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New York Times
4 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Phillies end woeful weekend with bad defense, managerial missteps — and missing Bryce Harper
PHILADELPHIA — There is no ideal Phillies batting order whenever Bryce Harper is absent; the manager must improvise. But, even if Harper had been available Sunday, the Phillies would have had Weston Wilson in left field. They were facing a lefty starter, and that is what Rob Thomson has installed as standard procedure. Wilson, an infielder by trade, is the left fielder against lefties. Advertisement But, in the sixth inning of a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers that capped a forgettable weekend, Wilson stepped to the plate with a righty reliever on the mound. Thomson has been aggressive in these moments, especially with a lead. He's platooning in left and center field, but he's told everyone the initial lineup is just that. There can and will be changes during a game. Wilson still batted against Nick Mears. He struck out on five pitches. Thomson had a chance to secure the platoon advantage for that at-bat, had Max Kepler pinch-hit for Wilson, while improving the left-field defense for the remainder of the game. 'There's a couple of things that I'm going to look back on over today's game and question myself over,' Thomson said afterward. 'So not only do we have to play better, but I have to manage better.' Ranger Suárez hung a full-count slider to Caleb Durbin to begin the next half inning. Durbin hit it hard, but it was short of the warning track. It was a routine play for an average left fielder. Wilson never saw it off the bat. He ran in, toward left-center, and then pivoted to form a checkmark with his route. The ball plopped past him for a leadoff double. 'The ball has to be caught,' Wilson said. Milwaukee scored three times in the seventh as the Phillies handed them five outs. They should have at least escaped with the game tied, but shortstop Trea Turner botched a routine grounder hit right at him that prolonged the inning even further. Wilson's miscue started the snowball. And, when his spot in the order came to bat again, there was another Brewers righty reliever pitching. Thomson pinch hit with Brandon Marsh to begin the ninth. The deficit was too great by then. But Thomson's misstep was evident. Advertisement The manager regretted his sixth-inning indecision. 'Now,' Thomson said, 'looking back on it, yeah.' This season, when an opposing batter puts a pitch thrown by the Phillies in play, there is a 31.8 percent chance it will be a hit. Only the Colorado Rockies, perhaps the worst team in the history of organized professional baseball, convert batted balls into outs at a lower rate. This is a problem. It is not a statistic that can be assigned solely to a team's defense or pitching; it's a mesh of both. If a team's pitchers consistently allow hard contact, they are more likely to surrender a high batting average on balls in play. But the Phillies entered Sunday tied for the second-lowest average exit velocity allowed. Maybe some of it is bad luck; the Phillies' starters often induce weak contact, resulting in flares for cheap singles. That hurts a team's batting average on balls in play. So does a shabby defense. The Phillies entered Sunday tied for the fewest fielding errors in MLB. Errors, more than ever, are a flawed way of measuring defense. (Major League Baseball has intervened on more scoring decisions this season to award hits.) Advanced defensive metrics — some reliable, some not even worth considering 60 games into a season — portray the Phillies as one of the worst defensive clubs in baseball. The Wilson miscue, ruled a double because official scorers do not assess errors for bad reads unless the ball nicks the fielder's glove, epitomizes the Phillies' high batting average on balls in play. Not since at least 1950 has a Phillies team carried a batting average on balls in play higher than .318. (The only exception is the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, which no one in Philadelphia should ever think about again.) It's a staggering rate for a team with a strong pitching staff. Advertisement One of the things holding this all together in 2025 is the rotation's league-leading 26.6 percent strikeout rate. The best way to avoid fate with a batted ball is to strike out many dudes. The Phillies should be better on defense; it's never going to be a good fielding team, but it is not worst-in-baseball-type stuff. Turner, in particular, has been better. He made several strong plays Sunday, ranging to his left. He has been more sure-handed this season. Until he's not. The mark of a good shortstop is one who can slow down the game in critical times. 