in his new role. In 31.0 innings this year, the righty has managed to fan 43 batters, working his way to a 1.74 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .181 against him, but he has allowed his fair share of free passes. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies