The Philadelphia Phillies are hoping to bounce back quickly after an embarrassing loss, and manager Don Mattingly is making an immediate change to the starting lineup.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, the Phillies announced that All-Star outfielder Brandon Marsh will not be in the starting lineup. Derek Hill will instead get the nod in right field as Philadelphia looks to snap a two-game skid following Monday’s 15-1 defeat to the Kansas City Royals.
Marsh struggled in the series finale against Kansas City, going 0-for-4, and has cooled off considerably over the past week. Over his last six games, the 28-year-old has collected just three hits in 26 at-bats, prompting Mattingly to give one of his hottest hitters earlier this season a day to regroup.
Despite the recent slump, Marsh has been one of Philadelphia’s biggest success stories in 2026. Entering Tuesday’s game, he owns a .305 batting average with 98 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, 50 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 86 games. His breakout campaign earned him his first career All-Star starting selection for next week’s Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.
Hill has made the most of his opportunities since joining the Phillies. The veteran outfielder is batting .297 with 11 hits, two home runs and five RBIs in 18 games while providing defensive versatility by appearing at four different positions. His strong play made him a logical replacement as the Phillies look to inject some energy into the lineup.
The rest of Philadelphia’s lineup remains largely intact. Trea Turner will lead off at shortstop, followed by Kyle Schwarber as designated hitter and Bryce Harper at first base. Alec Bohm starts at third, Edmundo Sosa shifts to left field, J.T. Realmuto catches, Bryson Stott plays second, Justin Crawford patrols center field, and Zack Wheeler takes the mound in search of his ninth win of the season.
Philadelphia enters the series with a 50-41 record and sits second in the National League East, three games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves. After dropping consecutive games to the Royals, the Phillies will look to get back on track against a Reds club that owns a 41-48 record and sits at the bottom of the National League Central.
While Marsh’s absence from the lineup may catch some attention, there is no indication that the move is injury-related. Instead, it appears to be a routine day off as Mattingly attempts to reset one of the club’s most productive hitters before the stretch run leading into the All-Star break.