Phillies news and rumors 9/18: Is Cal Stevenson auditioning for postseason roster?

Cal Stevenson started on Tuesday. (Grace Del Pizzo/Phillies Nation)

Cal Stevenson’s start in center field on Tuesday in Milwaukee may have had more significance than met the eye.

Ultimately, Stevenson had a forgettable night. He struck out in two at-bats, and Weston Wilson pinch hit for him in the seventh inning of a 5-1 Phillies win to give them a chance to clinch a postseason berth on Wednesday.

But more important than his single-game performance was the fact that Stevenson was in the lineup to begin with. As Philadelphia closes in on a third straight playoff run, his skill set could be an asset come October. If Stevenson can take advantage of some opportunities to close out the regular season, he could potentially get a shot at a roster spot in the postseason. The Phillies appear to be giving him a look.

Stevenson, a 28-year-old outfielder in his third big-league season with his third team, has been a contributor for the Phillies late in the season. He joined the organization last year and emerged as the “spark plug” and team leader in Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, according to IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras.

After an exceptional performance in the minor leagues, the Phillies promoted Stevenson for the first time in August and again in September. He has an .804 OPS in 16 games and played hero twice last week with two game-winning doubles and an incredible home-run robbery in center field. Stevenson had made his mark in a short span.

As the Phillies — in prime position to secure a first-round bye into the National League Division Series — decide on a potential 26-man postseason roster, Stevenson could be an option for the bench, especially in a short series that could allow the team to roster an extra position player over a pitcher. His ability to play center field might make him a better fit than another left-handed hitter like Kody Clemens.

Having Stevenson available to both hit and play center field would allow the Phillies to be more aggressive in pinch hitting for both Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas in unfavorable matchups while not sacrificing too much on defense.

Perhaps it’s still a long shot. Clemens is probably a better pure hitter, and maybe the Phillies will just want as many pitchers as possible for each playoff round. But Stevenson would bring options for Philadelphia, making his candidacy for the postseason roster quite interesting. He’ll have another 11 games to keep building a case.

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