The Philadelphia Phillies are closing in on another postseason appearance, with the club preparing for what would be its fifth consecutive trip to the playoffs. But reaching October is only part of the challenge. Once the regular season ends, Philadelphia will have to make some difficult decisions about which players are trusted with postseason roster spots. (MLB.com)
One significant decision has already been made. The Phillies recently optioned right-handed reliever Orion Kerkering to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after a prolonged stretch of struggles. The move came after Kerkering surrendered four runs during an eighth-inning appearance against the New York Mets, adding to a difficult September in which his ERA ballooned to 18.69 across four outings. (MLB.com)
Kerkering’s demotion is particularly notable because he had previously established himself as an important part of Philadelphia’s bullpen. Over the previous two seasons, he posted a 2.78 ERA while recording four saves, but his performance deteriorated considerably during the latter portion of the 2026 campaign. (The Washington Post)
The Phillies responded by recalling Max Lazar, giving the bullpen another option as the club approaches the postseason. However, Kerkering’s situation could be only the beginning of the roster decisions facing Philadelphia. (MLB.com)
The bullpen remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the team. Philadelphia has struggled to consistently build a dependable bridge to closer Jhoan Duran, while injuries have further complicated the situation. Jonathan Bowlan, who had taken on meaningful bullpen innings, has been dealing with a mild groin strain, while Jesús Luzardo is also on the injured list because of left shoulder inflammation. (MLB.com)
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That leaves the Phillies with several players competing for limited postseason opportunities. The organization will have to determine which relievers can be trusted in high-pressure situations and whether it makes more sense to carry additional pitching or use those roster spots on position players.
There are also questions beyond the bullpen. Philadelphia has been carrying multiple backup catchers, including Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs, but the expanded September roster will eventually give way to the smaller postseason roster. That could force the Phillies to make another difficult choice behind J.T. Realmuto.
The team must also consider how to deploy Andrew Painter. The young right-hander has improved considerably since returning to the majors and has given Philadelphia another potential postseason pitching option. His role could ultimately influence how many conventional relievers the club carries into October. (NBC10 Philadelphia)
With the postseason approaching, every roster spot becomes increasingly valuable. The Phillies are not simply selecting the players with the best overall statistics; they must determine which players fit the specific demands of October baseball.
Kerkering’s demotion has opened one spot and highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the bullpen. Now, Philadelphia faces several more decisions before the playoffs begin. With the Wild Card Series scheduled to start on September 29, the Phillies have very little time to determine which players will remain on the roster when their postseason run officially begins. (MLB.com)
Some heads will need to roll if the Phillies want to optimize their playoff roster
Brooks Raley
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the trade deadline knowing their bullpen needed reinforcements, particularly from the left side. Instead, the club’s additions have produced mixed results, and one of the biggest concerns has become veteran southpaw Brooks Raley.
Philadelphia acquired Raley from the New York Mets on Aug. 3, sending outfielder John Spikerman and right-hander Luke Gabrysh to New York. The move was designed to give the Phillies another experienced left-handed option for the stretch run and, potentially, the postseason.
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Unfortunately for Philadelphia, Raley has struggled badly since arriving.
The 38-year-old has appeared in 15 games for the Phillies and owns an 8.71 ERA over 10⅓ innings. He has allowed 15 hits, including four home runs, while opponents have hit .333 against him. Those numbers have made it increasingly difficult for the Phillies to trust him in meaningful situations.
That is especially problematic for a team trying to build a postseason bullpen capable of navigating high-pressure innings. Raley was brought in because Philadelphia needed another dependable left-hander, but his performance has instead created another roster dilemma.
The Phillies already have questions surrounding several of their left-handed relief options. José Alvarado has posted a 5.02 ERA over 57⅓ innings, while Tanner Banks has struggled to a 6.82 ERA. Tim Mayza, meanwhile, has been the steadier option, carrying a 3.46 ERA across 65 innings.
That makes Raley’s situation particularly interesting. Philadelphia may value having another left-handed arm available because of the matchup possibilities that come with a postseason roster. However, carrying a pitcher simply because of handedness becomes difficult when his recent results have been so poor.
The Phillies could ultimately decide that another pitcher provides more value, particularly if they believe Raley cannot be trusted against dangerous hitters in important innings.
With the postseason roster shrinking from the expanded September group, every spot will matter. Raley’s experience could work in his favor, but his performance gives Philadelphia a legitimate reason to consider alternatives.
