PHILADELPHIA -- The midseason acquisition of Harrison Bader helped the Phillies turn their outfield from a weakness for much of the season into a strength down the stretch.
Bader, however, was not in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Monday night after leaving Game 1 with a hamstring injury. Manager Rob Thomson said Bader could be available to pinch-hit, if needed, but playing the outfield or running the bases at full speed appear to be out of the question for now.
"He should be able to hit, but he can't run at 100%," Thomson said. "So, it limits his defense."
Bader did come off the bench during the Phillies' ninth-inning rally in the 4-3 loss, pinch-hitting for Brandon Marsh. After connecting on an Alex Vesia fastball for a single, he was lifted for pinch-runner Weston Wilson. Wilson was retired at second on a Max Kepler fielder’s choice, and the Phils’ chance at a series-tying come-from-behind victory ended soon after.
Thomson called Bader's hamstring injury "very mild" and said the Phillies are not considering an IL stint at this point for Bader. It's worth noting that removing Bader from the NLDS roster due to injury would make him ineligible for the NL Championship Series, if Philadelphia advances.
But would this be an IL situation if it was the regular season?
"I'm not sure," Thomson said. "It doesn't sound like it's that severe."
Bader initially felt the hamstring issue in the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 1, noting he "just felt a little weird" running from first base to second base. That came after he had made a spectacular diving catch in the top of the frame.
It was with plays like that in mind that Bader knew he had to mention something to Thomson.
"He said, 'I wouldn't have even gotten close to that if I was feeling the way I'm feeling now,'" Thomson said of his exchange with Bader. "But he's a guy that certainly wants to play. When I talked to him yesterday, he said, 'I'll do everything I can to play, but I don't want to hurt the team.'"
The Phillies won't be in any rush to place Bader on the IL, not only for his potential impact as a pinch-hitter, but also because they don't have a ton of other options at the moment. The only outfielder at the club’s stay ready camp at Lehigh Valley is Johan Rojas, who is currently dealing with a left quad injury.
"He's not 100% yet, but he is getting better," Thomson said of Rojas.
So, for Game 2, Thomson turned to Marsh in center field, flanked by Otto Kemp in left and Nick Castellanos in right. Monday marked the first time the Phillies used that specific outfield alignment since July 13 -- a few weeks before Bader was acquired from the Twins.
Fellow outfielders Kepler and Wilson were available off the bench. Aside from Marsh, Kepler is the only other outfielder with much experience in center field, though he’s logged only seven innings in center over the past three years (including the ninth inning in Game 1).
Marsh, of course, has played his share of center field, particularly prior to Bader's arrival -- though he's fared better in left. For his career, Marsh has accumulated 15 Defensive Runs Saved in center field compared to -13 DRS in center -- including a career-worst -6 DRS in center field this season.
Meanwhile, in right field, Castellanos tied for last among all outfielders with -12 Outs Above Average this season.
As for Kemp, he's a natural third baseman who picked up left field on the fly this season as a way to keep his bat in the lineup. He's played a respectable left field, accounting for 1 DRS, though he's made only seven big league starts in left field -- and none since that aforementioned July 13 game in San Diego.
"His routes were off a little bit when he first came up, and him and [outfield coach Paco Figueroa] did a lot of work," Thomson said of Kemp's outfield play. " ... He's really improved, and he runs a lot better than people think he runs. But I think he's improved tremendously."