Aug 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts with infielder Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA -- It wouldn't be a Phillies Opening Day without some tried and true traditions.
The team entering the field through from centerfield through a throng of fans in Ashburn Alley. Kane Kalas singing the national anthem.
And the manager being asked to justify the lineup.
Ah, yes. Here we are, again, debating if Rob Thomson is doing the right thing with the lineup, specifically with keeping Bryce Harper in the No. 3 hole behind Kyle Schwarber rather than protecting him by batting Harper second and Schwarber third. The debates about Alec Bohm as a cleanup hitter -- and Bryson Stott hitting fifth.
Thomson seems to be as tired of answering these questions as many of us are writing about them - and it's only March.
"It's just one game," Thomson said. "That's where we're going to start. The lineup is fluid. The bullpen is fluid. Who knows where we go?"
Where he'll go, for sure, is to platoon Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa into the lineup against lefties. And for now, Harper is staying in the three hole, although that could change in time.
For his part, Harper is happy to be anywhere in the lineup - within reason.
Bryce Harper talks about remaining at the third spot in the lineup to start the season.
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/iGcQ1qE0XX
"I'm happy to hit wherever [Thomson] wants us," Harper said. "I'm comfortable anywhere from 2 to 4. Wherever he wants us. Whatever helps us to win games. I just want to make this team better each day and wherever he puts us in the lineup, whatever that looks like."
The lineup debate is really overblown. It truly doesn't matter all that much. The leadoff hitter is only guaranteed to actually lead off once a game - however that batter also will see the most plate appearances, so it's an important spot. So are spots two and three, which are the only spots guaranteed to hit in the first inning.
Which is why you want your three best hitters hitting in the top three spots in some order.
And the Phillies do that, with Trea Turner batting in front of Schwarber and Harper. As long as it's those three guys, the order doesn't matter a ton. Yes, whoever bats behind another guy offers some semblance of protection, so Harper being in the third spot means he's likely to see fewer pitches in the strike zone because he doesn't have a superstar teammate batting behind him. It's going to be incumbent upon him to not chase pitches and force pitchers to throw him strikes.
It's why he has a goal of walking 140 to 150 times this season. It's an overly ambitious goal, and likely not going to be attainable, but if he gets to 100, then he's likely having an elite season. The last time he walked 100 times in a season was in 2021 -- when he was the National League MVP.
The reality is, if the Phillies hit and score runs, no one will care about the lineup. They will only care if the offense scuffles. So, the players can make all the talk about the lineup go away for good.
Except, unlike the clock in centerfield or Harry the K's, it won't.
When the Phillies designated catcher Garrett Stubbs for assignment on Wednesday, it left him in limbo. Teams have until Friday to claim him if they are going to give him a Big League job. If not, he would have to accept an assignment by the Phillies to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, which he likely would as the Phillies are paying him a split contract worth $575,000 in the minors, which is a handsome sum for a minor league player.
Still, while there is an unknown for Stubbs for the next 24 hours, there remains a decent chance he stays in the Phillies organization. Still, it didn't make the conversation any easier for Thomson to have for Stubbs.
"For him personally, I hope he gets a big league job," Thomson said. "For me, personally, for the organization, we hope he comes back. He's meant so much to this place, the energy that he brings, the type of teammate that he is -- and he's a good player, too. Unfortunately, when he was here, he was behind the best catcher in baseball, so he didn't get a whole lot of playing time. But I think he showed us enough in Spring Training that he's a potential super utility guy that can play anywhere in the outfield, play anywhere in the infield -- maybe not first base -- but also catch. He's got a lot of value.
"That was a tough, tough conversation. One of the toughest I've ever had because I just think so highly of him."
Thomson provided a series of injury updates prior to first pitch.
