Kyle Schwarber Returns to Left Field as Phillies Tweak Lineup in Chilly Matchup vs. Giants
PHILADELPHIA— As the wind whips through Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night, Kyle Schwarber will find himself in familiar territory—both in the field and in the weather. The veteran slugger, who spent six years braving the brutal conditions of Wrigley Field with the Cubs, will start in left field for the first time this season as the Phillies battle the San Francisco Giants.
With temperatures dropping and gusts expected to reach 25 mph, Schwarber’s experience in tough weather may prove valuable. “He’s an experienced guy,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson. “He’s played in Chicago for a lot of years. He can handle it.”
Since Bryce Harper’s shift to first base midway through last season, Schwarber has primarily served as Philadelphia’s designated hitter. In fact, he played just five games on defense in 2023, but he’s drawing a start in left field Wednesday to open up the DH spot for catcher J.T. Realmuto against lefty starter Robbie Ray.
Realmuto, now 34 years old, is off to a relatively slow start this season with a .695 OPS, but he had a breakout performance Tuesday night, going 2-for-4 and hitting his first home run of the season. With that momentum, Thomson wants to keep his bat in the lineup while giving him a break from catching duties.
“One thing I want to help him with is maintaining rhythm at the plate,” Thomson explained. “He feels like, when he takes a day off when he’s going good, it upsets his rhythm.”
With Realmuto at DH, Rafael Marchan will catch and bat eighth in the lineup. The Phillies are also making a few other changes to get more right-handed bats in the order against Ray, who has been strong to start the season with a 2.93 ERA over three outings.
Edmundo Sosa will play second base, giving Bryson Stott the night off, and bat seventh. In center field, Johan Rojas gets the start and will hit in the ninth spot. Meanwhile, Harper and Schwarber will continue to hit back-to-back in the two and three holes.
The Phillies currently sit at 10-7 and are looking to gain an edge in the four-game series, which is currently tied 1-1. On the mound, Aaron Nola will get the start for Philadelphia, aiming to bounce back from a shaky beginning to the year. The right-hander enters the game with a 5.51 ERA.
With the weather looking rough and lineup adjustments in play, Wednesday night will test not only the Phillies’ depth but their adaptability—something Schwarber, no stranger to the elements, should handle just fine.
Leave a Reply