In a surprising move, Phillies manager Rob Thomson made a significant change to his lineup for Game 2 of the NL Division Series. He decided to start Edmundo Sosa at third base instead of NL All-Star Alec Bohm, who has been struggling recently. Thomson explained that he wanted to inject some energy into the lineup and believed that Sosa could provide that spark.
Bohm had a tough outing in Game 1, going 0-for-4 and hitting only one ball harder than 74.5 mph. Frustration got the better of him as he slammed his helmet to the ground after his final at-bat. This is not an uncommon sight when Bohm is struggling.
Thomson acknowledged Bohm’s frustration but emphasized the importance of continuing to play through it. The young third baseman missed two weeks earlier in the season due to a strained left hand and has struggled since returning, batting just .170 with two homers and eight RBIs in 12 games.
Thomson informed Bohm about his decision via text on Saturday night and they discussed it further on Sunday morning. The manager assured Bohm that he would still have opportunities as a pinch-hitter, as he excels in that role.
Interestingly, despite wanting their hitters to chase fewer pitches out of the strike zone in Game 2, Sosa has one of the highest chase rates on the team at 40.5 percent. Nick Castellanos follows closely behind at 37.8 percent.
It is likely that Bohm will return to third base for Game 3 while Sosa may start at second base against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea for a platoon advantage.
Thomson emphasized that every game in the playoffs is crucial and decisions must be made based on what is best for the team’s success.