We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.   Text a question in during the show at 609-403-0973.

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, where are the Phillies as a whole right now?
~Ed

This is a difficult question to answer, as it seems that the target is always moving.  There was the injury concern about Jhoan Duran in Washington, D.C.  But the latest and most concerning – and not with baseball reasons in the forefront – is the blood clot that will keep Zack Wheeler away from the Phillies for the forseeable future.

The Phillies announced that Wheeler underwent a thrombolysis procedure to remove the blood clot from Wheeler’s upper extremity.  Their post called it “successful.”  However, this is not a typical baseball injury with a somewhat certain timeline to return.

I think this is a situation where everyone wishes Wheeler well in his recovery and that the baseball stuff will work itself out at the appropriate time.

That said, the Phillies have starting pitching depth.  The Phillies will not have the six-man rotation they were recently discussing.

But the Phillies have a better rotation than most.  Cristopher Sanchez will get some Cy Young votes.  Ranger Suarez looked like his old self Monday night.  Jesus Luzardo is solid and Taijuan Walker has really put together a respectable season.

Who will Aaron Nola be after he settles in?  That’s an unknown right now.

But the Phillies bullpen is solid.  They are deep: Duran at the back, with Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, David Robertson, and Tanner Banks also capable of getting late outs.  Jose Alvarado will be there until the playoffs begin.

The Phillies offense seems to have awakened again, a good sign.

I think I would put them at an 8.8 on a scale of 10.  They’re not perfect, but no team is.  I think the Phillies are poised to still win the National League East.  I would put that number higher if I knew what they would get out of Nola down the stretch.

But I think they are good enough to step up and do some things and help honor their teammate Zack Wheeler.

Will we see Gage Wood in any minor league appearances this season?
~Chris

Officially, 2025 First Round Draft Pick Gage Wood is assigned to the Florida Coast League Phillies.  The FCL season, however, is over.  It ran for 59 games from May through August.  It might have been a rush to get him in there.

Wood is working out at the Clearwater complex along with other 2025 draft picks.  There may be a limited amount of space on the Clearwater Threshers roster towards the end of the season – which only runs through September 7.

I think whether Wood gets an appearance depends on what the in-house evaluators think is appropriate given his development.

Last season, first round pick Dante Nori and second round pick Griffin Burkholder saw action with the Threshers.  They both are outfielders, however.

The Phillies might prefer to treat pitchers differently.  A few of their later-round pitchers did appear for the Threshers last year, but the stakes might be a little lower than an arm they wish to protect.

I have not heard any reports about their plans for Wood just yet, but I would say it’s very possible that they at least give him an appearance before the season ends.

How will the Phillies use Jose Alvarado, knowing that he can’t pitch in the playoffs?
~Brian

The Phillies will activate Jose Alvarado today, the day his 80-game suspension ends.  Alvarado has been “rehabbing” at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Alvarado was not scored upon in his five outings and looks like he is ready to go.

The Phillies suddenly have a deep bullpen with the additions of Jhoan Duran and David Robertson.   Even without Alvarado they have Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Tanner Banks to get late outs. Five solid relief arms is a lot once the team gets to the playoffs.

But between now and then, the Phillies will have just four off days scattered before the final game of the season against the Minnesota Twins.  That means they will need to rest some of those relief arms.

While Alvarado’s suspension was disappointing, and the fact that he cannot pitch in the playoffs is frustrating.

But Alvarado still has the chance to help the Phillies win some games down the stretch.  They will need big outs on days that Strahm and Kerkering are off.  On nights that Duran and Robertson each pitched on the previous back-to-back days.