The Philadelphia Phillies’ outfield, widely considered a weakness, will be further tested as the team faces the New York Yankees on Saturday without its most productive hitter.
Right fielder Nick Castellanos is out of the lineup after jamming his knee on the final play of Friday’s game. Manager Rob Thomson stated the slugger is “a bit sore” and is being held out as a precaution, with his status to be re-evaluated on Sunday.
Castellanos’s absence is a significant blow. He is the only Phillies outfielder with above-average offensive production this season, posting a 103 OPS+ and a 105 wRC+.
With Castellanos sidelined, the Phillies will start Max Kepler in right field, Brandon Marsh in left, and Johan Rojas in center. This alignment, typically reserved for late-game defensive situations, exposes the team’s lack of offensive depth. Among the starting trio, Marsh’s 86 wRC+ (14% below league average) is the highest, followed by Kepler’s 83 and Rojas’s 63.
The forced lineup change underscores the front office’s need to acquire another outfield option before the trade deadline. While Castellanos’s injury is not believed to be serious, his absence highlights the team’s vulnerability at the position.
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