'The mistakes have been, it feels like, big moments,' Turner said. 'Which is frustrating. But where I was at the last two years and where I'm at now, I feel a lot better. I'm doing a lot of things right and playing pretty good defense.' Most advanced defensive metrics support the notion Turner has improved. That will elicit eye rolls from some, even if the same metrics were held against Turner in previous years. Everyone agrees: The entire team's defense should look better. 'We definitely played a little sloppy,' Turner said, 'and obviously it starts with me.' 'I don't know how to put a number on it, but I think we've played very well at times,' Thomson said of the defense. 'We've improved over the last year. And I think Trea's played a lot better this year than he did last year. So he's improving. So I don't know how to put a number on it. But it looks bad right now because of the last two days.' The whole thing feels askew without Harper. 'Just having his name in the lineup, regardless if he does well or not, is going to help everybody else in the lineup,' Nick Castellanos said. The Phillies have gone 1-4 since Harper suffered a bruised right elbow when hit by a Spencer Strider fastball. Advertisement He's expected to return Tuesday when the Phillies begin a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Had the Phillies placed Harper on the injured list and backdated it as far as permitted, he would have missed the entire series this week at Toronto and the first game at Pittsburgh. It was a risk worth taking — playing short a few days — if it meant a shorter absence for Harper. His return does not solve the outfield conundrums Thomson often faces. Wilson is here because he is supposed to hit lefties; he's only 4-for-22 with four singles against them in 2025. Even if the Phillies wanted to make a change there, Wilson's potential replacement offers even less defense. Otto Kemp has crushed Triple-A pitching. But he's played left field only once a week. Kemp is considered a below-average defender on the infield; if the Phillies thought he could do more in the outfield, he would be playing it more at Triple A. Maybe they'll try it anyway in the majors. Wilson has a specific role — one that will not make or break a season. But when things are starting to spiral, even a part-time player will encounter scrutiny. 'That's my job,' Wilson said. 'I mean, I have to do my best to be the best in that situation. I just have to be better.' (Top photo of Weston Wilson: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Wednesday's Phillies vs. Braves game in Philadelphia postponed due to rain
Tonight's game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves was postponed due to a stretch of rainy weather in the city. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader scheduled for Thursday, the Phillies announced. The first game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the second for 6:45 p.m. Fans with tickets for Wednesday's game can be used for Thursday's 1:05 p.m. game. The NEXT Weather forecast in Philadelphia predicts that rain will be heaviest during tonight's evening commute, although it's expected to be steady throughout the night. Today appears to be the wettest day of the week, although periods of rain are expected to continue impacting the Philadelphia region until the weekend. On Tuesday night, the Phillies shut out the Braves behind six strong innings from Ranger Suárez, despite Bryce Harper being hit in the right elbow by Atlanta starter Spencer Strider. It was the first time Atlanta had been shut out in 43 games. Harper was hit by a 95.6 mph fastball in the first inning and had to leave the game. The Phillies said he suffered a right elbow contusion and that his X-rays were negative. The club has yet to give another update on Harper's status. "When your best hitter gets hit like that, there's always a concern," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday night. "You're always concerned, but we'll just have to see tomorrow." The Phillies said they didn't believe Strider intended to hit Harper, which the Braves' power righty said after the game. "Certainly not trying to hit him. I thought in the moment, I just assumed he had a guard on and was just pissed that I hit him. Then saw him in pain. That was tough. I'm definitely relieved he's OK," Strider said. "He's one of the best players this century. He needs to be on the field. It's best for the game. It's good for us, good to compete against him."Of course, I'm not a complete sociopath, so I have some empathy. I do feel bad for him, to see a person in pain that I caused." The Phillies (35-19) have the best record in the National League and the second-best in baseball. They hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East and a 9 1/2-game lead over the Braves.
