Possible Philadelphia Phillies platoon changes could be beneficial to the team. With interim manager Don Mattingly at the helm the platoons against left-handed starting pitchers could look different. Under former manager Rob Thomson, the Phillies had platoons at second base and in left field. Additionally both corner outfield spots had platoons at the end of the 2025 regular season. This was a common criticism of Thomson from Phillies fans. Running constant platoons makes it challenging for a lineup to get in a rhythm at the plate.
The Phillies having a defensive liability in left field to start the season with Otto Kemp did not help. Furthermore Kemp struggled offensively and the Phillies to demoted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Kemp had a .100/.182/.100 line with no home runs along with no RBI in 10 games. To add Kemp has a -17 wRC+ and a .182 BABIP in the majors this year. Félix Reyes was called up to replace Kemp on the 26-man roster and has not done much better. Reyes has a .133/.133/.267 line with one home run along with two RBI in nine games. Additionally Reyes has a -1 wRC+ and a .136 BABIP in the majors.
Phillies Platoon Changes
Outfielder One Of The Most Reliable Hitters
Brandon Marsh has been one of the Phillies best hitters this season. Marsh has a .336/.362/.513 line with four home runs along with 19 RBI in 33 games this season. Furthermore Marsh has a 140 wRC+ and a .391 BABIP this season. Marsh ranks second in batting average and fourth in BABIP among players with at least 120 plate appearances entering play on May 7. Among Phillies players with at least 115 plate appearances this season Marsh has the highest batting average and BABIP as well as the second best OBP and third best SLG. The Phillies should keep Marsh in their lineup on a regular basis. Phillies platoon changes should involve no longer sitting Marsh against left-handed pitchers.
The Second Base Playing Time Debate
Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa have been platooning at second base the last few seasons. Stott has a .215/.263/.364 line with three home runs and 13 RBI in 31 games. To add to that Stott has a 72 wRC+ and a .241 BABIP this year. Interestingly Stott has a 1.071 OPS and a 202 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers compared to a .552 OPS and a 47 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. This season Sosa has a .294/.321/.412 line with one home run and 10 RBI in 19 games. Sosa has a 103 wRC+ and a .350 BABIP this year. Furthermore the Phillies should give Sosa more playing time. This should not come at the expense of Stott though. Stott should be the everyday second baseman.
Struggling Infielder Needs To See Reduced Playing Time
Alec Bohm is a good example of the Phillies lack of development of homegrown positions players in recent years. Bohm has a .159/.227/.206 line with one home run and 15 RBI in 35 games this season. Additionally Bohm has a 22 wRC+ and a .179 BABIP this year. Bohm has the third worst batting average as well as the second worst OBP, SLG and wRC+ among qualified players entering May 7. Phillies platoon changes need to involve Bohm losing playing time. Bohm cannot be optioned to the minor leagues without his consent as well. This is because Bohm has more than five years of major league service time. For now the Phillies are stuck with Bohm on the 26-man roster.
What The New Setup Should Look Like
Sosa should start at third base instead of second base against left-handed pitchers. Stott should be an everyday player. The Phillies should also consider optioning Reyes. The Phillies bench shakeup that occurred recently leaves them short on pinch hitting options. They are currently carrying three catchers on the 26-man roster with Garrett Stubbs in a utility role. During spring training the Phillies created versatility with Stubbs by giving him infield and outfield work. This leaves them in a tough spot to improve the bench if they want to keep Stubbs and Rafael Marchán. Neither Stubbs nor Marchán can be optioned. The Phillies are in a tough spot as a result.
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