Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson has decided to maintain the same lineup for Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite calls from fans to make changes due to the struggles of certain key hitters.
Throughout the seven-game series, Thomson has been unwavering in using the same lineup. In Game 6, where the Diamondbacks held the Phillies to just one run, fans intensified their calls for Thomson to consider moving cleanup hitter Alec Bohm and the No. 5 hitter Bryson Stott lower in the batting order.
Thomson, however, defended his decision, stating that making significant lineup changes at this stage doesn’t make much sense to him. He pointed to the Phillies’ postseason record of 8-4, their positive run differential (+31), and the performance of Bohm and Stott with runners in scoring position this postseason (batting averages of .267 and .333, respectively, which rank fourth and second on the team).
Despite Philadelphia’s batting line of .242/.324/.463 in the series, they have outperformed the Diamondbacks and outscored them by 11 runs, even with the series tied. The placement of Bohm and Stott ahead of strong hitters like J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, and Brandon Marsh has led to questions about whether lineup changes should be considered.
Although it seemed unlikely that Thomson would make alterations before Game 7, he emphasized maintaining a calm and composed atmosphere in the Phillies’ clubhouse throughout October. He has adhered to this lineup for 10 out of 13 games this October, including nine consecutively. Alec Bohm has posted a batting line of .273/.333/.318 with one extra-base hit, while Bryson Stott’s stats are .238/.304/.238 without any extra-base hits.
In Game 7, the Phillies will face Diamondbacks rookie Brandon Pfaadt, who shut them out over 5⅔ innings in a 2-1 Game 3 loss. Thomson will maintain the same lineup used that day, while Arizona manager Torey Lovullo has been more flexible in adjusting his order.
In response to the lineup debate, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner expressed confidence in the team’s lineup, emphasizing that they believe in their ability to perform well, regardless of the order.
