The Phillies made no changes to their roster from the NLDS vs. the Braves to the NLCS vs. the Diamondbacks.
If they go one more round, they’ll have some interesting decisions to make.
Rhys Hoskins, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in spring training on March 23, is working his way back into action with a possible return to the World Series. If he is able to return, he will be back in just under seven months.
Hoskins was with the Phillies for most of the second half, spending the last two weeks in Clearwater, where he appeared regularly at bat.
The Phillies didn’t think he had cleared the necessary hurdles to be activated this round.
“Honestly, he’s not quite ready yet,” manager Rob Thomson said Monday afternoon ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS. “I’ve talked to him, the trainer has talked to him, and to tell you the truth, it’s really remarkable where he’s at right now. To get to the World Series and see him overcome the odds. If we get to the point, we still expect to be in the World Series.” Where he’s comfortable, where we’re comfortable, and we’ll go from there. ”
Even if the Phillies advance to their second straight World Series and Hoskins is on the roster, he won’t be able to start. Bryce Harper will be anchored at first base and Kyle Schwarber will be the designated hitter. The Phillies won’t adjust that composition. Hoskins comes off the bench as a right-handed hitter and will be required to pinch run if he gets on base. When Hoskins does something other than a home run or an out as a pinch hitter, he always does it with two people.
“He needs more at-bats,” Thomson said. “I think his timing is a little off. I’m shocked by the way he’s running, I’m just not happy with the way he’s running yet. But he’s close. ”
The Phillies have used their bench sparingly in the postseason and will continue to do so. Edmundo Sosa, Jake Cave and Garrett Stubbs have yet to appear at bat or pitch an inning. If the Phillies make it to the World Series and Hoskins is ready, either Cave or the last pitcher on the staff, Michael Lorenzen, will likely be the roster casualty. If the Phillies had removed one of them for Hoskins in the NLCS, they would have been ineligible to be on the World Series roster.