ATLANTA — It’s common practice for major league teams to announce their starting lineups about three hours before a game.

The Phillies were delinquent on Tuesday.

“We’re waiting for some guys to come through the (batting) cage and see where they are,” manager Rob Thomson said. “This time of year, the wear and tear on guys takes its toll. We want to make sure they’re OK.”

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By 5:20 p.m., two hours before first pitch, the Phillies had set a lineup that included no surprise omissions. And while Thomson wouldn’t reveal which players were injured—”all of them,” he said coyly—he took the opportunity to clarify something.

“People have to understand that the most important thing for us here is to win,” Thomson said. “I hate to lose. I love to win. We’ve done that a lot the last few years. But part of that formula is making sure everyone’s healthy, making sure everyone gets through the end of the year, hopefully making the playoffs and then making a long run. You have to make tough decisions along the way to make sure people stay healthy.”

The ninth inning on Sunday was one of those decisions.

To recap, Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto both got a rare day off. And with the Phillies trailing by two runs, with a runner on first base and no outs in the ninth inning, Thomson declined to use either of them as a pinch hitter. Cal Stevenson and Garrett Stubbs were retired and the Phillies lost.

Keyword: outrage among the fans.

Thomson said Sunday was “absolutely” a difficult decision, but added that “doesn’t mean I don’t want to win.”

“It just means I want to take care of some people,” Thomson continued. “Because if we lose some people in a way where you’re not very thoughtful in your decisions, that’s a problem.”

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Thomson doesn’t make these decisions alone, either. He gets input from the medical and athletic training departments, as well as strength and conditioning coaches. The Phillies have been as good as any team at keeping their players healthy over the past few seasons.

“I talk to them about decisions, whether they’re in the moment or in the future,” Thomson said. “I have to trust them and then make a final decision. And then I have to take responsibility for it.”

Although it is known to be unpopular, it will probably be on the sports news radio in Philadelphia for days to come.

“It’s all part of the job,” Thomson said. “It really is. Our fan base is so passionate that I can’t control it. I don’t want our fans to lose their passion.”

Sánchez on schedule

After Cristopher Sánchez had completed a bullpen session between starts, he was allowed to start on Thursday evening after the regular break (four days).

The Phillies waited to sign Sánchez until they saw how his arm responded after a 99-pitch complete game on Saturday night. The 27-year-old left-hander threw a complete game on June 28 and allowed seven runs in four innings in his next start. However, Sánchez was also ill with a fever during the July 4 loss in Chicago.

Thomson said left-hander Ranger Suárez (back) is on track to come off the injured list and start Saturday in Kansas City, “if everything goes well during the week.” Suárez is scheduled to play a bullpen session before the Phillies leave Atlanta.

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Whiz without

A series with the Braves means a reunion with all-round talent Whit Merrifield, who was released by the Phillies in July.

Merrifield has been getting more playing time with the injury-plagued Braves. Playing primarily at second base in the absence of Ozzie Albies (broken wrist), he entered Tuesday night with a .236 batting average, one home run and an OPS of .709 in 19 games.

The Phillies signed Merrifield as a versatile tenth man, but he never adapted to inconsistent at-bats and batted .199 with a .572 OPS for the Phillies.

Additional bases

Left fielder Austin Hays (hamstring) has begun rehab at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He should play at least five innings on Wednesday and then at least seven before being reevaluated. Hays could return to the Phillies on Thursday or Friday. … After it was announced that star third baseman Austin Riley would be out at least six weeks with a fractured hand, the Braves signed veteran free agent Gio Urshela, who was immediately in the lineup against the Phillies. … Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday night against Braves left-hander Max Fried (7-7, 3.62).

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