PHILADELPHIA — Rob Thomson kept his word Tuesday in constructing his lineup.

He said Friday that he’d platoon Harrison Bader and Brandon Marsh in center field over the next six games against the alternating left-right starting pitchers from Detroit and Baltimore. He’d do the same in left with Max Kepler and Weston Wilson.

So despite Bader and Wilson homering in Monday night’s 13-3 demolition of the Orioles, Thomson restored Kepler to left and Marsh to center Tuesday against right-handed starter Dean Kremer.

“Well, because I promised these guys,” was the explanation Thomson offered, noting that while Bader is 3-for-6 lifetime off Kremer and hits righties as well as he does lefties, that Kepler was 1-for-4 against Kremer with a homer.

Sure enough, Kepler homered in the second inning, a two-run bomb for his 12th of the year. It’s a shot in the arm for the offseason free-agent signing, who entered the game batting .200 and has top prospect Justin Crawford breathing down his neck.

The hot-hand argument worked fine for Edmundo Sosa, who went 3-for-4 with a homer Monday. That got him the nod over fellow righty Otto Kemp at third, in part thanks to his plus defense. He robbed Coby Mayo of extra bases with a diving stab to start the third inning.

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While Tuesday marked Jose Alvarado’s return to Philadelphia for the first time since his suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in May, the bullpen got a more immediate if less heralded arrival.

Jose Alvarado remains 15 days from the end of his 80-game ban, but Joe Ross returned on time from his injured list stint for back spasms. To make room, Seth Johnson was optioned to Triple A.

Ross will slot in as the long man, though not yet. He didn’t give up a run in two one-inning outings with Lehigh Valley. His last big league appearance on July 20 was for five outs, but he hasn’t gone longer than that since July 4.

“He’s going to be some length,” Thomson said Tuesday. “He doesn’t have any right now, but we’ll build him back up to be a two-, maybe three-inning guy.”

The Phillies used up Johnson on Monday for the final three outs up 10 runs. He retired six of seven batters, five via strikeout with a fastball that touched 99 and a diving splitter.

“That’s what he can do,” Thomson said. “If he powers the ball through the zone, that’s what he can do. And that’s what we said to him on his way out. It’s 99 with good spin, split’s developing. He’s got a chance to be really good.”

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NOTES >> Alec Bohm went through a full program of sliding and base-running in testing his rib fracture, as well as cage work. When the Phillies leave town for a 10-game trip Friday, Bohm will stay in Lehigh to complete his rehab and possibly get in a rehab assignment. … David Robertson will pitch again Wednesday for the IronPigs. “He’s still trying to get his command, and velocity is going up, which is good,” Thomson said. “But he’s still trying to get command of all his pitches.” … Ranger Suarez (8-4, 2.66 ERA) takes the mound in Wednesday’s 12:35 getaway day. He’ll be opposed by Trevor Rogers (4-2, 1.44).

Originally Published: August 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM EDT