Nick Castellanos is out of the lineup Wednesday. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images. Brett Davis
MILWAUKEE — Nick Castellanos is once again out of the starting lineup for the Phillies Thursday, the second time in three days the two-time All-Star wasn't penciled in by Rob Thomson.
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Castellanos not being in the lineup against a righty isn't particularly shocking by itself, but he did have a pair of hits in Wednesday's 6-3 loss, and has seven hits in 19 career at-bats (.368) against Freddy Peralta. No dice.
"Yeah, well, I mean the other three are so hot right now,” Thomson said. “So I was just staying with that, to tell you the truth.”
What Thomson is saying is correct. Harrison Bader is hitting .310 since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. Brandon Marsh mashes righties and has an .840 OPS since the All-Star Break. Even Max Kepler — who has underwhelmed for most of the season — posted a .789 OPS in August.
Still, Castellanos is in the fourth season of a five-year/$100 million contract. He played all 162 games a season ago. He took exception and made an "inappropriate comment" that ultimately got him benched for a night when Thomson pulled him for a defensive replacement during the Miami series in June. That the outfield appears to have turned into platoons in the corners — Marsh and Weston Wilson in left field and Castellanos and Kepler in right field — with Bader playing most days in center field, is definitely a story.
Does Thomson view left and right field as platoons at this point?
“Well it looks that way,” Thomson acknowledged. “I mean, you can call it whatever you want, but at this point in the year, I’m gonna put out what I think is the best lineup on any given day to win a ballgame. Yeah, there’s still a bit of a rotation, if you want to call it that. If you want to call it a platoon, doesn’t matter to me.”
How does Thomson believe that Castellanos is handling a diminished role?
“Yeah, he hasn’t said a word,” Thomson said. “He’s been good, I think he’s being a pro and understands that he’s ready to help the club when it’s needed.”
Nick Castellanos was asked if it’s frustrating to be replaced defensively in the ninth after having a pretty solid game defensively.
“Yes.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/GAmsJQKScn
During the last homestand, Castellanos acknowledged frustration when he was pulled for a defensive replacement and that it's been an adjustment to not play as much as he's used to. (The full transcript of his meeting with the media on Aug. 29 can be read here.) Ultimately, you get the feeling that both sides are committed to holding this together for the remainder of this season, a campaign where the Phillies have World Series aspirations.
But unless the Phillies are willing to guarantee a return to an everyday role for Castellanos in 2026 — which his .698 OPS vs. right-handed pitchers and minus-12 defensive runs saved in 2025 probably don't dictate — it's hard to see this relationship continuing for another season.
