Saturday’s bullpen game presents a conundrum for Rob Thomson and the Phillies

PHOENIX — The Phillies have a decision to make about who to pitch the bulk innings in Saturday’s bullpen game in Oakland. Manager Rob Thomson said a roster move isn’t guaranteed, and when asked who is in play, he listed Bailey Falter, Dylan Covey, Cristopher Sánchez, and Matt Strahm.

Falter is coming off of a rough start with triple-A Lehigh Valley. He allowed four runs on four hits (three homers) and walked one through 1⅓ innings. His velocity was down a few ticks, too, which was part of his issue when he went 0-7 to start the season with the Phillies this year.

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“He threw a lot of strikes, but he got hit hard,” Thomson said of Falter’s outing. “We’re trying to figure out [why his velocity has dropped again], but I don’t know.”

Strahm seems to be the best option among those four, but the Phillies have concerns about his workload. He has already pitched 45 innings, which is more than he pitched all of last season in Boston.

Covey could give them length — but whether the Phillies can trust him to is unclear. For now, Thomson says they do.

First baseman Alec Bohm was out of Wednesday night’s lineup because Thomson wanted to give him a day off. Bohm didn’t go on a rehab assignment after straining his left hamstring and was activated off the 10-day injured list on June 11. He played in games on June 11, 12, and 13.

The Phillies haven’t taken batting practice on the field in a while — and it seems like that’s going to stick for now. Thomson said it started as a superstitious thing, but it makes sense for them as they continue their West Coast road trip.

“It was kind of like a rabbit’s foot at home because we started hitting, but now that we’re all on the West Coast, it’s more about the fatigue of the players,” Thomson said. “Because we’re in a different time zone. Get up at a normal time, do your normal thing, have a nap, take a late bus, we hit the cages, and we take ground balls on the field.”

“This is all my idea,” he joked.

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Cristian Pache (right knee meniscus tear) hit a home run Tuesday at triple-A Lehigh Valley in an 8-7 IronPigs loss to the Toledo Mud Hens. … Darick Hall (right thumb sprain) is progressing well in his rehab. When asked what Hall would need to do rejoin the big league club, Thomson said he needs to get his timing right and barrel up baseballs. But he added that it’s hard to find a spot for Hall with Kody Clemens on the roster. … Nick Nelson (left hamstring strain) will make a rehab outing for triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.