The Philadelphia Phillies are closing in on another postseason appearance, but getting to October is only part of the challenge. Once the playoffs arrive, the organization will have to make some difficult decisions about which players deserve a spot on the final roster.
With Philadelphia preparing for its fifth consecutive postseason appearance, the margin for error becomes much smaller. The expanded September roster allows teams to carry additional players, but that flexibility disappears once the Wild Card round begins.
That means several current Phillies could find themselves watching the postseason from the outside.
One major decision has already been made, with Orion Kerkering being sent to the minor leagues after struggling to establish himself in the bullpen. But he may not be the only player whose roster spot is in danger.
Three names in particular appear to be sitting on the uncomfortable side of Philadelphia’s playoff roster bubble.
Brooks Raley
The Phillies acquired veteran left-hander Brooks Raley from the New York Mets with the expectation that he would provide an important situational option out of the bullpen.
Instead, his performance since joining Philadelphia has made his playoff roster spot increasingly difficult to justify.
The Phillies entered the season needing reliable left-handed relief. José Alvarado has struggled, while Tanner Banks and Kyle Backhus have spent significant stretches in Triple-A. Veteran lefty Tim Mayza has emerged as the most dependable option from that side.
Raley was supposed to provide another answer.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the 38-year-old has struggled badly since arriving.
In 15 appearances for the Phillies, Raley has posted an 8.71 ERA, allowing four home runs in only 10⅓ innings.
Those numbers are especially concerning for a pitcher whose primary purpose was to help the Phillies navigate difficult left-handed matchups.
At this point, Philadelphia may have to decide whether Raley’s experience and the team’s shortage of quality left-handed options are enough to justify keeping him on the postseason roster.
If another reliever demonstrates greater reliability down the stretch, Raley could become expendable.
Rafael Marchán
The Phillies also face an interesting decision at backup catcher.
Behind longtime starter J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia currently has Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán. Both have appeared in only 34 games this season, highlighting just how limited their playing time has been.
During September, carrying both reserve catchers is possible because of expanded rosters. That situation changes once the postseason begins.
Philadelphia will have fewer roster spots available and will need to maximize every position.
Stubbs could have an advantage because of his familiarity with Aaron Nola, particularly after his role in helping the veteran pitcher during his resurgence. Stubbs can also provide some value as a pinch runner, giving him another potential use beyond catching.
That could leave Marchán competing for a roster spot against another position player or pitcher.
His offensive production has not provided a compelling reason to prioritize him over other available options, making him one of the players who could ultimately be left off the playoff roster.
Chase Shugart
Chase Shugart represents a different type of roster dilemma.
The right-hander has performed reasonably well in a role he was not necessarily expected to dominate. Originally viewed more as a depth option, Shugart has been forced into significantly more action because of the Phillies’ bullpen problems.
He has appeared in 44 games, throwing 51⅓ innings while recording a 4.03 ERA.
Those numbers are respectable for a depth reliever, especially considering the circumstances in which he has been used.
The problem is that playoff baseball requires a different level of bullpen reliability.
Shugart has not established himself as a clear high-leverage option, and Philadelphia could decide that a limited Wild Card series does not require as many middle-relief innings.
The Wild Card round is a best-of-three series, meaning the Phillies would need no more than three starts from their rotation. That could encourage the club to use its roster spots differently, potentially carrying an additional position player instead of a lower-leverage reliever.
The possibility of using Andrew Painter out of the bullpen could also influence the decision.
If Painter is available to provide relief innings, the Phillies could determine that another depth arm such as Shugart is less essential.
The Bullpen Is Making These Decisions Even Tougher
Philadelphia’s bullpen situation is at the center of many of these roster questions.
The Phillies have struggled to find enough consistent relief options, forcing several pitchers into roles that may not have been part of the original plan.
That creates a difficult balance for the front office and coaching staff.
On one hand, the Phillies need enough pitching depth to survive a postseason series. On the other, they cannot afford to use valuable roster spots on pitchers who may not be trusted in meaningful situations.
The situation involving Raley is particularly complicated because of Philadelphia’s lack of dependable left-handed alternatives.
The Final Roster Could Look Very Different
The Phillies’ September roster does not necessarily provide a preview of what their October roster will look like.
Once the postseason begins, every roster spot becomes significantly more valuable.
Realmuto’s presence means Philadelphia does not necessarily need two backup catchers. The team’s starting rotation could reduce the need for multiple depth relievers during a short Wild Card series. And the struggles of several bullpen arms could force the organization to prioritize pitchers who have shown greater reliability late in the season.
That leaves Raley, Marchán and Shugart among the players facing difficult decisions.
None of the three has necessarily played himself completely out of consideration, but each has a clear obstacle standing between him and a postseason roster spot.
October Decisions Are Coming
The Phillies have already done the hard work of putting themselves in position for another postseason run. Now comes another challenge: determining which players give them the best combination of depth, flexibility and reliability once the stakes rise.
For Raley, his poor results could outweigh Philadelphia’s need for another lefty.
For Marchán, the presence of Realmuto and Stubbs could make carrying three catchers unnecessary.
For Shugart, his respectable regular-season numbers may not be enough to guarantee a place on a playoff pitching staff.
With October approaching, the Phillies’ roster bubble is getting smaller — and several players will need strong performances down the stretch to make sure they remain on the right side of it.
Leave a Reply