The Phillies suffered a 6-0 defeat against the Braves on Sunday, blanked despite their efforts, which brings Philadelphia’s record to a respectable 5-4 in the absence of key hitters Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper due to injuries. The good news is Schwarber is set to return from the 10-day injured list for their next game on Tuesday, while Harper’s return this week also seems promising, though the exact date remains uncertain.
Both players engaged in running drills before Sunday’s game, with MLB.com noting Schwarber has been running at full intensity for two consecutive days, and Harper at or near 100% intensity.
Their baserunning exercises are crucial final steps to determine their readiness to rejoin the lineup following groin and hamstring strains, respectively. While these injuries were not considered severe initially, the Phillies are encouraged by their progress, alleviating concerns about their long-term availability.
Meanwhile, despite Jesus Luzardo being on the 60-day injured list due to a lumbar stress reaction, teams continue to inquire about his potential availability, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Luzardo won’t return until at least August 18, but if he can return in good form, he could significantly bolster a contender’s roster for the remainder of the season. However, negotiations with the Marlins could be complex given his health situation and Miami’s likely reluctance to undervalue one of their key assets.
In Atlanta, shortstop Orlando Arcia has struggled at the plate with a .209/.245/.332 slash line over 314 plate appearances, registering the lowest wRC+ (58) among all qualified hitters in baseball.
Despite his offensive struggles, the Braves value his defensive prowess at shortstop and are allowing him time to regain his form. There’s no immediate consideration of promoting prospect Nacho Alvarez from Triple-A, as noted by Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, given Alvarez’s recent arrival at that level.
