JULY 15 • INQUIRER.COM
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 95-67 · 1ST IN NL EAST
95-67 · 1ST IN NL EAST
A young Phillies fan was left in tears after losing a home run ball. Meet the usher who came to the rescue. After a fan dropped a Kyle Schwarber home run ball in his section, Richard Lewandowski ran to grab another ball for his devastated son in an...
Whit Merrifield's departure offers a hint at the Phillies' trade deadline strategy Is an outfield upgrade on the way? The release of the veteran Merrifield provides the first peek at what could happen on the trade front.
JULY 15 • INQUIRER.COM
Michael Mercado - Allows bulk runs in bulk relief Mercado (1-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks over four innings against Oakland. He struck out two.
Impact Mercado tossed a couple of scoreless innings to start his outing, but things began to unravel in the fourth. Mercado allowed three two-run homers in total, a fourth-inning blast by Brent Rooker, a fifth-inning long ball by Lawrence Butler, then a second dinger by Rooker in the sixth that ended Mercado's day. Following a promising beginning to his career that saw Mercado allow one run in five innings against the Cubs during his first career start, thing have gone downhill since, with the rookie right-hander having allowed 11 earned runs over his last two appearances spanning 5.2 innings.
JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE
Luis F. Ortiz - Gets Tommy John surgery Ortiz underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, MLB.com reports.
Impact After spraining his left ankle in his 2024 debut March 30, Ortiz was placed on the injured list a day later. He began a rehab assignment at Single-A Clearwater in late April, only to be shut down again after experiencing right shoulder inflammation following his second rehab outing. Ortiz shook off the shoulder injury and resumed his rehab assignment June 11 before being shut down just over a week later with forearm discomfort. The reliever was recommended for surgery after undergoing further testing and will now miss the rest of the season and the majority of the 2025 campaign.
JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Rucker - Restarts rehab assignment Rucker (hand) resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, working one inning while striking out a batter and giving up one run on three hits and one walk.
Impact Rucker had been pulled off his rehab assignment last Sunday due to turf toe in his right big toe, but he evidently made a swift recovery from that injury. The 30-year-old is still in the process of building back up while he's been on the injured list all season due to a right hand arterial vasospasm. He'll likely work in middle relief for the Phillies once he's activated from the 60-day IL.
JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE
Spencer Turnbull - Plays catch Saturday Turnbull (lat) was cleared to resume playing catch Saturday at the Phillies' facility in Clearwater, Fla., MLB.com reports.
Impact Turnbull looks to be trending positively in his recovery from the strained right lat he sustained June 26, but he still has several checkpoints to hit in the rehab process before making his return from the 15-day injured list. Phillies manager Rob Thomson previously said that Turnbull was likely facing a 6-to-8-week recovery timeline, so the right-hander shouldn't be expected back from the IL until middle or late August.
JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE
J.T. Realmuto - Unlikely for Pittsburgh series Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Realmuto (knee) likely won't be activated the 10-day injured list when the Phillies open their second-half schedule Friday in Pittsburgh, MLB.c...
Impact Realmuto is reportedly progressing well in his recovery from the meniscectomy he underwent June 12, but his return date looks to have been pushed back a few days after poor weather in Philadelphia this past weekend prevented him from getting in his scheduled on-field work. The veteran backstop should continue to take part in baseball activities on his own during the All-Star break this coming week, but the Phillies will likely want to monitor him in a few more workouts before reinstating him from the IL. A return to action in the week of July 22 still looks to be in the cards for Realmuto.
JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Crawford - Bumped up to Double-A The Phillies promoted Crawford from High-A Jersey Shore to Double-A Reading on Friday.
Impact Crawford didn't immediately report to Reading over the weekend since he took part in the All-Star Futures Game in Arlington, Texas, so his Double-A debut will have to wait until the second half of the season. The 20-year-old outfielder earned the promotion to Reading after slashing .301/.349/.438 with six home runs and 27 stolen bases across 317 plate appearances with Jersey Shore.
JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE
Taijuan Walker - Throwing off mound again Walker (finger) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is scheduled to throw another Wednesday at his home in Arizona, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Impact Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Walker "looked great" in Saturday's throwing session in Philadelphia, and the right-hander has received the green light to continue throwing on his own over the All-Star break. He'll link back up with the Phillies following the break before the club determines whether he's ready to face hitters. Walker is expected to require multiple starts on a minor-league rehab assignment as he looks to move past a blister and inflammation on his right index finger, so he doesn't look to be on pace for a return from the 15-day injured list until at least early August.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Phillies surrender eight home runs in a blowout loss to the A's PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies finished their first half with a franchise-record 62 wins, so it was onl...
JULY 14 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Tyler Phillips - Receiving another start Phillips is scheduled to make his next start either Saturday or Sunday in Pittsburgh, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Impact Phillips will get a second turn through the rotation after he held his own in his first MLB start Saturday, when he earned a win over the Athletics while striking out five and allowing four runs on six hits and no walks over six innings. Whether Phillips pitches Saturday or Sunday will depend on how extensively left-hander Cristopher Sanchez is used in Tuesday's All-Star Game, but the Phillies are already committed to having the 26-year-old right-hander pitch next weekend against the Pirates. Unless he implodes against the Pirates, Phillips should get at least one more start after that, as the Phillies don't seem to be counting on Taijuan Walker (finger) returning from the injured list until August.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Ranger Suárez - Hurting, but won't miss start Suarez won't be available for Tuesday's All-Star Game while he recovers from back tightness, but the Phillies expect him to be available to make his first start of the second half...
