Philadelphia Phillies Turn to Young Players for September Call-Ups

The Philadelphia Phillies have a great chance to win three of four games against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday with a victory.

After their division lead had shrunk to an uncomfortable level compared to what it had been for most of the year, closing out this series with a win would be a big step in potentially clinching the NL East in their favor.

Before the final against the Braves, the Phillies announced who they will call up in September, as the roster expands from 26 to 28 men.

It is therefore not surprising that they chose to bring in players who have previously contributed to their quest to win the World Series.

Kody Clemens has been on a rollercoaster of promotions and relegations all year, especially in the early stages when Trea Turner was struggling with an injury.

The 28-year-old has played in 71 games since arriving in Philadelphia, posting a slash line of .234/.277/.408 with seven homers and 23 RBI. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, he’s having the best season of his career in 2024 with an OPS+ of 111, above the league average of 100 for the first time.

With Alec Bohm struggling with a hand injury, Clemens gives them a new option to play multiple infield positions.

Tyler Phillips will take over the fifth spot in the rotation.

The 26-year-old rookie has appeared in seven games for the Phillies this season, starting six of them. He has a 5.50 ERA, coming off a brutal August in which he gave up 17 earned runs in 11 innings pitched.

On August 17, Philadelphia sent him to the minor leagues in hopes he would find some things there that would allow him to pitch at the same high level he had in July, when he posted a 3-0 record and 1.71 ERA in three starts.

Right now, the Phillies are just looking for someone who can eat innings to close out the year and give them a chance to win every fifth day.

Bringing Taijuan Walker to the bullpen created that opportunity, and if Phillips can regain the form he had when he was first called up, it will give this rotation a huge boost it didn’t have with their veteran in the mix.