Phillies Playoff Mailbag: Bohm, Wheeler, Strom and More

We are back with a playoff edition of the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  We take your questions all season long and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in Tuesday afternoons to hear your questions answered on the air.

What’s your trust level of Matt Strahm right now?
~Mike

I will see your question and counter with a question: What's your level of trust in Jose Alvarado right now?

It's somewhat amazing.  Looking at the recent playoff push of the New York Mets so far, they have hit four of the game's best relievers: Raisel Iglesias of the Atlanta Braves (to clinch the playoffs on Monday of last week), Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers to win the Wild Card Series, and Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman of the Phillies.

Would you not love to have those four relievers in the same bullpen?

Somehow, the Mets have had really good luck against four of the game's top relievers. Of course Strahm and Hoffman were All-Stars in 2024.

My best guess is that the Mets did their homework and made some really good adjustments.  Can these top relievers adjust back?  I would imagine that was the task at hand during the off day.

Unless the Phillies will go Alvarado - and I'm not sure that they have that confidence just yet - they will likely go back to their All-Star.  Looking at film, he will know what happened last time and will adjust accordingly.

What’s Zack Wheeler's role in Game 4 if the Phillies lose Game 3?
~C.J.
Three innings from Ranger best case scenario?
~@antosy35

I grouped these questions together, because they are very much related.  The Phillies enter the playoffs knowing that pitcher Ranger Suárez was leaking oil down the stretch after an absolutely dominant start to the season that saw him named to the All-Star team.

I think the Phillies will probably have a quicker hook on Suárez than they did in the regular season games.   Game four will precede an off day and game three follows one, so any reliever who appears Tuesday can pitch on Wednesday.  I can see the Phillies going to the bullpen early and playing matchups.

Going to Zack Wheeler could happen if he suggests/demands it and it is clear that there is a need.  I don't see there being a pressing need and that happening unless the Phillies are facing elimination.

Should they decide to use Wheeler: if there is a game 5, Cristopher Sanchez could pitch that day on normal rest.  And assuming they win, Aaron Nola is ready for game one of the NLCS and Wheeler ready for game two (and game six).

You may remember Suárez getting key outs as a reliever in 2022.  It could happen with Wheeler if they'd like.  But I think they'd have to be facing elimination.

There are a lot of people suggesting Alec Bohm will not be back next season and that the team will attempt to trade him.  Is there any validity to that or do you anticipate he will be on next years roster?
~Greg

Phillies manager Rob Thomson let third baseman Alec Bohm sit on the bench Sunday afternoon while the rest of the starters took the field.  It had to be one of two things: Bohm was hurt, or Bohm was being benched.  It was the latter.

It's one thing to struggle - but Bohm's behavior has not been wonderful to watch either.  After making a key out in the eighth inning on Saturday with the Phillies threatening, Bohm slammed his helmet on the ground, reminiscent of my seven year-old daughter throwing a temper tantrum.

That's not a good look.

Bohm did enter Sunday's game and immediately got to swinging the bat and making easy outs, not being selective with the pitches thrown to him.

I don't think now is the time to come to that conclusion, but Bohm will eventually have to start showing some maturity.  He's a ridiculously talented hitter who makes a lot of contact.  But he must be measured.  There are ups and downs and teammates pick each other up.

Bigger picture: the Phillies will have to soon find a place for Aidan Miller.  Their current shortstop has many, many years remaining on his contract.  So third base could be where he lands.

I tend to think Bohm will return in 2024, but the Phillies could benefit from having old Alec Bohm back, that's for sure.