SAN DIEGO – There has been a lot of life in the Phillies clubhouse the last couple of days in San Diego and it doesn’t really have to do with the way the team is playing. It has to do with the All-Star Game which will take place Tuesday in Atlanta’s Truist Park.

The subject has been the omission of pitchers Ranger Suarez and Christopher Sanchez from the National League team. The talk, sometimes borderline yelling, has mostly been over the fact that those two aren’t going.

No one had bad things to say about Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski, who was added to the team after just five starts, nor that Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd was granted a spot on Friday night. It was more of a protection of teammates. Shortstop Trea Turner, himself snubbed, was the most animated debater of the subject.

Suarez admitted Friday that he was contacted by the league to join the game but that he decided to decline the offer in order to rest and get ready for the remainder of the season. Earlier, Zack Wheeler had let the league know that he also was not going to take his spot on the NL roster.

Sanchez, who will start the series finale against the Padres on Sunday, talked about where things are with him. 

“Personally I did not (receive a call from the league), but (president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski) and Thoms (manager Rob Thomson) they did receive a call about it and they handled it the best way possible,” Sanchez said. “My teammates and my team are showing support and the front office as well has been supporting so much that they decided to, even though I’m not officially a part of the game, they’ve decided to activate the bonus clause that gets me a bonus for making the All-Star team. They decided to inform me that way and that just shows the overall support I’m receiving.”

That move by the front office goes a heck of a long way not only towards Sanchez, but to the rest of the team to see the backing of the big-wigs.

“It just means a lot. That’s why I love everybody here, I love everybody on this team,” added Sanchez. “We’re one. We’re playing for one team and it just feels like we’re one, one big group. Everyone knows that I’m an All-Star here.

“They’ve showed it by supporting me here, all my teammates. The league knows it, too. I’ve got to pitch tomorrow. By doing that I’m most likely out of being able to pitch for the game. Any other scenario where I’m not pitching tomorrow I think that I would be going to the All-Star game.”

Crazy to think with Wheeler and Suarez pulling out and Sanchez not getting asked that this Phillies starting rotation, which has been so terrific all season long, will not be represented.

“That’s what they do,” Thomson said of his team voicing their displeasure. “They stick up for each other, they support each other and that’s the sign of a good team. We all think (Sanchez) is an All-Star. It’s just the fact that he’s pitching on Sunday. We think he’s an All-Star. His teammates do, the entire organization does and I think that’s why (owner John Middleton) and Dave acted that way.”

Order switch

Thomson went with his usual left-handed heavy lineup on Saturday against Padres starter Yu Darvish. But there was a slight change as Bryson Stott was moved up to the sixth spot in the order and Max Kepler dropped to the eight hole. Kepler is just eight for his last 47.

“Just to take a little heat off Kep,” Thomson said for his reasoning. “He’s been coming up with a lot of situations with runners on base and it seems like he was grinding a little bit. Just want him to relax a little bit. He’s gotten through some really good stretches where you think he’s taking off and looks like the guy we signed in spring training. And there’s other times where he’s been smothering the ball. Just getting out in front too much and looks like he’s trying to do too much.

“But it’s not over, yet. We’ve got a lot more games to go. Things can change. I think between him and (Otto) Kemp, Kep and Kemp, I think we’re in a pretty good spot.”

Nola update

Aaron Nola continued his rehabbing from a rib fracture by throwing 41 pitches Thursday. Thomson is very pleased with the progress of Nola, who last pitched on May 14. “He’ll throw another batting practice on Tuesday, join us after the break and throw another BP on Saturday. If all goes well.”

Should be fun to see how the back of the rotation shakes out in the “second half” as Nola appears on track to return, the club has not committed to anything when it comes to prospect Andrew Painter, and Mick Abel just had a very good outing in Lehigh Valley the other night. Stay tuned.

Homer drought

The date was May 21 of this year, and the Phillies won 9-5 in Colorado. What does that matter? Well it just so happens to be the last time catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a home run for the team. Thomson was asked if he had any concerns in that area surrounding the 34-year-old Realmuto.

“I think his at-bats have been really good lately,” said Thomson. “The last couple of weeks anyways. Home runs will come. Just hasn’t happened, yet. They’ll come, I’m sure.” Realmuto has hit in seven of his last eight games, four of them being multi hit games. During that span he is 13-for-33 (.394).