Rob Thomson wants energy, will start Edmundo Sosa over Alec Bohm in Game 2 of the NLDS

The Phillies are shaking things up for Game 2 of the NLDS, benching All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm after a rough Game 1 against the Mets in favor of Edmundo Sosa.

Bohm went 0-for-4 in the opener, showing visible frustration with each empty at-bat, and it’s clear he’s in a slump. He’s been struggling since the end of the regular season, going 2-for-27, and manager Rob Thomson decided to make a move, inserting Edmundo Sosa into the lineup at third base.

Edmundo Sosa gets the nod over Alec Bohm for Game 2

Let's go, boys#RedOctober pic.twitter.com/efG1RhWtXX

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 6, 2024

Edmundo Sosa isn’t exactly known for lighting up the scoreboard, but Thomson is hoping he can bring some energy to a lineup that desperately needs it. “He’s kind of our energy guy,” Thomson said before Game 2.

And the Phillies definitely need a jolt after their bats went quiet in the 6-2 loss in Game 1. Even though Bohm hit a solid .280 this season with 15 homers and 97 RBIs, he’s been ice-cold recently, and the team can’t afford any more struggles at the plate.

But Bohm’s not alone. Trea Turner, one of the team’s big stars, is now 0-for-16 in the postseason, dating all the way back to last year’s NLCS. Nick Castellanos finally broke out of his own postseason hitless streak with a single late in Game 1, but the Phillies need a lot more from their high-priced lineup if they’re going to keep their season alive.

In the opener, Zack Wheeler was brilliant, throwing seven shutout innings and giving up just one hit. But all that hard work went down the drain when the bullpen collapsed in the eighth. If the Phillies don’t get some offense going—and fast—they risk wasting another solid performance on the mound.

With Sosa starting and Bryson Stott bumped up to fifth in the order, it’s clear Thomson is trying to mix things up. But he insisted that this wasn’t about sending a message. “These guys know what’s at stake. They don’t need a wake-up call,” Thomson said.

Whether or not the lineup shuffle works remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—the Phillies need to find their rhythm at the plate, or this postseason run could be over before it even gets started.

Join The Chase