Phillies’ Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh doing ‘a lot better’ with injuries; Johan Rojas expected to be ready
Marsh will “definitely” play Tuesday against the Pirates. Kepler might also be in the lineup, but the Phillies will hold off until after he takes swings pregame.
From left to right: Buddy Kennedy, Trea Turner, Bryson Stott, and Bryce Harper stand together during the national anthem before the Phillies played the Blue Jays on Monday in Clearwater, Fla.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A day later, Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh were no worse for wear.
Neither outfielder was expected to play Monday in the Phillies’ annual St. Patrick’s Day spring-training home game, a 4-2 victory over a Blue Jays split squad. But after exiting early Sunday in Sarasota — Kepler with a bruised lower back after slamming into the left-field wall; Marsh with a bruised left knee after falling on the warning track — they reported they were improving.
Advertisement
“They’re both a lot better,” manager Rob Thomson said.
Marsh will “definitely” play Tuesday against the Pirates in Bradenton, according to Thomson. Kepler might also be in the lineup, although the Phillies won’t make a decision until after he takes swings before the game.
In other injury news, Alec Bohm hasn’t played since Saturday after fouling a ball off his foot. Thomson said Bohm could return Wednesday.
Center fielder Johan Rojas threw to bases, the final test in his throwing progression after injuring his right shoulder in winter ball. He will repeat the drill with greater intensity Wednesday, after which he would be cleared to play the outfield in games. The Phillies expect him to be ready for the start of the season.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (left) talks with Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (right) as he exits the game in the fifth inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Kerri Dubinsky, of Pottsville, talks with Nestor Breban (right), of Philadelphia, while taking a drink from her homemade Phonetic inspired beer drinking hat.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto doubles in a run in the fourth inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner celebrates with his teammates in the dugout after scoring on a a double by Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto in the fourth inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Fans fill the outfield lawn.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola pitches in the second inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper watches a ball go foul down the third base line in the first inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
(Left to right) Philadelphia Phillies second base Buddy Kennedy, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies second base Bryson Stott, and Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper stand together during the national anthem.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto walks over to sign autographs before the game. Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto tries to catch a ball that bounces up after he fouled a ball off in the second inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (left) tags out Toronto Blue Jays third base Addison Barger as he tries to steal second base.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola rests in the dugout after coming out of the game.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner leaves the dugout after playing in the spring training game.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws in the second inning.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (right) signs an autograph for a fan before the game.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Phillies fan Michael Dayter, of Philadelphia, tries to get a glimpse of players walking out on the field before the game.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner throws to first base during batting practice.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner fields a ground ball during batting practice.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Dave Clee, formerly of Buck County, was one of the first fans to enter the ballpark for the spring training game at BayCare Ballpark.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Steve Kaczmarek, formerly of Northeast Philly, dressed as St. Patrick to attend the St. Patrick’s Day spring training game.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Steve Kaczmarek, formerly of Northeast Philly and dressed as St. Patrick, waits for a drink at the tiki bar.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Former Philadelphia Eagles Hugh Douglas throws out the first pitch before the Philadelphia Phillies play the Toronto Blue Jays.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler pauses as he warms up.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler pauses as he warms up.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto stretches before playing a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Who stood out: Trea Turner continued a solid stretch of games at the plate with a fourth-inning single and stolen base before scoring on a two-out double by J.T. Realmuto. Turner, batting second behind Kyle Schwarber, also worked a walk.
Buddy Kennedy, starting at third base, worked a two-out walk and came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by former Phillies second-round pick Kevin Gowdy in the seventh inning.
On the mound: With the wind blowing out to right-center field, Aaron Nola gave up solo homers on sinkers to Rainer Nuñez in the second inning and South Jersey’s Davis Schneider in the fourth. But he was bothered more by three walks, including one on a full-count changeup to Nathan Lukes, his final batter of the game in the fifth inning.
Nola threw 79 pitches — “That’s a lot for five innings,” he said — and is in line to reach 90 pitches in his final start of the spring. He’s expected to start the third game of the season on March 30 in Washington.
Tanner Banks tossed 1⅓ scoreless innings before Jordan Romano came into the middle of the seventh inning and recorded two outs.
Quotable: “It’s been good. My body’s feeling good. I’ve got one more start, so I’m going to really focus on this week and have a really good week and keep everything sharp and get a little bit sharper and get prepared for the opening series.” — Nola, who has a 1.86 ERA in three Grapefruit League starts.
On deck: The Phillies will make the 42-mile drive to Bradenton to face the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. Cristopher Sánchez is scheduled to oppose Pittsburgh righty Thomas Harrington. The game will be streamed on MLB.com.
Article box
We're sorry, this content is not available right now.