Phillies Make Do With Patched-Up Lineup
The Philadelphia Phillies took the field for Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals while dealing with a series of injuries that reshaped their starting lineup and forced mid-game adjustments. The club entered the game on an eight-game winning streak, and they continued to extend it with a 12-3 victory on Saturday.
Alec Bohm was a surprise omission from the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale. He had recorded two hits on Saturday and three hits on Friday, including a walk-off triple, but interim manager Don Mattingly made the decision to rest him. Mattingly said Bohm has dealt with tightness when stretching at first base, which he believes is in the hamstring or groin area. The manager did not sound overly concerned, but Bohm's recovery was treated as a precaution rather than a critical issue.
To compensate, the Phillies shuffled their starting alignment, with Kyle Schwarber moving to first base and Bryce Harper serving as designated hitter. Underdog MLB posted the lineup order: Schwarber at first, Turner at shortstop, Harper as designated hitter, Stott second base, Marsh left field, Realmuto catcher, Crawford center field, Sosa third base, De La Cruz right field, and Sánchez the starting pitcher.
Despite the absence, Bohm's 2026 season has shown improvement after a slow start. He entered the game with a .246 average, 115 hits, 14 home runs, and 75 RBIs, along with a .390 slugging percentage and a .695 on-base plus slugging.
Two More Lineup Shifts in Game
The game itself saw more shake-ups. Luis Arraez, who started at second base, was pulled during the fourth inning after dealing with lower-body cramps. Reports from The Athletic's Matt Gelb said the Phillies confirmed it as lower-body cramps. Arraez was replaced by Bryson Stott in the lineup.
The Phillies' medical staff later mentioned that Arraez has a history of lower-body cramping, and interim manager Mattingly told Phillies Nation's Ty Daubert the same. Though not a major issue, he left the game with a 7-0 lead, giving the team comfort to rest him rather than push through what was a lopsided contest. His presence was enough to contribute a .310 average with two home runs and a .789 OPS since joining the team, and with that average leading MLB, the club likely wanted to protect his health through a long season.
However, the injury bug struck again later in the game. In the top of the eighth, Stott had to come out with a right foot contusion. He injured himself when he fouled a ball off his foot in the sixth inning, and he stayed in through the seventh before being replaced. Luis Arraez, who had left Saturday's game with cramping in his hamstring and was not in the starting lineup on Sunday, replaced Stott in the eighth. Mattingly had said before the game that Arraez's cramping had been an ongoing issue throughout his career, which kept their concern level low.
A Streak and a Race Stretch
The wins haven't stopped coming for Philadelphia. The team has scored 46 runs during a seven-game winning streak, and with the Brewers' help, they have drawn within three games of the Atlanta Braves for the division lead. The victory on Saturday extended their streak to eight, and with the series finale on Sunday, they aim to make it nine straight wins.
Mattingly will face the St. Louis right-hander Kyle Leahy to finish the series finale and potentially stretch the winning streak to nine. The ability to rest and rehab three players' issues while remaining competitive speaks to a deep roster that hasn't wavered despite the health concerns.