The Philadelphia Phillies face a challenging situation as they attempt to bounce back from a tough 9-1 loss to the Washington Nationals and aim to secure home-field advantage over the Los Angeles Dodgers before postseason play.
Complicating matters, outfielder Austin Hays has been scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to back soreness, as reported by Scott Lauber of *The Philadelphia Inquirer*.
Hays had just recently returned from a 10-day IL stint after battling a severe kidney infection. Since joining the Phillies in July from the Baltimore Orioles, the 29-year-old has appeared in only 22 games because of ongoing health issues.
Despite his limited playing time, Hays has posted a .256 average, collecting 20 hits, two home runs, and six RBIs, allowing manager Rob Thomson to shift Brandon Marsh to center field instead of using rookie outfielder Johan Rojas.
This platoon strategy showed promise until Hays’ kidney infection sidelined him again, forcing the Phillies to rely on Triple-A call-ups Weston Wilson and Cal Stevenson. There have been no further updates on Hays’ condition.
Adding to the Phillies’ roster challenges, Johan Rojas remains out due to an undisclosed illness, and there is a chance he may miss the final two games of the season.
With both Hays and Rojas unavailable, the team faces depth issues at a critical time in their push for home-field advantage. Wilson will start in left field on Saturday, while Marsh, who has struggled against left-handed pitching this season, will move to center field.
