J.T. Realmuto out of Sunday’s Phillies lineup with right knee soreness

The Philadelphia Phillies are without two multiple-time All-Stars Sunday afternoon at loanDepot Park as they square off with the Miami Marlins.

Former Marlin J.T. Realmuto isn’t playing Sunday afternoon because his right knee is “a little banged up,” manager Rob Thomson told the media in Miami, including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Fortunately for the Phillies, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia relays that Thomson added that Realmuto “could have played Sunday,” so it doesn’t seem like the Phillies are concerned the 33-year-old will need an injured list stint.

Garrett Stubbs is hitting ninth and catching for the Phillies Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Kyle Schwarber is out of the lineup for the second day in a row as he battles lower back soreness. Like Realmuto, though, it doesn’t sound like Schwarber plans to be out for an extended stretch.

“I don’t think I’ll be on the IL by any means,” Schwarber told Zolecki. “I’m just going to take it day by day. I want to make sure it’s not a reoccurring thing. I just want to make sure I take care of it so it doesn’t pop up again.”

Now in his third season with the Phillies, Schwarber has nine home runs and a .722 OPS, having primarily served as the team’s DH. In Schwarber’s absence, third baseman Whit Merrifield is leading off. Alec Bohm is playing at first base, with Bryce Harper at DH.

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