Edmundo

Sosa

Sosa was removed from Wednesday’s game due to a groin injury that he aggravated while hustling out an infield single. He’ll start at third base and bat seventh for the Phillies on Thursday evening. Bryan De La Cruz will start in left field in place of Brandon Marsh. Here’s the full lineup that the Phillies will use against Braves’ opener Ray Kerr to start Thursday’s game: Trea Turner (SS), Kyle Schwarber (DH), Bryce Harper (RF), Alec Bohm (1B), Bryson Stott (2B), Bryan De La Cruz (LF), Edmundo Sosa (3B), J.T. Realmuto (C) and Justin Crawford (CF).

Sosa aggravated a groin injury that he suffered during Philadelphia’s regular-season finale against the Athletics over the weekend while legging out a ninth-inning single. It seems unlikely that he’ll be removed from the club’s postseason roster since that would rule him out for the NLDS as well, but the club may not have a choice depending on the severity of the issue. There should be an update on his status leading into Thursday’s winner-take-all affair at Truist Park.

With Luis Arraez sidelined with an ankle injury, Sosa will enter the lineup at third base, and Bryson Stott will shift back to second base. The team will leave Alec Bohm at first base and Bryce Harper in right field. With Chris Sale on the mound, it will be Bryan De La Cruz in left field and Brandon Marsh heading to the bench.

This is not a major surprise after Arraez sprained his ankle just this week. Phillies manager Don Mattingly said, “We still get improvement every day, but not enough. He was going to try to hit today and just wasn’t able to do it. So, we kind of crossed that bridge today.” There’s a chance that Arraez will be able to return for the NLDS, but, for now, Triple-A Lehigh Valley utility player Otto Kemp will take Arraez’s place on the roster. The Phillies figure to move Bryson Stott back to second base, but it remains to be seen if they move Alec Bohm back to third and Bryce Harper to first or if they just insert Edmundo Sosa into the lineup at third base.

It’s the third straight game that Arraez has missed since suffering a left ankle sprain earlier in the week. It’s possible that he could be available off the bench if needed in a near must-win game for the Phillies on Sunday. Bryson Stott will again slide over and cover second base while Edmundo Sosa starts at third base and will bat seventh for the Phillies.

Sosa was responsible for three of the six hits the Phillies tallied as a team on Friday, with his biggest coming on a solo blast in the sixth inning off of Mets starter Zac Thornton. It was the eighth homer of the season for Sosa, who has hit safely in four of his last six games.

Marsh will take a seat with left-hander Zac Thornton toeing the slab for the Mets. It’s the third time in the last seven games that the 28-year-old outfielder has found himself left out of the Phillies’ starting nine. That may have something to do with the fact that he’s slashing an anemic .182/.240/.242 with just two homers and 12 RBI in 181 plate appearances since the All-Star break. Edmundo Sosa will start in his place in left field and bat sixth for the Phillies on Friday night.

Stott doesn’t sit against all left-handers, but he’ll find himself on the bench against one of the toughest in baseball on Friday night. Edmundo Sosa will man the hot corner in his absence and will bat sixth for the Phillies.

The Phillies will get Arraez a breather with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi taking the mound for the Angels. Bryson Stott will slide over and cover second base while Edmundo Sosa draws a start at third base and will bat fifth for the Phillies.

With the Phillies trailing 3-1 and the bases loaded, Sosa changed the story of the contest by taking Sammy Peralta deep to give Philadelphia the lead and ultimately the victory. The 30-year-old has gone deep just six times in 2026, but none bigger than this one. Sosa remains a versatile option for the Phillies’ bench who provides little to know fantasy upside at this stage of his career.