Roster juggling just before playoffs
NEW YORK – A busy yet meaningless-to-the-standings final weekend in New York has forced the Phillies into a bit of a roster sleight of hand.
Behold, with one flick of Dave Dombrowski’s wand, how one roster spot becomes three pitchers in two days.
Dylan Covey was placed on the injured list with low back pain Saturday, retroactive to Thursday. Luis Ortiz was summoned as a fresh arm to navigate the minimum of 24 innings needed over the next 28 or so hours at Citi Field.
Ortiz was scheduled to make a Game 1 appearance, then likely head back to Lehigh Valley (virtually of course). Michael Plassmeyer, already in Queens, is scheduled to replace him to start Game 2. Sunday’s season finale will likely be manned by Nick Nelson, up from Lehigh Valley for the first time this season.
Got all that?
“We have to be a little smart about it,” Rob Thomson said. “Hopefully we get the length where we need it and where we expect it. If we do that, we’ll be fine. I want to make sure everyone is in play on Tuesday.”
With Friday washed out by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia, the Phillies need innings. So while other starters have been limited this week for postseason freshness, Thomson tasked Game 1 starter Taijuan Walker with going as long as he can. Even at a full workload, the 15-game winner would be available for Game 1 of the Wild Card series Tuesday, his normal bullpen day. He’d be on full rest by Thursday’s if necessary Game 3.
The need to make a roster move for Plassmeyer means Ortiz would need to work in Game 1. He’s in his fifth call-up of the season, logging 18 innings to the tune of a 3.50 ERA and a save. He was 4-1 with a 4.60 ERA in 45 innings with Lehigh Valley. He last pitched Sept. 21.
Plassmeyer knows the territory. Last year, he pitched Game 162 in Houston, digging deep for 90 pitches and six innings to keep the bullpen fresh for the Wild Card series in St. Louis. Thomson did not forget that valuable service this spring when the lefty was in the conversation for the fifth starter’s job.
Plassmeyer struggled early in Triple-A, was released in June but signed a minor-league deal to return.
He missed June and July with an injury. But since a rehab stint, he allowed 16 hits and four runs in 23.2 innings (1.52 ERA) with Lehigh Valley. He hasn’t allowed more than one run in any outing.
Neither Ortiz nor Plassmeyer had been designated for stay-ready camp in Florida, though Nelson was. The former Yankee made 47 appearances for the Phillies as a long man last year, throwing 68.2 innings. He was on the fringes of the postseason rosters and finally tossed an inning in the World Series.
Nelson’s 2023 season never really materialized thanks to injuries. A hamstring strain meant he didn’t pitch in spring. He went on a rehab assignment in April but was back on the IL in May. He was back in action by early June.
The emergence of Cristopher Sanchez and Covey coming around means the Phillies haven’t had a need for Nelson, who threw well in Lehigh Valley. He’s 7-3 with a 4.35 ERA in 20 starts, logging 97.1 innings.
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Covey’s back injury has lingered for a while. The move is an attempt to get the righty back for a possible NLCS, his ability to provide length more valuable in a long series. He was a question mark to make the Wild Card roster.
“He’s had this back issue for a bit now,” Thomson said. “It hasn’t really kept him from pitching, but we want to knock it out. This keeps him available for the [NL]CS if we get there. It gives us the flexibility to do what we’re doing.”
Claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on May 20, Covey struggled in his first month but has settled in nicely. He has a 1.64 ERA over his last 18 games and earned his first hold Wednesday against Pittsburgh, his eighth straight scoreless outing.
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Notes: The other move Saturday brought Weston Wilson back to the bigs. Rodolfo Castro was optioned to the spring training complex. Wilson, who homered in his first career plate appearance, is 2-for-6 in five games over two stints. “We want to get a look at him, plus it really helps us the next two days, with the doubleheader today and making sure that we can get some of the guys out of the game early tomorrow,” Thomson said. Since the minor league season is over, Castro’s demotion doesn’t compromise the 2024 option year the Phillies had kept him on the roster for, him playing 14 times in two months. … On whom the Phillies could play in the Wild Card series, which with two days left remains a three-way race, Thomson is following only slightly more closely than you at home. “I’ve been watching it but not really many conversations about it,” he said. “I think we’re pretty much prepared for anybody that we play.”