With opening day just three days away, the Phillies began the week by making their apparent final cuts of camp.
Utilityman Kody Clemens, left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer and right-handers Erich Uelmen and Luis Ortiz were optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley. All are on the 40-man roster.
Scott Kingery, infielders Jim Haley and Weston Wilson and catchers John Hicks and Aramis Garcia were reassigned to minor-league camp. These players are not on the Phillies’ 40-man roster and were in camp as non-roster invitees.
It looks like that both Jake Cave and Dalton Guthrie will make the Phillies opening-day roster, unless they add another player cut by another team between now and Thursday.
Here are the 13 position players left:
• Catchers J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs
• Infielders Darick Hall, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa and Josh Harrison
• Outfielders Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Jake Cave and Dalton Guthrie
Rhys Hoskins’ season-ending ACL tear opened a spot for Guthrie to make the team as the backup centerfielder. It also likely opened the door for much more playing time for Cave as another left-handed starting option in the outfield against right-handed pitching.
The cuts of Plassmeyer, Ortiz and Uelmen give the final bullpen nod, for now, to left-hander Andrew Vasquez, who’s struck out 14 in 10 innings this spring.
Matt Strahm will begin the season as the Phillies No. 5 starter because of injuries to Ranger Suarez and Andrew Painter.
The five starting pitchers to begin the season are Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, Bailey Falter and Strahm.
The projected eight-man bullpen is Seranthony Dominguez, Jose Alvarado (LH), Gregory Soto (LH), Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon, Yunior Marte and Vasquez (LH).
Photo courtsey of York Dispatch
