Phillies reinstate Austin Hays from the injured list, option Cal Stevenson

Less than 24 hours after clinching the National League East title, the Phillies got some more good news: Austin Hays is back.

The left fielder was reinstated from the injured list on Tuesday, after recovering from the kidney infection that had sidelined him since Sept. 2. Hays slotted into the starting lineup against Cubs left-hander Justin Steele.

Hays has struggled to find consistency since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline from Baltimore. He first dealt with a hamstring injury, and then experienced extreme fatigue he would later find out was caused by the infection. When he is healthy, Hays has been extremely effective against left-handed pitching. He hit .350 with a .940 OPS in 80 at-bats against lefties between the Orioles and the Phillies this season.

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Prior to Hays’ injury, Phillies manager Rob Thomson wanted to give him a chance to be the Phillies’ everyday left fielder, an opportunity he did not have with the Orioles. Thomson said Tuesday his priority now is keeping Hays healthy.

“I want to try and get him as many at-bats as we can, but as long as his body feels good,” Thomson said.

Hays hasn’t appeared in a major league game since Sept. 1. He played two triple-A games on a rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley, and went 2-for-9 with a walk and scored three runs.

Even if Thomson hasn’t decided how often he will deploy Hays, his return will still impact the Phillies’ outfield configuration. When Hays was played in left on a regular basis prior to his injury, Brandon Marsh moved over to center field, limiting playing time for Johan Rojas. While Rojas is an elite fielder — his eight outs above average rank in the 93rd percentile of MLB — his lack of consistent production at the plate puts him behind Marsh on the Phillies’ depth chart.

Even on occasions when he’s not starting, Thomson said Rojas will still provide an defensive option as well as speed off the bench. But recently, Rojas has been finding other ways to make a difference that could be valuable in the postseason.

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He, along with Marsh and Bryson Stott, lately have been focused on bunting. Rojas executed two sacrifice bunts and a hit-and-run during Monday’s 6-2 win over the Cubs, while also making key defensive plays in center.

“That’s exactly what we’re looking for,” Thomson said. “... He does that, he’s a real contributor.”

To make room for Hays on the 28-man roster, the Phillies optioned outfielder Cal Stevenson to their spring training complex. Stevenson cannot be recalled for 10 days except in the case of an injury, though he would be available in time for Game 1 of the National League Division Series, which is scheduled for Oct. 5.

Entering Tuesday, the Phillies’ magic number for a first-round playoff bye is two. Thomson said if the Phillies secure the bye, Stevenson will participate in simulated games to stay sharp.

Stevenson was called up from Lehigh Valley on Sept. 5 and went 4-for-14 with three doubles and five RBIs in 11 games. He came through in big moments for the Phillies, highlighted by his performance on Sept. 14 against the Mets when he made a game-saving catch in center field and hit a game-winning double.

After the Phillies won the division on Monday, Thomson pointed to Stevenson as a key contributor.

“It also says something about the depth of the organization which our front office has put together,” Thomson said. “And when we do have injuries, and everybody has injuries, the guys that come up, [Kody] Clemens, Stevenson, Wes Wilson, [Rafael] Márchan, those guys, they perform. And so that says a lot about what this organization is all about.”

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Cristopher Sánchez (11-9, 3.25 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against Chicago righty Javier Assad (7-5, 3.34).