The Phillies split a four-game set in St. Louis against a Cardinals team they are vying for Wild Card positioning with over the extended weekend. Here are some quick notes on the Fightins as they sit at 46-41...
Alec Bohm 🤕
Sliding into second base on Monday, Alec Bohm dislocated his left ring finger.
Bohm missing a prolonged period of time would put extra pressure on a Phillies lineup that is already dealing with injuries and inept play. Bryce Harper's fractured left thumb looms large. This is a team that needs reinforcements ahead of the trade deadline. Centerfield has been a glaring need, as has a potential upgrade at shortstop over washed Didi Gregorius.
Perhaps the Phillies do something drastic such as moving Matt Vierling from center to third as both a short-term solution and a long-term plan, but that makes the centerfield black hole even more vast. Work the phones, Dave Dombrowski!
Kyle Schwarber 💣
Schwarber, having just been selected to his second All-Star team, "won the week" in Philly sports according to me and he's crushing it. He went yard on Sunday, adding to his National League-leading home run total of 28.
In having a discussion with Managing Sports Editor Evan Macy, we wanted to know how rare it was for a player to make an All-Star team with a batting average like Schwarber's, now "improved" to .219 on the season. Looking it up on Stathead, there have 34 such seasons for All-Star position players where they've hit .219 or worse.
- MORE PHILLIES
- Who won the week in Philly sports: Kyle Schwarber slams his way to the All-Star Game
- Kyle Schwarber named to 2022 National League All-Star team
- 10 numbers that help explain the Phillies' successful first half
Schwarber joins the likes of three true outcome sluggers Adam Dunn (.204 in 2012), Joey Gallo (.199 in 2021) and post-prime Reggie Jackson (.194 in 1983), as well as defensive specialists Ozzie Smith (.199 in 1995) and Sandy Alomar (.217 in 1991).
Dingers have the power to make fans forget how infuriating striking out a million times can be.
J.T. Realmuto 💉
Realmuto, sporting his worst OPS (.684) in eight years, will not be joining the Phillies in Toronto for the series with the Blue Jays due to the fact that he's unvaccinated and then Canada's vax requirements for entry into the country.
"I'm not going to let Canada tell me what to do," is a hell of a line. It's not smart, but a hell of a line nevertheless.
Also...
Wild Card Race 🃏
Here are the NL Wild Card standings with three Wild Card teams getting playoff berths:
| Team | Record | Games Back |
| Braves | 52-36 | +5.5 |
| Padres | 50-38 | +3.5 |
| Phillies | 46-41 | - |
| Cardinals | 47-42 | - |
| Giants | 43-24 | 2 |
| Marlins | 41-43 | 4 |
Relevant summer baseball continues!
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