Cuts and bruises adding up for Phillies amid all these wins

Cuts and bruises adding up for Phillies amid all these wins originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

MIAMI – They are racking up the wins, but the cuts and bruises are also mounting.

The Phillies attempted to complete a sweep Sunday without Trea Turner (hamstring strain), Kyle Schwarber (lower back soreness) and JT Realmuto.

Realmuto’s knee is “injured,” according to coach Rob Thomson, but he could have played on Sunday. The Phillies are being careful with their workhorse catcher. Garrett Stubbs caught Zack Wheeler for just the sixth time in three seasons.

Stubbs came on for Realmuto in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 8-2 victory, but that was only because the Phillies were leading comfortably, Thomson said. Realmuto showed up on Sunday feeling some pain in his knee and had time off.

Schwarber said Saturday he is making progress and hopes to return Monday or Tuesday in New York. The Phillies face their fourth consecutive left-handed starting pitcher on Monday in Sean Manaea, so Thomson may opt to give Schwarber an extra day anyway.

If they give Schwarber an extra day on Monday, it looks like Nick Castellanos can DH for the first time this season with an optimized outfield defense of Johan Rojas at center and Brandon Marsh and Cristian Pache at the corners.

Bryce Harper, the designated hitter on Sunday, appeared to grimace after his first swing on Saturday, then threw a half-strike on the next pitch. He ended up going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, but expressed no discomfort during or after the game.

Thomson said Harper’s reaction was because he slipped in the batter’s box. The Phillies have dealt with muddy mounds a few times this season and Thomson said it was similar in the area Saturday. Harper, at several points in the game, kicked some mud off his cleats onto the pitcher’s mound before the half inning began on the field.