CHICAGO – The Phillies placed another important player on the injured list Wednesday as catcher J.T. Realmuto went down with lower back spasms.

Realmuto first tweaked his back on a play at the plate in Friday’s game against Atlanta. He exited Saturday’s game early, did not play Sunday or Monday and returned to the lineup in Tuesday night’s 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Realmuto felt tightness in his back again late in that game.

“He’s sore,” manager Rob Thomson said. “It’s going to be a few days before he’s going to be pain free. That’s why we decided to put him on the IL. We think he’s going to be back at the 10-day mark.”

The Phillies added veteran backup Garrett Stubbs to the 40-man roster and brought him up from Triple-A. He is expected to catch Cristopher Sanchez in Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Cubs. Rafael Marchan got the starting assignment behind the plate Wednesday night. Thomson said he was undecided how he would set the catching rotation for the series in Atlanta, which begins Friday night. To make room for Stubbs on the 40-man roster, the Phils transferred pitcher Max Lazar to the 60-day IL.

The Phillies, mired in a seven-game losing streak entering Wednesday night and sporting a disappointing 8-15 record, have several key players on the IL. Realmuto joins ace starter Zack Wheeler, closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) and setup man Jonathan Bowlan (groin). Bowlan and Duran are both throwing and expected back soon. Wheeler, who had surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome in September, has completed his minor-league rehab and will start Saturday night in Atlanta.

“We’ve had this in the past,” Thomson said of the spate of injuries. “It’s time for guys to step up and I expect that. It’s why you have depth and we’ve got depth.

“Stubbs has played a lot of meaningful baseball here in Philadelphia so I feel good about that. Our relievers are getting a little bit overworked but they’re doing fine.”

One of those relievers, lefty Jose Alvarado, left Tuesday night’s game with back spasms, but he was feeling better Wednesday and remains active.

SCHWARBER LEADS OFF

Thomson flip-flopped Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner in the lineup, batting Schwarber lead off for the first time this season as Turner slid down to second.

“Just to mix it up,” Thomson said. “Just split those guys up a little. The Cubs have got all those lefties. We’re just trying to figure out a way to score some runs. I know we’re going to at some point, but just try to help the process a little.”

The Phillies entered Wednesday night ranked 13th (of 15 teams) in the NL in runs per game at 3.48. They had scored just 14 runs in the previous seven games, all losses.

Schwarber likes batting leadoff. He hit there regularly in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before spending most of 2025 hitting second behind Turner.

Bryce Harper was the DH Wednesday as Schwarber played the field for the first time this season, getting the nod in left field. Rookie Felix Reyes played first base as the Cubs sent lefty Matthew Boyd to the mound.