The Philadelphia Phillies are set to conclude their regular-season slate with matchups against the Miami Marlins followed by the Minnesota Twins. Once those contests are behind them, the club will officially turn its focus toward the postseason, where they will enter as National League East champions for the second straight year. Although there remains an outside chance to leapfrog the Milwaukee Brewers for the league’s top overall seed, the Phillies are expected to use these final games less as a chase for positioning and more as preparation time—specifically to get their pitching rotation aligned and their batting order structured for another potential deep October run.
On the offensive side, one of the most intriguing questions involves where third baseman Alec Bohm will fit into the lineup. Since coming back from a stint on the injured list, Bohm has looked sharp. In a recent series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he was penciled into the sixth spot in the order and delivered an excellent showing—going 8-for-13 at the plate with four runs batted in and, notably, no strikeouts. That kind of production quickly drew the attention of manager Rob Thomson, who afterward admitted the performance would force him to reconsider Bohm’s role. “I’ll probably have to move him up (in the order),” Thomson acknowledged, as reported by Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The logical next step for Bohm, if he is indeed promoted, would be a shift into the cleanup position. Batting directly behind franchise cornerstone Bryce Harper, Bohm would not only earn more opportunities at the plate but also, in theory, make life a bit tougher for opposing pitchers looking to pitch around Harper. A productive Bohm in that spot could serve as an additional layer of protection, ensuring pitchers think twice before avoiding Harper altogether.
Harper, however, was quick to downplay that idea when asked if such a move would mean he’d see better pitches to hit. His response was short and to the point: “I doubt it,” Harper said, according to Lauber. The slugger clarified that his comment was not meant as a slight toward Bohm but rather a realistic assessment of how opponents construct their game plans. In Harper’s eyes, pitchers are far more likely to focus their energy on neutralizing him and Kyle Schwarber, who typically bats ahead of him, than whoever happens to follow in the order. “I’m not saying that in a bad way,” Harper added when speaking about Bohm’s potential role. “Any time you have a guy behind you that’s going to put the bat on the ball and get on base and see pitches, that’s huge in any stance.”
The discussion around Bohm’s role carries extra weight considering his struggles during last year’s playoff run. His postseason collapse in 2024 was significant enough that it ultimately cost him his spot in the lineup, leading to a benching that later fueled widespread trade rumors over the winter. That history makes his current resurgence all the more important, as the Phillies hope he can now provide consistency instead of question marks when the games matter most.
Wherever Rob Thomson and the coaching staff ultimately decide to position Bohm in the batting order this October, the goal will remain the same: keep him swinging with confidence and building on his recent momentum. If he can sustain this form, Bohm could prove to be one of the key difference-makers for Philadelphia’s pursuit of a championship.