Intense intrasquad game sets tone for Phillies' NLDS matchup

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies played an intrasquad game on Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Bryce Harper’s team, which wore powder blue uniforms, tied Kyle Schwarber’s squad, which wore red pinstripe uniforms, 5-5, in eight innings.

“I was really excited about the intensity of it,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I thought the guys really got after it.”

Harper, Nick Castellanos and Weston Wilson each homered. Ranger Suárez pitched well in two innings, according to Thomson. Austin Hays and Johan Rojas each got time in the outfield. Neither played this past weekend in Washington because of a sore back and an illness, respectively. Jeff Hoffman didn’t pitch because of a stiff neck, but he is expected to be fine and there are no concerns about his availability for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Most importantly, everybody came out of the game healthy.

A few things from Thomson’s media availability:

Game 2 starter
Zack Wheeler will start Game 1, but who will start Game 2? The Phillies have yet to decide between right-hander Aaron Nola or left-hander Cristopher Sánchez.

It sounds like Thomson is leaning toward Sánchez, who had a 2.21 ERA at home vs. a 5.02 ERA on the road this season.

“It depends on the team we’re playing,” Thomson said. “I factor in the talk around town. Sanchy’s home and road splits, you’ve got to factor that in. I mean, he’s just so much better at home, plus the fact you can have the ability to break up the right-handed starters and [the] left-handed starters. And, you know, you’ve got a guy in Nola who’s calm and cool. It doesn’t matter where he’s pitching.

“So I think a lot of those things are in play, and there are things to have a conversation about and try to come up with a collective decision.”

Spencer Turnbull
Turnbull, who was placed on the IL on June 27 with a right lat strain, touched 92 mph on Wednesday, but was erratic and pitched only one inning because of a high pitch count. At the moment, right-hander Max Lazar or left-hander Kolby Allard might stand a better chance of taking the last spot in the Phillies’ projected eight-man bullpen.

Taijuan Walker and Nick Nelson are also candidates. Tyler Gilbert is ineligible after being optioned this weekend, but he could be an option in a later series if Philadelphia advances.

“Really not a whole lot,” said Thomson when asked how much stock he put into Turnbull’s performance on Wednesday, “because he hasn’t really pitched all that much right now. So in my opinion he needs a little bit of work, but you never know.”

Second base
Edmundo Sosa had an .861 OPS against lefties in the regular season, while Bryson Stott hit to a .595 mark against southpaws.

That stark difference could call for a platoon at second base in October.

“I don’t know,” Thomson said. “Again, it depends on the matchups and what their splits are against our guys. So, I don’t know. But Wes Wilson hit a home run today. He looked very good. Sosa hit a couple balls hard. So everybody’s in play, really.”