Matt Higgins
The Philadelphia Phillies got the right-handed outfield bat they’ve been coveting since the offseason, acquiring center fielder Harrison Bader from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. However, he’s surprisingly not in the lineup for his first Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers.
Instead, Brandon Marsh is playing center while disappointing Max Kepler, who is slashing just .203/.297/.357 with a mediocre 80 OPS+, is manning left field. Meanwhile, Bader sits on the bench.
The decision seems puzzling given that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters Thursday night, including The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber, that Bader is “going to play a lot.”
“I mean, he’s going to play a lot,” Dombrowski said. “The lineup will be Topper’s decision. He’s played well this year, offensively and defensively. We think he helps us. But I’m not sure if he’s going to play every single day or not. We’re just very happy to have him.”
Manager Rob Thomson provided more clarity to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, explaining they will use a double platoon in left and center between lefties Marsh and Kepler and righties Bader and Otto Kemp as they face alternating right-handed and left-handed pitching over the next six games.
Thomson added they can envision Bader playing center against right-handed pitching, but just not yet.
The plan, for now, is a double platoon in CF/LF. Phillies will face alternating righty and lefty SP for next six games. Club could reassess after that, Rob Thomson said. They can envision Bader in CF vs. RHP, but not yet. For now. Maybe.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 1, 2025
Bader brings solid production from both sides of the plate. In 96 games with the Minnesota Twins this season, he slashed .258/.339/.439 with 12 home runs and a 111 OPS+. He’s been consistent against both right- and left-handed pitching, posting a .774 OPS with five home runs against southpaws and a .779 OPS with seven home runs against righties.
That balanced performance makes his absence from tonight’s lineup against Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty all the more curious.
