The Phillies are unconvinced that Crawford is currently capable of playing average defense in center field, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Crawford's bat looks major-league ready after he slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season as a 21-year-old. However, the Phillies aren't confident he can handle center field defensively at the big-league level, which makes him a more difficult fit on their roster. The 2022 first-round pick did play some left field in 2025 for the first time in pro ball and also got some starts at designated hitter. It's possible Crawford develops into a better defender, so depending on how the Phillies' offseason plays out, the club could give him a shot in center field in 2026 and hope his defense improves.

Sasaki did not allow a baserunner while striking out one across a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Game 3 of the NLCS on Thursday against the Brewers.

Sasaki was called upon for the first time since stumbling in the ninth inning in Game 1 of the NLCS. He rebounded Thursday, successfully protecting a two-run lead while retiring the side on just 13 pitches. Sasaki has three saves in the postseason, allowing only one earned run across seven innings of work with a 6:2 KBB.

Glasnow allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight across 5.2 innings in Game 3 of the NLCS on Thursday against the Brewers. He did not factor in the decision.

Glasnow gave up a pair of hits in the second inning to account for the only run against him, and the only baserunners he allowed thereafter came via walk. He also went through stretches of retiring seven and six consecutive hitters, getting the better end of a pitcher's duel with Jacob Misiorowski. Glasnow has now turned in a 0.68 ERA over 13.1 innings with an 18:8 K:BB this postseason.

Misiorowski (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out nine across five innings to take the loss in Game 3 of the NLCS on Thursday against the Dodgers.

Misiorowski was set for bulk-relief duties, though he entered the game with only one out in the first inning after Aaron Ashby faltered. Misiorowski picked the Brewers up, holding the Dodgers in check until his final inning of work, when he surrendered a walk and two singles to allow the game-winning runs to score. He was otherwise dominant, racking up 14 swinging strikes on 73 pitches while also generating four groundball outs. Misiorowski has had an impressive postseason, allowing just two earned runs across 12 innings while maintaining a 16:3 K:BB.

Cortes (biceps) underwent surgery to repair a tendon tear in his left arm Thursday and will be sidelined for 9-to-10 months, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Cortes landed on the injured list Sept. 5 with a biceps injury. He was ramping up for a potential return through the end of the month, though he apparently suffered a setback or was rediagnosed. Cortes will now be set to miss at least the first half of the 2026 season.

Chourio exited Thursday's game against the Dodgers after appearing to aggravate his right hamstring injury, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Chourio took an apparently normal swing in the seventh inning, but he immediately came up hobbling with what initially appeared to be a cramp. After he was unsuccessful in his attempts to get loosened back up, the young outfielder was quickly removed from the game in favor of Blake Perkins. Chourio should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's Game 4 with the Brewers looking to avoid a sweep.

Quintana is likely to pitch in Game 4 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers on Friday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Quintana had been a candidate to see work in Game 3, but the Brewers will go with Aaron Ashby as the opener and Jacob Misiorowski as the bulk reliever Thursday. It's unclear whether Quintana will make a traditional start or serve in a bulk relief role Friday, but in either case he'll likely soak up most of the innings for Milwaukee in Game 4. The veteran southpaw tossed three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in NLDS Game 3 against the Cubs in his lone appearance this postseason.

Misiorowski is expected to follow opener Aaron Ashby as a bulk reliever in Thursday's NLCS Game 3 against the Dodgers, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Misiorowski has yet to pitch in the NLCS after tossing seven innings of one-run ball with a 7:2 K:BB across two NLDS appearances versus the Cubs. He will be on four days' rest after throwing 54 pitches over four frames in NLDS Game 5, so the hard-throwing right-hander should be prepared to provide plenty of length.

Bauers will start in left field and bat eighth in Thursday's NLCS Game 3 versus the Dodgers.

Bauers drew the start in left field in Game 2 and went 0-for-3 at the dish, but he'll get another opportunity in Game 3 as the series moves to Los Angeles. The 30-year-old Bauers was one of the Brewers' best hitters down the stretch of the regular season, slashing .360/.458/.560 with a pair of home runs in September. He's gone 3-for-8 with one home run, one double and a 1:1 BB:K in four games this postseason.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday he would be "surprised" if Alvarado (forearm) is not back next season, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies have a $9.5 million club option on Alvarado for 2026, and while Dombrowski did not confirm the option would be exercised, it seems that is the most likely scenario. Alvarado served an 80-game PED suspension and also missed time late in the year with a forearm injury, resulting in him appearing in only 28 games. The lefty remained effective when on the bump, posting a 3.81 ERA and 32:7 K:BB over 26 innings. It's not clear whether the forearm issue will affect Alvarado's offseason throwing, but Dombrowski did not mention any health concerns with the reliever moving forward.