Rafael Marchán
The catching situation represents another potential roster decision for Philadelphia.
J.T. Realmuto remains the primary catcher, but the Phillies currently have both Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán available as reserve options. Both players are on the 40-man roster, and Philadelphia has carried the pair at different points while dealing with the demands of the long regular season.
The problem is that the postseason does not provide room for unnecessary redundancy.
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Marchán has struggled considerably at the plate in 2026. In 95 plate appearances, he has hit just .099/.137/.165 with two home runs and 15 strikeouts. Stubbs has also had offensive difficulties, batting .155/.206/.155 in 63 plate appearances.
Neither backup catcher has provided much offensive production, meaning Philadelphia’s decision could come down to the secondary value each player provides.
Stubbs has familiarity within the Phillies’ pitching staff and has been used in a variety of situational roles. His ability to contribute beyond simply catching could make him a useful postseason option.
Marchán, meanwhile, could find himself vulnerable if Philadelphia decides it needs the roster spot elsewhere.
The situation is also complicated by the fact that Marchán spent time on a rehab assignment in August. The Phillies sent him to Lehigh Valley on Aug. 13 before bringing him back into the organizational mix.
During the regular season, carrying two reserve catchers can be justified. Over a long schedule, teams need to manage workloads, protect their starting catcher and have insurance available for injuries.
October is different.
If Philadelphia believes Realmuto can handle the majority of the catching duties, the organization could prioritize another position player or pitcher instead of carrying multiple backup catchers.
That puts Marchán in a potentially difficult position as the Phillies finalize their postseason roster.
Chase Shugart
Chase Shugart is another player whose postseason status could become complicated.
The right-hander has done a respectable job considering the role he was originally expected to fill. Rather than entering the season as one of Philadelphia’s primary high-leverage relievers, Shugart has functioned more as depth for a bullpen that has repeatedly needed additional innings.
He has appeared in 44 games and thrown 51⅓ innings, posting a 4.03 ERA. He has allowed 40 hits and 23 earned runs while recording 55 strikeouts. His 1.15 WHIP is also a reasonable mark for a pitcher operating primarily in a depth role.
Those numbers make Shugart far from a disaster. In fact, his season has been useful in the context of what Philadelphia needed from him.
The issue is that postseason roster construction is not necessarily about rewarding every player who contributed during the regular season.
Instead, the Phillies will have to identify the pitchers they believe can handle the most demanding situations.
Shugart’s career usage and overall profile could make him vulnerable if Philadelphia decides to emphasize higher-upside arms. The Phillies also have Andrew Painter as an intriguing option because of his ability to provide length and potentially work in relief if necessary.
Painter is currently part of the organization’s pitching picture, and his presence gives Philadelphia another way to construct its postseason staff. The Phillies could use their starters heavily during the Wild Card round and then supplement them with selected bullpen arms depending on the opponent and game situation.
That could leave a pitcher such as Shugart fighting for one of the final spots.
There is also the question of roster balance. If Philadelphia believes it has enough pitching, the club could use an additional position player instead of carrying another middle or low-leverage reliever.
Shugart’s 4.03 ERA demonstrates that he has been capable of giving the Phillies innings, but postseason baseball places a premium on specialized roles. A pitcher who is valuable for absorbing innings during a 162-game season may not necessarily have a defined role in October.
The Phillies Have Some Difficult Choices Ahead
Philadelphia’s postseason roster decisions will ultimately come down to roles rather than reputation.
Raley was acquired specifically to provide another left-handed option, but his 8.71 ERA since joining the Phillies has made that decision much more complicated. Marchán offers catching depth but has struggled offensively, while Shugart has provided respectable innings without necessarily establishing himself as a high-leverage option.
The recent demotion of Orion Kerkering also illustrates how quickly circumstances can change. Kerkering had been part of Philadelphia’s bullpen picture, but the organization recently sent him to the minors after a difficult stretch.
Now, the Phillies must determine which remaining players give them the best collection of skills for October.
The answers will not necessarily be based solely on regular-season statistics. Matchups, handedness, recent performance, defensive versatility, pitching workload and postseason experience can all influence the final decisions.
With Philadelphia preparing for another postseason appearance, the margin for error is becoming smaller. The club has several talented players competing for a limited number of roster spots, and some familiar faces could ultimately be left off the playoff roster.
Raley, Marchán and Shugart are among the players whose situations deserve close attention as the Phillies move toward October.
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