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Suárez shines as Phillies overcome Harper's loss after HBP and beat Braves 2-0
PHILADELPHIA — Ranger Suárez struck out eight over six shutout innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies survived an injury scare to slugger Bryce Harper to beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Tuesday night. Harper left in the first inning after he was hit near the right elbow by a 95.3 mph fastball from Braves starter Spencer Strider (0-3). Harper sustained a bruise, and an X-ray was negative, the Phillies said.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Spencer Strider, Braves' bats not good enough against rival Phillies
PHILADELPHIA — Even with Spencer Strider's fastball averaging 2-3 mph below the extreme heat he threw before his second elbow surgery 13 months ago, he still pitched competitively against a Philadelphia Phillies team he has dominated for the most part in the past. But there were notable differences in this 2-0 Atlanta Braves loss at Citizens Bank Park. It was the first loss for Strider in nine decisions covering 11 regular-season games against the Phillies, including 10 starts. Advertisement • He wasn't as efficient and didn't go as deep as he had in past starts against them, running up 90 pitches in 4 2/3 innings. • He got no run support, an issue that has plagued Chris Sale and other Braves pitchers in an entirely underwhelming first two months for Atlanta's offense. • And the Braves' bullpen isn't as good as Philadelphia's, which was evident again when Daysbel Hernández gave up consecutive two-out singles in the eighth inning, followed by two walks, the second of which doubled the lead to 2-0. For Strider and others, there's precious margin for error. 'We got shut out,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said, putting it succinctly after Atlanta lost for the fifth time in six games and fell to 9 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Phillies and eight behind the second-place New York Mets. The Braves struck out 11 times and got five hits, all singles, including four hits in six innings against crafty left-hander Ranger Suárez. 'We just need to get it done, that's all,' Snitker said. 'They're up there trying, and it's a good pitcher. He keeps you off-balance with that sinker and a good changeup and a little breaking ball. He knows what he's doing. We kept the game there, just couldn't get a big hit.' The Braves' best scoring chance came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases on a Michael Harris II leadoff single and two walks before Matt Olson struck out to strand three in a 1-0 game. 'He made some good pitches, but we also missed some opportunities,' Olson said. 'Speaking for myself, he gave me a couple of pitches to hit in that bases-loaded situation. He's a good pitcher. He's not going to light up the velo, but he mixes it up well, moves it around. The changeup's 80 miles an hour, so it makes the 92, 93 fastball look a lot firmer. He's got good arm speed on the changeup, throws it to lefties and righties, moves it around.' Advertisement The Braves left 10 runners on base and were shut out for the fourth time this season and the first since April 5. Olson had 15 homers in 30 career games (including the postseason) at Citizens Bank Park before Tuesday and a 1.034 OPS that was second only to Juan Soto's (1.100) among all players — Phillies or opponents — with at least 100 at-bats at the ballpark. His past success and the closeness of the game only made it harder to swallow his 0-for-4 performance with two strikeouts, including that one critical K. 'That's part of my job title is to drive guys in,' Olson said. 'You know, middle-lineup guy, it's something I pride myself on is driving guys in, scoring runs, and I got a couple of chances to do it. That at-bat, he left a couple pitches in decent spots to hit, and I was a little under them, a little late on one, just trying to stay within myself and kind of work off-gap a little bit and back it up a little too much. Yeah, you kick yourself after that in a tight game.' Strider allowed one run and only one hit, albeit with four walks and a high-profile hit batter — he nailed Phillies star Bryce Harper in the right elbow with a 95 mph fastball in the first inning. Harper left the game and had X-rays that showed only a contusion, news Strider was relieved to hear. 'Certainly not trying to hit him,' Strider said. 'In the moment, I just assumed he had a guard on and was just pissed that I hit him, and then saw him in pain, and that was tough. So I'm definitely relieved that he's OK. He's one of the best players, you know, this century. So he needs to be on the field. It's best for the game. And it's good for us. It's good to compete against him.' Strider added: 'You have to stay focused on what you're trying to do in the moment. It's easy to unravel. Of course, I'm not a complete sociopath, so I have some empathy. So I do feel bad for him to see a person in pain that I caused. But I've still got a job to do.' Advertisement He did it, for the most part. But Braves fans hoping to see pre-surgery Strider will need to be patient, as Snitker has said many times and did again Tuesday. Strider missed the first three weeks of the season while completing his rehab from internal-brace surgery, then made one start and missed five more weeks for a hamstring strain. 'He competed a lot better than he did the other day,' Snitker said, referring to Strider's first start after the injury, when he gave up six hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings May 20 at the Washington Nationals. 