Multiple reinforcements are on their way for Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are in first place in the National League East, with a 4.5-game lead over the second-place New York Mets with under 50 games to play in the 2025 campaign.

Their chance to repeat as NL East champions looks promising, but nothing is guaranteed, especially in baseball. Luckily, multiple players are on their way back to the major league squad.

First, righty reliever David Robertson, whom the Phillies signed as a free agent on July 21, was activated by the team on Sunday. This is the 40-year-old's third stint with the Phillies, where he hopes to aid them in a postseason push again, just as he did in 2022.

Robertson appeared in 68 games for the Texas Rangers in 2024, but remained unsigned until the Phillies inked him to a deal. He completed a rehab assignment in Triple-A to ramp up, striking out six and walking one in 5.1 innings. The Phillies hope he can be a key contributor out of the bullpen down the stretch.

Also in Triple-A are third baseman Alec Bohm, right-hander Aaron Nola and lefty Jose Alvarado.

Bohm landed on the injured list on July 19 with a left rib fracture and began his rehab assignment on Sunday. He went 0-for-4 with three groundouts and a flyout, but is expected to return by mid-August. It sounds like he could use more time to shake off the rust, though.

Meanwhile, Nola has made two promising starts in the minors, pitching to a 1.35 ERA, striking out six and walking three in 6.2 innings. The 32-year-old, who has been sidelined since May 16 with an ankle sprain and stress fracture in his rib, will pitch again on Tuesday in Triple-A. It's believed he could be reinstated by Aug. 17.

Finally, Alvarado, the hard-throwing southpaw, will have his 80-game PED suspension lifted on Aug. 19. He's made two appearances in Triple-A since arriving on Aug. 7, striking out three in two innings. Alvarado will be ineligible for the postseason due to the nature of his suspension, but perhaps he can help the Phillies secure the NL East crown.

The return of each of these players should play a significant role for the Phillies as the season winds down.