CHICAGO — The second inning on Tuesday was the perfect example of how the Phillies can get by.
Nick Castellanos had just drawn a leadoff walk to set up the bottom of the lineup with a chance to take an early lead, and that bottom of the lineup came through.
It wasn’t flashy. Kody Clemens doubled on a ball that bounced five feet in front of home plate. Two batters later, Garrett Stubbs doubled on a ball that bounced 17 feet in front and snuck just inside the left field foul line.
Whatever. 2-0, Phillies.
“We know what the job entails and what we need to do to try and just compete and try and help the team win,” Clemens told Phillies Nation Wednesday pregame. “Whether that’s drawing a walk or just moving a runner, trying to just play the game, make it simple and just have quality at bats so then we can just pass it to the next guy in the lineup.”
As of first pitch Wednesday, Stubbs was batting .333 in his current six-game hitting streak. Clemens was slugging .500 in his past three games. David Dahl went 0-for-4 with a golden sombrero on Tuesday, but in his previous five games before that, he hit .429 with a homer.
They’re in the lineup most days now because of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto’s absences. And while nights like Trea Turner’s on Tuesday might go the longest in helping the Phillies get through it, production from the latter half of the lineup will certainly help.
“Just gotta try not to do too much, put good at bats together, hit balls hard and let the results take care of itself,” Dahl said. “Yeah, it’s just next man up mentality, and when those guys get back, hopefully we just continue to roll.”
They know they won’t be relied upon for very long. Realmuto might not be back until after the All-Star Break, but Harper and Schwarber are progressing along their respective rehabs and should be back in action in short order.
For now, though, the future roster crunch isn’t their concern.
“You just gotta be where your feet are, and no matter where you’re at, you still gotta go take your at bats and put good at bats together,” Dahl said. “Just trying to help the team win and see what happens.”
The Phillies started off the Harper-and-Schwarber-less tenure with four runs in their first two games, but they’ve combined for 13 in the last two.
If the rotation keeps pitching the way it has been — not just the past week, but all season — that’ll plenty suffice. (Even two runs was enough on Friday, thanks to a Cristopher Sánchez masterpiece.) When five, four, three or even two runs will cut it, the job is a lot simpler.
“The staff is unbelievable,” Clemens said. “It’s not like they’re gonna go out there and give up seven, and we gotta figure out a way to score eight. But no, it’s obviously super nice to have that in your back pocket. They’re gonna go out there and compete and give us the best chance to win. They’re the best staff in baseball. So it’s obviously fun to play with and to play for.”
If Clemens, Stubbs and Dahl had responded to their increased roles by struggling mightily, it would not have sunk the Phillies’ season. It would’ve been a problem that mostly sorts itself out when Harper and Schwarber come back soon, and entirely sorts itself out when Realmuto is back later.
But the Phillies have a nine-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, and it’s nice to keep that cushion a cushion. Those three, however modestly, however un-flashy, however short-term it is, are helping.
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