PHILADELPHIA − We have seen the Phillies‘ offense go hot and cold through much of the early season. OK, mostly cold.
After all, the Phillies came into their May 2 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks ranked in the middle of the pack among MLB teams in slugging percentage, at .386.
And the Phillies’ offense sure seemed to be somnambulant again through the first six innings.
That is, until Kyle Schwarber and Max Kepler hit solo home runs in the seventh inning, and Johan Rojas, a defensive replacement, made an incredible catch leaping against the wall in the ninth inning to preserve the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Let’s be real. The offense is no different from what we’ve seen from the Phillies for the past three seasons. The Phillies reached the playoffs in each season, losing in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series, Game 7 of the NLCS in 2023 and Game 4 of the NLDS last season.
“We’ll go through a stretch, maybe a couple of stretches, where we don’t hit home runs,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Right now, it’s coming. The ball is carrying a lot more right now. It’s warmer.”
The Phillies (18-14) are good enough to reach the postseason again this season because of their starting pitching − and when Rojas makes his spectacular plays in the outfield.
To show how much the Phillies believe in this formula, starting pitcher Luzardo was the Phillies’ only major offseason acquisition, coming over from the Marlins.
Luzardo didn’t have his best stuff against the Diamondbacks. But he bulled his way through 5⅓ innings with only two runs allowed despite putting at least two runners on base in each of his first four innings.
Luzardo has a 1.94 ERA through his first seven starts as a Phillie.
“He’s really something,” Thomson said. “He just goes out and competes.”
Then Schwarber and Kepler, the bullpen, which has thrown 11 straight scoreless innings, and Rojas did the rest.
Rojas shined when Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. blasted a shot to the deepest part of center field to start the ninth inning. Rojas, running at full speed, leaped and made the catch just as he crashed into the wall.
Then he crashed to the ground. Rojas stayed down for a minute or so, clutching his arm, as Thomson and the trainers raced out to check on him.
Meanwhile, the 40,133 fans at Citizens Bank Park started chanting his name, “Jo-han! Jo-han!” imploring him to stay in the game, which he did.
Afterward, Rojas said he was fine.
“I just saw the ball, and I ran to the wall because I know he hit it hard,” Rojas said. “I just say, ‘You have to run,’ and I (had to) go get it.”
Rojas’ teammates were not nearly as nonchalant about his catch.
“It was awesome,” Schwarber said. “He’s been doing so many great things for us. Making that great play in the outfield. … There’s going to be a pretty high ceiling on that guy. It’s fun to see the way that he goes out there and makes those plays. … He makes those catches look really easy when they’re really difficult catches.”
Added Kepler, who was running over from left field as Rojas chased the ball: “I think I had the best seat in the house. It was incredible. I was about to yell, ‘Wall!’ And then he leaped and made the catch. He made an incredible play, right when we needed it.”
It might remind you of the catch Rojas made in left-center in the 2023 NLDS against Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. with the bases loaded.
There was also another one earlier that season when Rojas laid out and made a diving catch in right-center field.
Rojas said this catch against Gurriel was better.
“I think in 2023, when (Craig) Kimbrel pitching, I remember a diving (catch) between center field and right field,” he said. “I got it. But that one (against Gurriel), it’s huge.”
On most nights, the pitching and defense are enough to give the Phillies a chance. This season, however, the Phillies have a chance to use those strengths differently than they have in the past.
And it might just carry them over the final hurdle.
That’s because Thomson is deciding between going with a six-man rotation once Ranger Suarez is activated off the injured list May 4 to make his first start of the season.
Thomson, of course, is coy about those plans, saying only that ace Zack Wheeler will start the game after Suarez, on May 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by Cristopher Sanchez the next day.
“Beyond that …,” Thomson let that statement hang, before letting it go.
For now, the Phillies can hold off on that because they can move Taijuan Walker, who has pitched to a 2.78 ERA this season, to the bullpen and stick with a five-man rotation.
The real decision on a six-man rotation is perhaps a few months away with phenom Andrew Painter.
Before the game, Thomson said Painter, who’s building up his arm strength following Tommy John surgery in August 2023, will leave Single-A Clearwater and make his next start on May 8 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, one step away from the major leagues.
Think about this, though, as the Phillies wrestle with the six-man rotation question: The Dodgers, the presumptive favorites to repeat as World Series champions, have used 11 different starting pitchers already this season.
When Suarez makes his debut, the Phillies will have used 14 pitchers, total.
The extra rotation arm, especially if it’s Painter’s, would allow Wheeler, Sanchez, Luzardo, Suarez and Aaron Nola to get extra rest heading into the final two months of the regular season.
It would also allow the Phillies to build up Painter’s stamina as he pitches in the major leagues for the first time.
The Phillies have thrived in the postseason with Wheeler and Nola, in particular, eating up innings. Throw in the others, and well, that’s a tough rotation to face.
Then add a few defensive gems from Rojas, a few well-timed home runs, and it just might be enough.
Or as Luzardo put it when asked about the luxury of having six dependable starting pitchers with Suarez coming back: “It’s huge. Depth is always nice, and being able to add him in the mix … is awesome.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
