PHILADELPHIA -- As poorly as the Phillies have played recently, they still control their destiny with three games to play in the regular season.
But will they play those games without Luis Arraez?
Arraez left Thursday night’s 5-1 loss to the Brewers at Citizens Bank Park in the sixth inning due to a sprained left ankle. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said X-rays were negative, and they will reassess Arraez on Friday.
Arraez was unavailable for comment.
“I’m hopeful that he can play,” Mattingly said. “But we’ll see.”
Arraez hit a ground ball to Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt to start the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied at 1-1. Pratt’s throw was high and wide, pulling first baseman Jake Bauers off the bag. Arraez moved to his right to avoid Bauers’ tag, but in the process, he rolled his left ankle.
Arraez not only injured his ankle, but he was called out of the baseline for the first out of the inning.
“He called him out of the line avoiding the tag, and I don't get it,” Mattingly said.
Arraez eventually walked off the field with help from an athletic trainer. He shouted at home-plate umpire Dan Merzel from the dugout that he was safe on the play. Merzel ejected hitting coach Kevin Long for saying something from the dugout, too. It was an unfortunate moment for many reasons, but especially because the Phillies have three games to play and Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series is on Tuesday.
The Phillies entered Thursday night needing to beat the Brewers and a loss from either the Padres or Diamondbacks to clinch a fifth consecutive trip to the postseason. Now, they must try to make it happen this weekend against the Rays.
The Phillies acquired Arraez from the Giants on Aug. 3. He entered Thursday batting .283 with two home runs, 21 RBIs and a .690 OPS in 45 games with the Phillies. He has hit cleanup in that time, batting behind Bryce Harper.
It would be a blow to lose him.
“That would be rough,” shortstop Trea Turner said.
Harper moved from first base to right field when Arraez joined the team. Bryson Stott moved from second to third, and Alec Bohm moved from third to first.
Harper could return to first base if Arraez is out, but Mattingly said Edmundo Sosa could play second base, too. Harper said he would be willing to return to first base, if needed.
“If Bryce comes in, somebody's got to go out there,” Mattingly said. “So either way we do it, it's going to obviously cause a change.”