Even when things are going right for the Phillies, there's pain involved. Just the way it's gone these last six weeks. With the Phils leading 6-1 in the third inning Tuesday night, Jay Bruce was forced out of the game on an 0-2 count with an apparent oblique or rib injury.
Bruce has been such an impactful hitter for the Phillies. He entered Tuesday's game hitting .261 with 10 homers, 29 RBI and an .851 OPS in 32 games. He's among the MLB leaders in game-winning hits since joining the Phillies on June 3.
If it's an oblique injury, that's probably a stint on the IL. Oblique strains tend to sideline a player for three to four weeks. If Bruce does miss time, Logan Morrison could be the next man up. The Phillies signed the veteran left-handed hitter to a minor-league deal over the weekend.
Morrison definitely has power. He hit 38 home runs in 2017 for the Rays and has always been a low-batting-average power hitter with decent plate selection. There's a chance that over the short term, Morrison could make up for some of Bruce's production.
Keep in mind, too, that we were already seeing the beginning of the inevitable Bruce regression. He is 0 for 14 since the All-Star break.
Nick Williams could be another option to replace Bruce. Williams has been on fire at Triple A, hitting .358 with 10 doubles, six homers and a 1.068 OPS in 120 plate appearances.
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