Phillies Mailbag: Sunday’s Finale, Rotation, A Neris Return?

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies mailbag. Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in Tuesday afternoons to hear your questions answered on the air.

Would you have pinch-hit Bryce Harper or J.T. Realmuto for Cal Stevenson and Garrett Stubbs on Sunday?  Lot of people are mad.
~Dan

The Phillies fell to the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon 6-4.  They had just taken the first three games of the four-game series and had won four games in a row.  The last two outs were made by Cal Stevenson and Garrett Stubbs.  The fact that they batted has been somewhat controversial with Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto on the bench.

However, I would have left them alone.

To me, this Sunday game was far from a must-win.  The Phillies had just won four in a row.  Taijuan Walker was on the mound.  It would be very nice to take the four-game sweep.  But I think the bigger picture matters here.

This was a rare Bryce Harper day off.  It was scheduled purposely before a day off on Monday.  Even Bryce Harper needs a day.  It's for his greater good for the length of the season.  I think once they committed to the day off for Harper, he needed to take the day off unless there was an emergency.

Realmuto in particular really needed the day off.  Having spent time on the injured list this season, and becoming old in catcher years, his days off really matter.  For a productive Realmuto down the stretch, having these two days off in a row is good for his body, too.

Will that game keep the Phillies from the playoffs?  Probably not. Therefore, I support the two veterans that they will especially be counting on the next six weeks getting their time off.

And if Stevenson and Stubbs do something heroic, everyone would feel great.  But the Phillies had eight other innings to score more than four runs.

Why did the Phillies demote Tyler Phillips?  They don't seem to have anyone to replace him?
~Glenn

The Phillies made the tough decision to send Tyler Phillips to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  While he had a good start with the club, highlighted by a complete game shutout against the Cleveland Guardians, the league appears to have caught up to Phillips a little bit.  But I think there are two reasons the Phillies made the choice.

The first is that the Phillies can pitch Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola against the Atlanta Braves to open the series.  Tuesday would have been the day Phillips pitched, but thanks to Monday's off day, the Phillies can pitch their top two pitchers on regular rest.  They will line up with two of the top Braves starters in Reynaldo Lopez and Max Fried.

Cristopher Sanchez did the Phillies a favor by letting the bullpen take Saturday off.  Between that and the Monday day off, they'll be in good shape.  Sanchez could pitch on Thursday if the Phillies felt they needed him to.  Right now, the starter for Thursday is TBA against Spencer Schwellenbach.

If the Phillies need to go for a bullpen game on Thursday, they can.  They'll have to fill one spot between Thursday and Saturday.  It's not ideal to use a bullpen game, but would not be the worst thing in the world.  They will not, however, have a day off until September 2.

The addition to the roster to replace Phillips is Tyler Gilbert.  While he has been a starter in his career, he has only pitched in relief for the IronPigs.  The Phillies say he could give them multiple innings at a time.  The Phillies said the same against Tanner Banks upon his acquisition.

They could combine with Matt Strahm and Jose Alvarado to go against the tough lefties in Atlanta's lineup.

The second part is that the return of Ranger Suárez is imminent.  Suárez threw a second simulated game over the weekend and appears poised for a rehab start.  If that goes well, he could join the Phillies as soon as next week. 

Would you sign Hector Neris now?
~Dave

In a word: yes.  The Cubs released former Phillies reliever Hector Neris on Tuesday, to the surprise of many.  Neris was 8-4 with a 3.89 earned run average.  He has 17 saves in 22 save opportunities for the Cubs in 2024.

Why was he released?

Well, there was a clause in his contract that would have given Neris a $9 million player option had he finished 45 games or pitched in 60 total.  Neris appears poised to reach those numbers.  He currently has 33 finished and 46 total.

Those conditions will not happen for the team who signs him, who is responsible only for a prorated portion of the Major League minimum salary.

He's been up and down for the Cubs this season.  Neris had a 5.68 ERA in August, with one blown save, and a 6.52 ERA in June.  But July he had a sparkling 1.13 ERA.  Neris has a 4.63 ERA at Wrigley Field, with 3.05 ERA everywhere else.

The two weakest bullpen spots for the Phillies right now are Tyler Gilbert (no appearances in 2024), Jose Ruiz (3.89 ERA) and Maz Lazar (new to the major leagues, three scoreless innings).  Ranger Suárez will presumably occupy one of those in short order.

But I think there is room for someone like him.  Who knows - a return to familiar Philadelphia might give him a boost.   I am sure a lot of teams will be eager to bring him aboard.  Maybe his history in Philly would let him choose the Phillies.