PHILADELPHIA – Rob Thomson is making a change to the Phillies lineup.
Bryson Stott, the Phillies’ leadoff hitter against right-handed starting pitchers since mid-April, has been moved down to the No. 5 spot. Trea Turner is in the leadoff spot, with Kyle Schwarber batting second.
It’s been a struggle for Stott, who grounded into a double play and reached base safely on a bunt single as a pinch hitter in last night’s 11th-inning walk-off win against the Chicago Cubs. From April 11, his first day as a leadoff hitter, to April 30, Stott batted .306 with an .832 OPS.
Stott has been struggling ever since the calendar turned to May. His OPS since May 1 is .504.
Turner appears to be the team’s new everyday leadoff hitter. The Phillies previously batted Turner in the leadoff spot exclusively against left-handed starters.
“I think Trea and (Schwarber) and (Casty) and Bohm are swinging the bats pretty good,” Thomson said of the lineup change. “We’ll get them as many at-bats as we can.”
Turner is 10-for-34 with a .922 OPS in the month of June. Bohm has a .333 on-base percentage this month, but a .656 OPS. Castellanos, who had three hits in Monday’s game, has an .872 OPS in the month of June.
Schwarber, famous for his June hot streaks, has only four hits since June 1.
Schwarber has been the team’s preferred leadoff hitter for most of his nearly four-year tenure with the club. They are 6-3 with Schwarber in the leadoff spot this year.
Did Thomson consider moving Schwarber back to the top?
“No. Runs are at a premium a little bit right now,” Thomson said. “I’d like to have somebody on base in front of him. That would be ideal. That’s where we’re at.”
Here’s the full Phillies lineup for game two of a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs.
- Trea Turner, SS
- Kyle Schwarber, DH
- Alec Bohm, 1B
- Nick Castellanos, RF
- Bryson Stott, 2B
- J.T. Realmuto, C
- Max Kepler, LF
- Otto Kemp, 3B
- Brandon Marsh, CF
Mick Abel, RHP
