The Philadelphia Phillies have been on a roll since the trade deadline, with several newcomers playing key roles in their success. The club has gone 13-6 in August, boosted by closer Jhoan Duran, who has racked up five saves in his first six appearances. Offseason pickup Max Kepler has also found his stride, hitting .281 with a .741 OPS this month. To make room for both Kepler and trade acquisition Harrison Bader, however, the Phillies have cut into Nick Castellanos’ playing time. Once one of the team’s most reliable everyday starters, Castellanos has now been benched twice in the last five games.
The recent lineups suggest he’s part of a right-field platoon with Kepler, even if the club hasn’t labeled it that way. When manager Rob Thomson informed Castellanos he’d be sitting again on Wednesday to accommodate other outfielders, the veteran gave a straightforward reply: “Whatever you need,” he told Tim Kelly of On Pattison. Castellanos explained that the reduced role also helps ease the strain on his left knee, which he injured in late July.
Still, his offensive struggles have factored in. He’s hitting .255/.294/.414 this season, which would be his lowest on-base mark since his rookie year and one of his weakest slugging percentages overall. He’s also carrying a negative WAR. With Kepler and Brandon Marsh producing more at the plate, Castellanos no longer looks like a regular starter. And with the Phillies thriving since the shift, it’s a lineup change that could carry into October.
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