The Phillies are currently on a six-game road trip to Chicago and Atlanta without three of their key players: Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto. However, all three players are making progress with their injuries. Harper and Schwarber hit in the batting cages at Wrigley Field, while Realmuto participated in receiving drills and hit on the field for the first time since undergoing knee surgery on June 12.
Despite the absence of these key players, the Phillies managed to win two out of three games over the weekend. The team has a division lead of eight games over the Braves, but their performance in the next week to 10 days will be crucial with a short-handed lineup. Players like Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner will need to step up to fill the void left by the injured players.
According to manager Rob Thomson, Harper and Schwarber are progressing well and could potentially return soon. While a specific date has not been set, Thomson expects to have more information in the next couple of days about their recovery status. Harper and Schwarber are both eligible to be activated on July 9 when the Phillies return home for a six-game homestand. Meanwhile, Realmuto is not far behind in his recovery, with Thomson suggesting a post-All-Star break return.
As they continue their road trip without some of their most important players, it will be interesting to see how well the Phillies perform in Chicago and Atlanta without them. If they can maintain their current pace without sacrificing quality play or putting too much strain on other players, they could emerge as one of the top teams in baseball come October playoff season.