'I thought command was better. The velocity wasn't great, but it was better than the other day. It looked like the way they were swinging at it, it had a little life on it. Secondary stuff … it was just an overall better outing than the last one.' This series feels a lot more important than a late-May series should feel. That's because the Braves are in danger of falling behind the Phillies by 10-plus games before the calendar turns to June. And nearly as far back of the Mets. 'I think we're focused on ourselves and understanding what needs to get better,' Strider said. 'Ultimately, if we want to achieve what we want to achieve, we've got to be the best version of ourselves, regardless of what anybody else is doing. We don't know who we're going to play if we make the playoffs. That kind of stuff works itself out when you get there. 'I think right now you've got to picture every jersey the same on the other side of you and focus on what's going on in your clubhouse and in your own routine and optimize for the next game and the next game.' For the Braves to make an eighth consecutive postseason appearance, Strider will surely need to have a big part in getting them there. The Phillies scored their only run against him in the second inning, when Alec Bohm drew a leadoff walk and Max Kepler lined a one-out double to the right-center warning track. Bryson Stott's 11-pitch leadoff walk in the third inning underscored a difference in Strider from his pre-surgery form. Stott fouled off five full-count pitches, all 95.3-95.8 mph fastballs. He couldn't put Stott away; in the past, however, Strider likely would've blown him away with 98-99 mph fastballs up in the strike zone. Advertisement Still, he worked out of that inning unscathed, striking out hot-hitting Kyle Schwarber on a slider with a runner at second to end the inning. After four innings, Strider had all of the 40 hardest-thrown pitches in the game. Granted, Suárez hadn't thrown a pitch above 93.3 mph, but Strider had eight at 96.0-96.8 mph. All came in the first two innings, and he topped out at 95.8 mph in the third inning and 94.6 mph in the fourth inning before getting one pitch to 95.7 mph in the fifth. The decline in velocity as games have progressed has been a pattern in each of Strider's three starts as he continues to build arm strength. He averaged 95.1 mph on 49 fastballs Tuesday and got 24 swings, including just four swings-and-misses on that pitch. Strider's fastball velo was in the 68th percentile in the majors at 95.2 mph before Tuesday. For some context, it was in the 98th percentile as a rookie in 2022 at 98.2 mph and the 92nd percentile in his first full season as an MLB starter in 2023 at 97.2 mph, when he led the majors in wins and strikeouts. But it wasn't velocity that upset Strider on Tuesday. It was falling behind hitters early in counts and giving up a run after Bohm's leadoff walk. He loathes allowing the first run of a game. 'I can't concern myself with velo too much right now,' he said. 'It's going to come, and ultimately, whether I'm throwing hard or not, I've got to execute pitches and get ahead and stick to our game plan.'
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Suárez shines as Philadelphia Phillies overcome Harper's loss after HBP, beat Braves 2-0
Ranger Suárez struck out eight over six shutout innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies survived an injury scare to slugger Bryce Harper to beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Tuesday night. Harper left in the first inning after he was hit near the right elbow by a 95.3 mph fastball from Braves starter Spencer Strider (0-3). Harper sustained a bruise, and an X-ray was negative, the Phillies said. A two-time NL MVP, Harper took a few steps from home plate, dropped to a knee and gripped his arm in pain. Phillies athletic trainers came out to check on Harper, and the slugger soon headed to the clubhouse. Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper is hit by a pitch from Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider during the first inning of a baseball game May 27, 2025, in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum / AP Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Harper was "in a lot of pain" after he was hit and will be evaluated again Wednesday morning. Without their star first baseman, the National League-leading Phillies still won for the 10th time in 11 games. Suárez (4-0) played a big role in this one, and continued to shine since his return from an early season back injury. He allowed seven runs in his first start of the season, and since then he has made three starts with at least six innings of shutout ball. He allowed just four hits and threw 103 pitches. Suárez pitched out of his biggest jam after loading the bases with two outs and the Phillies leading 1-0 in the fifth inning. He got Matt Olson to strike out swinging on his 88th pitch, a 92.8 mph four-seam fastball that got a rise out of the crowd. Phillies fans were a bit louder in their voracious boos for Strider after he drilled Harper. Strider — who had been 8-0 with a 2.06 ERA in the regular season against the Phillies — heard jeers again after he trudged off the mound after 4 2/3 innings. Max Kepler drove home Trea Turner with an RBI double in the second inning. J.T. Realmuto, bumped to eighth in the order after a prolonged slump, walked with the bases loaded in the eighth to make it 2-0. Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each tossed a scoreless inning. Jordan Romano earned his seventh save. Key moment Harper leaving the game is always a scary moment for Phillies fans. Key stat Kepler's RBI came on his 400th career extra-base hit. Up next The Braves send RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (3-2, 3.67 ERA) against Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (6-1, 2.42 ERA) on Wednesday.
