Phillies notes: Rotation plans post All-Star break, lineup changes, Bohm update

SAN DIEGO - As the players, managers, coaches and anyone else involved in the daily grind that is a 162-game regular season get ready to disperse to their destinations following Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres, manager Rob Thomson did a little tinkering to his lineup.

Facing right-hander and former Phillie Nick Pivetta, Thomson moved Kyle Schwarber up to the leadoff spot in the order and had right-handed hitting Otto Kemp in left field in place of left-handed hitting Max Kepler. 

"Yeah, we've got the extra righty in there so just split those guys up a little bit," Thomson said. "They should have a full bullpen today without, probably not (Jeremiah) Estrada." The San Diego bullpen used their three All-Star relievers in Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Robert Suarez on Friday, so they will all be available on Sunday.

There may be some human element coming into play a little bit also in Thomson throwing Kemp out there against a righthander. Kemp grew up in Fullerton, California, attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and had a boatload of family and friends at Saturday's game. Perhaps, just perhaps, that came into play when Thomson was making out the lineup for Sunday.

"I just want to see him get some at-bats," said Thomson. "We're probably going to get a couple of lefties coming out of the break with the Angels. And Pivetta has been more kind of neutral of late. And I've liked his at-bats. Been good."

As for Kepler's reaction? "Fine. He was fine," said Thomson. "We talked yesterday and he was fine being pinch-hit for. I'm sure he's not overly happy, but he's professional about it."

Rotation plans out of the break

When the Phillies return to action on Friday at Citizens Bank Park against the Los Angeles Angels, Jesus Luzardo will take the mound to begin the "second half" of the season. He will be followed by Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suarez, Zack Wheeler and Christopher Sanchez. 

So what goes into that decision making?

"There's a little bit of a conversation, but for the most part there's a lot of conversation with the training staff, strength and conditioning, pitching coaches," said Thomson. "Just to figure out who needs the most rest. They'll have a schedule and these guys will throw, (get) some type of movement. I know Luzardo is staying in the (Philadelphia) area and he'll throw a bullpen over the break. Taijuan is going to Arizona, he's gonna throw a bullpen over the break. Everybody is kind of on a throwing schedule."

Prized prospect Andrew Painter is still not in the conversation of breaking into the majors, and when Thomson was asked about him Sunday - a day in which Painter was pitching for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs - the manager was on top of what was going on. "He's gone five innings, no walks, four strikeouts, two home runs. Or thereabouts," Thomson deadpanned. Painter fell to 3-3 and now has an ERA of 5.01 after giving up three runs on Sunday.

Bohm hurting

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm was out of the lineup Sunday after getting hit with a pitch in the rib cage the day before. The Phillies are calling it a left rib contusion and you could tell in the clubhouse before the game that there was soreness still being felt by Bohm. 

"He's still sore," Thomson said. "They'll keep treating him out, see if we can get him available if we need him." Thomson said there were no X-Rays performed on Bohm, so that's a pretty good sign. 

Slight power outage

The Phillies lack of home run hitting has certainly been a topic of conversation this year as after the 30 posted by Kyle Schwarber, the number dips mightily.

But Thomson doesn't see that being too big of a concern as he expects to get some power from the likes of Brandon Marsh, Kepler and "maybe" Bohm, aside from the obvious players. There are other areas where the manager is pleased.

"There's a number of guys. Our arrow is trending up," he said. "We're going into the break somewhat healthy. I think the least amount of IL days in at least the National League, maybe baseball. We're second in average, second in on base, fifth in slug in the National League. We have the third best team ERA in baseball in the National League. We have the third-fewest errors committed in the National League. So our arrow is trending up. We have to start winning on the road a little bit. We scuffle a little bit on the road lately."