The Phillies are bringing a four-game losing streak north of the border. But they're also bringing back Bryce Harper—at least, that’s the plan.
Harper is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday night when the Phillies open a three-game set against the surging Blue Jays in Toronto. The club has gone just 1-4 without him since he took a 93-mph fastball off the right elbow on May 27 against Atlanta. Since then, the bats have quieted, the wins have disappeared, and the lineup has looked like it’s missing... well, a two-time MVP.
“He’s such an impact player and such a good offensive player,” Trea Turner said. “Even when he’s not going well, he’s walking, he’s making it tough on guys.”
Tough has been the word. Without Harper, the Phillies have averaged just 3.2 runs per game. With him? They’ve looked like the best offense in the league. And Harper’s history in Toronto doesn’t hurt the optimism—he owns a career .327 average with six home runs and a .973 OPS in 28 games against the Jays, including three homers at Rogers Centre.
Toronto, meanwhile, is on a heater. Winners of five straight, the Blue Jays just wrapped up a four-game sweep of the reeling A’s on Sunday and have quietly climbed back into the AL Wild Card conversation. The A’s, by the way, have now lost 17 of 18. That’s not a typo.
The Phillies were initially set to hand the ball to Zack Wheeler in the opener, but he stayed behind in Philadelphia for the birth of his child. So instead, it’ll be Cristopher Sánchez (4-1, 3.32 ERA), who has quietly been one of the steadiest arms in the rotation. He’s coming off four straight no-decisions, including 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball against the Braves last week.
Sánchez has had Toronto’s number in limited action—2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two career outings. He’ll face right-hander Bowden Francis (2-6, 5.04 ERA), who turned in five shutout innings against Texas in his last start but hasn’t won since mid-May. He’s 0-4 over his last seven appearances and 0-1 lifetime against Philadelphia.
With Wheeler away and Aaron Nola still on the injured list, the Phillies will turn to prospect Mick Abel for Wednesday’s start, with Taijuan Walker shifting to the bullpen.
So Tuesday brings the return of Harper, the debut of a new arm in Abel, and a Phillies team looking to reassert itself in the NL East—where they now trail the suddenly surging Mets.
Pitching Matchups
Tuesday: LHP Cristopher Sanchez (4-1, 3.32) vs. RHP Bowden Francis (2-6, 5.04)
Wednesday: RHP Mick Abel (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.86)
Thursday::LHP Jesus Luzardo (5-1, 3.58) vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (5-3, 3.80)
Abel Returns
Unlike his first spin through the Phillies’ rotation, Mick Abel’s second time around isn’t shaping up to be a one-night cameo. The plan? There really isn’t one—at least, not yet.
“Not necessarily, no,” manager Rob Thomson said when asked if Thursday’s start would be a one-and-done. “It all depends on (Aaron) Nola. And how well Mick does. But we’re going to assume (Abel) is going to do well.”
That’s about as close as it gets to a public vote of confidence. And for now, with Nola still working his way back from a right ankle sprain, there’s runway here for Abel to stick—if he pitches like he did the first time.
Two weeks ago, in his much-anticipated big-league debut, the 23-year-old right-hander struck out nine over six scoreless innings against the Pirates. Then came the return trip to Triple-A Lehigh Valley—more a procedural move than a performance-based demotion.
In two starts back with the IronPigs, Abel showed why the Phillies think so highly of him. He tossed six innings of one-run ball in his first outing, then followed it up with 4 2/3 innings on Friday, allowing just an unearned run.
Now, with the Phillies patching together a rotation around injuries and paternity leaves, Abel’s return might just last longer than a single curtain call.
