Phillies notes: Bohm’s progress, strange Trea numbers and an outfield in flux

Alec Bohm (fractured left rib) is nearing a return. The Phillies third baseman hit off the machine in the indoor batting cages prior to Monday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. He’ll be reevaluated tomorrow. A minor league rehab stint could be coming soon. 

Rob Thomson gave a rough guess of three to four weeks for a return at the time of Bohm’s placement on the injured list on July 19. His recovery is in line with that estimate. 

“I talked to him after his workout yesterday,” Thomson said. “He said, ‘It’s the best day yet, felt really good.’ In fact, he went in, got some treatment, went back down to the cage after I talked to him and did some more hitting. So that’s a good sign.” 

Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa have filled the void at third base with Bohm out. The two have combined for a .693 OPS in 72 plate appearances. Kemp has outhit Sosa, but Sosa is the much better defender at the hot corner. The right-handed hitting Kemp is starting at third with the lefty Cade Povich on the mound, with Sosa at second base.

Notes 

• The outfield plan beyond the end of the homestand is still unclear. The team is platooning in left and center field, with the club facing alternating lefty and righty starters in the Orioles series. Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh will likely start the second game with right-hander Dean Kremer on the mound. Weston Wilson and Harrison Bader are in the lineup on Monday against Povich. They will likely be back in on Wednesday against lefty Trevor Rogers. The Phillies are lined up to face righties Merrill Kelly and Jacob deGrom on Friday and Saturday and lefty Patrick Corbin on Sunday in Texas. Could the Phillies drag out the outfield platoon arrangement? “Not necessarily,” Thomson said, “but I haven’t even gotten there yet.” Maybe a more permanent plan in the outfield is coming. Maybe not. 

• Phillies shortstop Trea Turner is quietly in a slump. He has one hit in his last 19 at-bats. Since July 1, Turner is batting .245 with a .621 OPS. He has yet to hit a home run at Citizens Bank Park this season. His last one came on Sept 25, 2024 against the Chicago Cubs, the final home game of the 2024 regular season. It would be appropriate if his first one came on Monday night, the two-year anniversary of the famous “standing ovation.” 

• The Phillies would love to go to Jhoan Duran in every save situation. It will be interesting to see how far Thomson is willing to go with his new closer during the regular season. He is available to pitch on Monday. That would be three out of four days. He has done that five times this season with the Minnesota Twins. He has also pitched four out of five days twice. As always, Thomson is careful to use a reliever three days in a row during the regular season. 

• Joe Ross (back spasms) could be activated off the injured list on Tuesday.