ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Rob Thomson has had a long career in the major leagues, so there probably aren’t too many situations that he hasn’t been through. But the recent amount of film-watching he’s done and reports that he’s read concerning players that are either rehabbing or just amping themselves up to get back to the big club is, no doubt, dizzying.

Now is a good time for the manager, as just about all is positive right now and it seems as though the Phillies might be getting some welcomed reinforcements shortly to help them with their stretch run.

“There’s a lot of them,” Thomson said from his office before his team took on the Texas Rangers in the first of a three-game series.

So, let’s start with the pitchers. Aaron Nola pitched Wednesday for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and went 3.2 innings, gave up four hits, one run, walked two and struck out four. He threw 69 pitches, 40 for strikes.

“I watched all the tape and command was really good,” Thomson said. “He had a rough first inning, 28 pitches in the first inning, something like that. But he bounced back really well. I thought he threw the ball really well.”

Nola will start again Tuesday for Lehigh Valley and then possibly be back up with the Phillies the following Sunday. “I think so, yeah. I mean there’s a chance,” Thomson said.

Relievers José Alvarado and David Robertson also put in time with the Iron Pigs recently, as Alvarado pitched an inning on Thursday and Robertson pitched both Wednesday and Thursday.

“Back-to-back,” Thomson said of the right-handed Robertson. “15 pitches two days ago, five (Thursday) just to clean up an inning so we checked just about every box we needed to check. If he feels good, we’ll activate him on Sunday.”

As for Alvarado, Thomson seemed blown away by his performance on Thursday. “And Alvarado was unbelievable. 97, 98, I thought I saw a 99 in there. 15 pitches, I believe, and he just looked right. Cutter was fantastic.” Alvarado pitched the one inning, gave up a hit and struck out two. Eight of his 12 pitches were strikes. He can pitch again in the majors beginning August 19th.

Starter Zack Wheeler, originally slated to pitch Friday against the Rangers, was pushed back to Sunday as Thomson revealed earlier this week his ace was dealing with shoulder soreness for a few weeks now. In his four starts since throwing a one-hit, complete game on July 6, Wheeler has allowed 27 hits, including six home runs and 13 earned runs in 23.2 innings for an ERA of 4.94. Very un-Wheeler like numbers. But after an MRI showed no damage, it seems it’s business as usual for him.

“He had a bullpen today as long as he comes in fine tomorrow he’s starting Sunday,” said Thomson. And there you have it.

Outfield questions

Following the trade deadline last week – which brought in outfielder Harrison Bader, along with closer Jhoan Duran – Thomson said that he would be platooning his outfielders for “the next six games,” in order to get a better feel of who he would be using and when. Well his time is about up, but it appears the manager is giving himself some extra time.

“Yeah, I’m going to try and mix it up a little bit in the next couple of days because I want to find out who’s hot, who’s not and go from there,” he said. (Max) Kepler had a good day the other day (home run and double on Wednesday) and is swinging the bat pretty well lately. I really like Bader. (Brandon) Marsh is a guy, (Nick Castellanos) Casty’s an everyday guy, so I got to figure it out.” Friday’s outfield consisted of Kepler in left, Marsh in center and Castellanos in right against righthander Merrill Kelly. “Bader is going to play tomorrow and that’s all I’m going to give you,” Thomson said.

Bohm plans soon to come

Third baseman Alec Bohm is going to start playing on Sunday for Lehigh Valley, Thomson said. Otto Kemp was at third on Friday, but he has also played some left field since being called up in early June, further complicating the outfield decision. We should find out shortly what the game plan is.