Kyle Schwarber blasts 38th home run in win

Kyle Schwarber connected for a walk-off two-run homer off Riley O’Brien in the bottom of the ninth to propel the Phillies to a 6-4 win, their ninth straight. It was his only hit of the afternoon. Philadelphia trailed 4-0 and was down to their final out before a barrage of hits tied the game. The Cardinals left O’Brien in, and on his 39th pitch of the inning, Schwarber walked it off. The 33-year-old is having another monstrous year with a league-leading 39 homers despite an elevated strikeout rate. By wRC+, it’s the third-best season of his career. Schwarber also started at first base on Sunday, his fourth time doing so this season.

Bohm made an early exit from Saturday’s game due to cramping in his hamstring/groin area, so the Phillies will give him an extra day off to make sure that it doesn’t develop into a long-term issue. Kyle Schwarber will make a rare start at first base in his place while Bryce Harper functions as the team’s designated hitter and Bryan De La Cruz gets a start in right field.

Schwarber opened the game with a bang, crushing a 2-0 fastball from Taj Bradley for a 369-foot solo shot, giving the Phillies a lead they would never relinquish. He added to that lead in the fourth inning with a 355-foot two-run shot that hit off of the outstretched glove of right fielder Luke Keaschall. Schwarber has now clubbed an MLB-leading 37 home runs on the season, and his six multi-homer games are tied with Rockies’ catcher Hunter Goodman for the most in MLB. He’s slashing .250/.371/.544 with the aforementioned 37 homers and 72 RBI in what has been another exceptional offensive campaign.

He’s heating up. Schwarber hadn’t homered since July 18 prior to Sunday when he hit two home runs and was on base five times in the win over the Blue Jays. While he didn’t add to his home run total Monday against the Cardinals, he was on base four times in the win. Schwarber’s hitting .250 with a .911 OPS and 69 RBI on the season.

Schwarber hadn’t homered since July 18, but his two long balls on Sunday tied him with Yordan Alvarez for the MLB lead at 35. He also regained sole possession of the National League lead. The veteran DH is striking out quite a bit more than usual this season, which is something to monitor as he approaches his mid-30s. However, he still has his power stroke and remains capable of getting hot at the plate down the stretch.

Schwarber draws an extremely rare start at the cold corner with Alec Bohm taking a seat in this one. The 33-year-old veteran slugger will be making just his third appearance at the spot this season. He’s highly unlikely to see enough action there over the final two months to pick up eligibility there in most fantasy leagues.

The Phillies are facing a lefty opener tonight, but the lineup looks more like it would against a righty, with Brandon Marsh, Bryson Stott and Justin Crawford all included. Arraez is more used to hitting first or second than cleanup, but no one is better equipped to single in a guy from second base. The Phillies are keeping Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner at the top for now.

Schwarber made it back into Philadelphia’s lineup following a two-game absence due to illness earlier this week.

Schwarber missed Tuesday and Wednesday with the illness, but is ready to go tonight after a brief two-game absence.

Schwarber continues to deal with a gastrointestinal issue that has now kept him out of the lineup for two games. The Phillies could really use his bat in the lineup right now. Trea Turner will DH on Wednesday with Edmundo Sosa playing shortstop and batting ninth.