PHILADELPHIA − When we last saw the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, it was Game 5 of the World Series on Nov. 3, and the sold-out crowd was ear-splittingly loud, desperately hoping for another “Bedlam at the Bank” moment.
Alas, it was not to be. Bryce Harper didn’t hit the game-winning two-run homer that night like he did to clinch the NLCS. So the Phillies lost 3-2, falling into a 3-2 hole to the Houston Astros. They lost the World Series two nights later in Game 6 in Houston.
Since then, Harper had surgery on his elbow, Rhys Hoskins was lost for the season with a torn ACL, and starting pitchers Ranger Suarez and phenom Andrew Painter were placed on the injured list.
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All of this has contributed to the Phillies’ 1-5 start after six straight road games − they lost all three to the Texas Rangers and two of three to the Yankees. So far, not even shortstop Trea Turner’s arrival has offset the disappointing first week of the season.
But the Phillies are finally back at Citizens Bank Park for their opener today, a game pushed back a day because of inclement weather. The atmosphere will be similar to that Game 5 of the World Series. Citizens Bank Park will be sold out with about 45,000 fans in attendance, all receiving a 2022 National League Champions pennant as a reminder of how magical last season was.
Castellanos provides early spark
Nick Castellanos struggled last season after signing a five-year deal worth $100 million, often hearing boos from disappointed Phillies fans.
But Castellanos turned that around Friday, doubling in each of his first two at-bats. The first led off the second inning. Two outs later, Reds starter Hunter Greene lost his control. He walked three straight batters, thereby forcing in Castellanos for a 1-0 lead.
Castellanos came up again in the third inning with J.T. Realmuto on first and one out. He lined a pitch into the gap in left-center. But Realmuto was held at third. He was stranded there as Bryson Stott popped out and Alec Bohm flew out to right.
Eagles coach throws out first pitch
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni threw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday. As he came out to the mound, wearing a No. 23 Phillies jersey, the fans in attendance started singing the Eagles’ fight song. Sirianni waved to the crowd, wound up and threw a strike to the catcher. The Phillie Phanatic, serving as the umpire, called it a strike.
Another first baseman goes on IL
The Phillies announced before the game that first baseman Darick Hall, who was replacing Hoskins, was placed on the 10-day IL with a thumb sprain. Infielder Kody Clemens was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his place.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Hall will have surgery on his thumb and will miss at least a month.
He said Clemens will get the bulk of the starts at first against right-handed pitchers, but third baseman Alec Bohm will see some time there, too, most likely against left-handed pitchers. But Thomson stopped short of saying that Bohm will transition there, saying: “He’s our third baseman.”
Clemens tarted at first Friday and batted eighth. His father, Roger Clemens, a star pitcher for more than 20 seasons, attended the game. The younger Clemens hit .145 with 5 homers in 117 at-bats last season with the Detroit Tigers.
“It’s tough,” Thomson said about replacing the anticipated homers from Hall. “But other guys have to step up. That’s what we did last year when (Harper) went down (for two months) and a few other guys. If we catch lightning in a bottle with Kody, and he has a good year, and gets some hits and drives the ball like he was in spring training, we’ll figure it out.”
Zack Wheeler (0-1, 8.31 ERA) was the Phillies starting pitcher. The Reds went with Hunter Greene (0-0, 8.10 ERA).
Bryce Harper could be back sooner than you think
Harper took some batting practice swings more than four hours before the game, and as you would expect, he crushed a few balls well over the right-field fence. It was the second time Harper took batting practice, the first coming Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s not bothering him to swing the bat,” Thomson said. “He certainly can make a ballpark look small.”
But Harper is still a ways from returning, at least as the designated hitter. Thomson said Harper hasn’t been cleared yet to slide, or to resume throwing. The concern with sliding is that he could rupture the repaired tendon in his elbow.
“First things first, we’ve got to get him to slide, and then get him into games,” Thomson said. “Then we’ll figure the other part out.”
Still, it’s encouraging that Harper will return sometime in May. If the Phillies had put Harper on the 60-day injured list to start the season, he wouldn’t be eligible to return until May 29 at the earliest.
Keep in mind that Harper hasn’t had a spring training. So he’ll have to go on a rehab assignment to the minor leagues, perhaps a lengthy one, to get his timing back. That won’t help the Phillies much in the short term. But it’s a long season, and the Phillies were 8 games below .500 last year on May 31. So there is still plenty of time.
Bohm’s away?
Replacing Harper’s and Hoskins’ production (48 homers combined last season) was never going to be easy. But the Phillies did sign Turner to an 11-year contract worth $300 million, and his past history suggests that he can make up for at least half of that total. The other half could come from the combination of third baseman Alec Bohm and second baseman Bryson Stott.
Bohm is actually one of the few Phillies hitters off to a good start. He has a homer and 2 doubles in the first six games, and an OPS of 1.073 (an OPS of .800 is considered above average). Bohm hit 13 homers last season, but only four came before July 1. Stott, in his second year, also had a dreadful start to 2022. He, too, turned it around in the second half.
Favorable schedule
After opening their season with 6 straight road games, the Phillies will play 13 of their next 20 games at home, and all but three of those games are against non-playoff teams from 2022. There’s this three-game set vs. the Reds, followed by three against the Miami Marlins before four games on the road against the Reds and three more against the White Sox. The Phillies will return home to face the Rockies and Mariners (the only playoff team).
What’s more, the Phillies won’t face the Braves until May 25 and the Mets until May 30. By then, there’s a good chance that Harper will be back.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
