Phils playoff Reddit AMA: NLDS rotation, Schwarber's future and more

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies began the bye week on Monday with a day off at home.

They will be back to work on Tuesday afternoon with a workout at Citizens Bank Park. There is a 6 p.m. ET intrasquad game on Wednesday. As of Sunday afternoon, the Phillies had sold more than 20,000 tickets at $10 each for the game. All proceeds go to Phillies Charities.

• Postseason FAQ: What's next for Phillies?

There are more workouts on Thursday and Friday before Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Saturday against either the Dodgers or the Reds.

No, we don’t know what time first pitch will be yet. So, while we wait, I hopped on the Phillies’ subreddit for an AMA on Monday. Here are a few highlights:

I think it's pretty obvious that Cristopher Sánchez gets the first start of the postseason, but who follows in Game 2? Ranger Suárez or Jesús Luzardo? Also, do you think we'll see Edmundo Sosa start at second or short against a lefty?

My best guess is Suárez starts Game 2. The Phillies have hinted that they like the idea of splitting up the harder-throwing Sánchez and Luzardo with Suárez. Ideally, of course, there would be a right-hander to split up the lefties. I suppose that could happen, but after Sánchez in Game 1, I think it will be Suárez in Game 2 and Luzardo in Game 3.

I could see Edmundo Sosa and Bryson Stott platooning at second base, but manager Rob Thomson said the other day it will depend who the lefty pitcher is.

Trea Turner will be playing every game at shortstop as long as he is healthy.

Hey Todd, any buzz on where Harrison Bader will land in the lineup for October now that Trea is back? Thought we would’ve gotten that idea yesterday, but he rested. Is it more likely to see him slot in at five and drive the top of the lineup in, or sit lower to be on base for the top?

I could see Bader hitting sixth. Personally, I like the idea of having another high-on-base-percentage guy hitting in the middle of the lineup. I'll probably be wrong, but against a right-handed starter, I could see the lineup looking like this: Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, Bader, Max Kepler, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott. Lots of ways the Phillies could go after Bohm, though.

(I said in another lineup question in the AMA that I could see Bader and Realmuto hitting back to back.)

What is your favorite moment from the 2025 season?

Kyle Schwarber's four-homer game. Truly historic and a lot of fun to watch.

Do you get a sense that the team is taking the intrasquad game more seriously than they did last year? It seems like it’s being talked about more, and obviously letting fans come seems to indicate that, as well.

Is there anything else the team is going to do to stay sharp? Just normal workouts?

It's not that they didn't take the intrasquad game seriously last year. It's that they probably had trouble creating any intensity inside an empty ballpark. That's difficult. So this maybe increases the intensity a bit. Personally, I love the idea. Besides that, I don't think there's much else they can do. I love what Turner and Harper have said ... the bye week "rust" thing is a great excuse if you lose. This team doesn't seem to buy it.

What do you think is the probability that Schwarber remains in Philly next season?

My best guess is that he'll be back. I think Kyle likes the organization and I know the organization loves him, including John Middleton. I believe he'll age well. I said a few months ago on my podcast that I think he could be the Phillies' version of David Ortiz -- a really good, dominant power hitter into his late 30s.

Is there any indication that the Phillies would carry 12 or 13 pitchers going into the NLDS?

Thomson has been asked every day this week about the postseason roster. He hasn't tipped his hand yet, but with the extra off-day in the NLDS, I think it makes sense to have a 12-man pitching staff. I mean, in what scenario would the Phillies need to use 13 pitchers in the NLDS?

Saturday: Game 1
Sunday: OFF
Oct. 6: Game 2
Oct. 7: OFF
Oct. 8: Game 3
Oct. 9: Game 4 (if necessary)
Oct. 10: OFF
Oct. 11: Game 5 (if necessary)