A set Phillies lineup offers Gabe Kapler one less issue to reflect onconsideration on
WASHINGTON — Soon after boarding a train Monday night at 30th Street Station, Gabe Kapler found out he had some time on his fingers. Last season, the two-hour ride to Washington’s Union Station could have been the correct laboratory for Kapler to investigate his batting order. Instead, the supervisor used 138 lineups remaining season, shuffling his requests in his rookie season like a mad scientist as he searched for any benefit he could discover.
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Bryce Harper’s return to Washington with the Phillies sets up a few funky prop bets. Phillies’ Bryce Harper says he’ll just ‘try and do my task’ when he goes back to Nationals Park. Bryce Harper’s press conference in Washington, 3 p.m. Because the train left Philadelphia, no analysis was needed. Kapler used the same batting order for the season’s first three games, all of which were decisive wins at the back of a lineup that proved deadly. So for the first time as a manager, Kapler rolled out the equal list for 4 instant games. Kapler, in no way one to forestall thinking, ought to shift his interest somewhere else.
“Instead, I consider pitching,” Kapler said before Tuesday night’s collection opener against the Nationals. “I consider bullpen matchups, just like the Nationals’ lineup, to be honest. So identifying ways to get through that lineup is a massive undertaking, and having masses of conversations with [pitching coach] Chris Young to get his thoughts. I was spending a variety of time speaking with our coaches.” Kapler will not use the same lineup for 162 games. However, it is more than possible that the order he applied for the first four video games may be the one he posts earlier than most video games. The lineup brought four regulars this offseason in Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, J.T. Realmuto, and Jean Segura. So there isn’t much to reflect on. “Assuming we hold to do very well with this lineup, it will be sort of our normal lineup,” Kapler stated.
Hunter nevertheless unwell
Right-passed reliever Tommy Hunter’s return remains uncertain as he underwent a checkup Tuesday morning in Philadelphia to determine the extent of the discomfort he felt last week in his pitching arm. Hunter is on the injured list with flexor pressure, which he suffered early in spring training. The Phillies had been hoping he would join their bullpen this month before he felt pain throughout a bullpen session last week in Clearwater, Fla. “We want to make sure that we don’t leave out something. And I suppose part of this is just doing a sequence of tests,” Kapler said.
Extra bases
Aaron Nola will begin Wednesday afternoon against right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who joined the Nationals from Atlanta this winter on a two-year deal. … The Phillies set a franchise record with eight homers in their first 3 video games. It also turned out toalso the first time in franchise history that they hit eight homers and accrued 20 walks in a three-sport series.
