After clinching the National League East title and a first-round bye the Phillies are preparing for the National League Divison Series. The Phillies are deciding how their NLDS roster should be constructed. This should include implementing a second base platoon for the postseason. Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa have platooned off and on at second base during the regular season. Phillies manager Rob Thomson has not given any indication that this will happen. Sosa recently returned from the injured list on September 17. Since returning Sosa has played in four games. Three of those four appearances came at second base and all those starts were against left-handed pitchers. This trend of Sosa starting instead of Stott against left-handed pitchers should continue into October.
Phillies Second Base Platoon Options
Splits Against Left-Handed Pitchers
One reason a platoon should be used in the postseason is because Stott struggles against left-handed pitchers. In 125 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season Stott has a .231/.328/.287 line with one home run and 10 RBI. Stott has a .615 OPS and an 80 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this season. Additionally, Stott has a .289 BABIP and a 0.60 BB/K rate against left-handed pitchers this season. Stott has a better OBP and BABIP against left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers. However, Stott has a lower SLG and wRC+ which is why a platoon is needed. Having a SLG that is worse than the OBP in this split is not good.
Sosa is good against left-handed pitchers. In 118 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season Sosa has a .290/.347/.523 line with three home runs and 14 RBI. Sosa has a .871 OPS and a 138 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this season. Furthermore, Sosa has a .350 BABIP and a 0.28 BB/K rate against left-handed pitchers this season. Sosa is better against left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers in all offensive rate stat categories. Against left-handed pitchers Sosa is better than Stott for the most part. Even with this platoon Stott could pinch-hit in late-game scenarios and vice versa. Regardless the Phillies have the flexibility to play the matchup game.
Defensive Considerations
Weston Wilson is being considered for a role on the postseason roster, but his presence for the entire duration is uncertain. If the Phillies progress past the NLDS, they will have 13 position players and 13 pitchers on their roster. It is expected that the Phillies will have 14 position players and 12 pitchers on their NLDS roster. Kody Clemens and Austin Hays are also vying for postseason roster spots. If Hays doesn’t make the postseason roster, Wilson and Brandon Marsh will likely share playing time in left field. Wilson has primarily played in the outfield this season, with occasional appearances in the infield. Out of the 32 defensive appearances Wilson has made this season, 22 have been in left field or right field.
In his major league career, Wilson has five appearances at second base. Wilson has made two starts at second base. Across 19 defensive innings at second base Wilson has a 1.000 fielding percentage. Wilson has zero Defensive Runs Saved along with zero Outs Above Average and a Fielding Run Value of zero at second base in his career. Sosa has four Defensive Runs Saved as well as two Outs Above Average with a Fielding Run Value of one at second base in his career. While Wilson has good offensive numbers against left-handed pitchers his limited experience at second base takes him out of platoon consideration. A Sosa-Stott second base platoon is the way to go for the postseason.
Main Photo: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
