The Philadelphia Phillies have lost their grip on the National League East lead after being swept by the Houston Astros, exposing some growing concerns. The team managed just one run during the entire series and went scoreless for 22 consecutive innings — their longest drought since 2018. A key factor in the offensive slump is the absence of Bryce Harper, who is still working his way back from the injured list. However, there’s also rising worry about outfielder Max Kepler, who signed a $10 million deal to boost the team’s offense but has underperformed with a .209/.300/.383 slash line — well below his career norms.
When Kepler was brought in, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski said the plan was for him to be an everyday starter. Yet manager Rob Thomson has been sitting Kepler against left-handed pitching. After Thursday’s loss, Kepler voiced his frustration, telling The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, “The biggest challenge for me is not playing routinely. I was told I was going to be the starting left fielder.”
On top of his offensive struggles, Kepler was also criticized for not hustling to first on a close play and for mishandling a ball that allowed the Astros’ winning run to score. With the trade deadline approaching, the Phillies may look to bring in a more reliable outfield bat — which could further reduce Kepler’s role moving forward.