Impact Suarez hasn't been forced to miss any time due to the back issue and likely would have been available to start during the upcoming week if the Phillies needed him, but he'll instead use the All-Star break to heal up while he's less than 100 percent healthy. Though he's in the midst of a career-best season and was looking forward to pitching in his first Midsummer Classic, Suarez clearly hasn't been at his best of late, as he has struggled to an 8.62 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB in 15.2 innings over his last three starts, two of which have come against sub-.500 clubs in the Marlins and Athletics. Suarez won't travel to Arlington, Texas for the All-Star Game and will instead remain in Philadelphia to continue throwing. Zack Wheeler is also tending to a back issue and will skip the All-Star Game, but both he and Suarez are expected to take the hill in some order when the Phillies next require fourth and fifth starters July 22 and 23.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Zack Wheeler - Returning for Minnesota series Wheeler (back) played catch in the outfield Sunday and is expected to make his next start for the Phillies on July 22 or 23 versus the Twins in Minnesota, Matt Gelb of The Athletic...
Impact A bout with back spasms caused Wheeler to miss out on a start in the Phillies' final game before the All-Star break Sunday versus the Athletics, and it'll also prevent from making his second appearance in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday. Fortunately, the back issue wasn't significant enough to force Wheeler to the IL, and if he continues to remain free of setbacks in his throwing sessions over the next week, he should be ready to take the hill July 22 or 23 without any restrictions. With a 10-4 record, 2.70 ERA and 0.99 WHIP through 116.2 innings over his 16 outings on the season, Wheeler had been a leading candidate to start for the National League in the All-Star Game, but those duties will now fall to Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
d'Arnaud hits two homers, drives in 4 runs in Atlanta 6-3 win over San Diego
Travis d’Arnaud had two home runs and four RBIs, Chris Sale pitched five solid innings for his major league-leading 13th win and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on...JULY 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phillies Notebook: While Ranger Suarez, Zack Wheeler recuperate, Phillies ponder pitcher preservation All-Star break is a short-term help for the starting pitching but there are longer-term issues to deal with.
JULY 14 • MCALL.COM
A's tie franchise record with 8 HRs, crush Phillies 18-3 Lawrence Butler clubbed three two-run homers to headline a historic offensive performance from the Oakland Athletics, who put together an 18...
JULY 14 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Lawrence Butler hits 3 of Athletics' 8 homers in 18-3 rout of Phillies
Lawrence Butler hit three home runs, Brent Rooker and Seth Brown each had two homers, and the Oakland Athletics routed the first-placed Philadelphia Phillies 18-3JULY 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Mercado - Working in bulk relief Sunday Mercado is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Orion Kerkering in Sunday's game against the Athletics, Tim Kelly of PhilliesNation.com reports.
Impact Manager Rob Thomson announced Tuesday that Mercado was being moved to the bullpen, but because Zack Wheeler (back) is unable to take the hill for the Phillies' final game before the All-Star break Sunday, Mercado will end up serving as the club's de facto No. 5 member of the rotation to close out the first-half schedule. Though Kerkering is drawing the start, he hasn't recorded more than five outs in any appearance this season and is unlikely to work more than an inning or two before turning the game over to Mercado. Through his first three big-league outings (two starts), Mercado has given up six earned runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and five walks while striking out six across 7.2 innings.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Orion Kerkering - Working as opening pitcher Sunday Kerkering will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Tim Kelly of PhilliesNation.com reports.
Impact Kerkering will be making the first start of his professional career, but the Phillies are unlikely to ask him to cover more than the opening frame or two, given that the hard-throwing reliever hasn't recorded more than five outs in any appearance this season. Though he's given up a hit in all but two of his last nine relief outings, Kerkering struck out 10 batters and hasn't allowed a run during that stretch, bringing his ERA down to a shiny 1.30. Michael Mercado is expected to operate as a bulk reliever for the Phillies once Kerkering exits Sunday's contest.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Johan Rojas - Moves past forearm injury Rojas (forearm) will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Athletics, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Impact Rojas was out of the lineup for Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers after he had been hit in the forearm by a pitch a night earlier, but he returned to the lineup for the Phillies' 5-1 win in Thursday's series finale. He got the night off for Friday's series opener with Oakland but will pick up his second start in a row to close out of the Phillies' pre-All-Star-break schedule. Rojas hit a solo home run -- his third of the season -- in Saturday's 11-5 win, but he'll continue to provide most of his fantasy value on the basepaths (17 steals in 20 attempts) moving forward.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Phillies and Athletics square off in series rubber match
The Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game seriesJULY 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
MLB-best Phillies eye series win over A's before break The Philadelphia Phillies look to move a season-high 30 games over .500 on Sunday when they host the Oakland Athletics in the teams’ last co...
JULY 14 • KANSASCITY.COM
Nick Castellanos - Homer, four RBI in win Castellanos went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Athletics.
Impact Castellanos got the Phillies on the board with a two-run home run in the second inning and then added a two-run double in the eighth. The outfielder was on a 2-for-17 skid over his past five contests and hadn't driven in a run since his last homer July 4. On the year, he is hitting .235 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 44 runs scored over 398 plate appearances.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Bryce Harper - Homer, three RBI in win Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Athletics.
Impact Harper's solo home run in the seventh inning marked a personal milestone, as he has now homered against all 30 major-league baseball organizations. He also walked twice and added a two-run double in his best effort since returning from the injured list July 9. With one game to go before the All-Star break, the National League's starting first baseman is hitting .303 with 21 home runs, 61 RBI, 55 runs and four steals across 354 plate appearances.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
How to Watch Phillies vs. Athletics: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 14
Preview the July 14 matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and m...JULY 14 • DATA SKRIVE
