Note: Current Phillies stats do not include Thursday’s game against Seattle
The Philadelphia Phillies have recently leaned into a true outfield platoon, shuffling Brandon Marsh, Harrison Bader, Nick Castellanos, and Max Kepler to maximize matchups. While it’s sparked plenty of debate, fans may need to take a deep breath and let the platoon’s ride! This is one of the rare baseball strategies that both the new-fangled, analytics-driven crowd and the old-school purists can agree on: platoons work.
Platoons have consistently shaped championship rosters, preserved veterans’ legs, and turned role players into key contributors. Over the years, many teams have experimented with splitting time between right-handed and left-handed hitters or rotating players based on matchups to maximize production. The principle remains the same today: put players in situations where they have the best chance to succeed.
The Numbers Don’t Lie!
The underlying math is simple: most hitters have an advantage against opposite-handed pitching. Since 1982 (yeah, in my lifetime!), left-handed batters have posted an OPS nearly 70 points higher against right-handed pitchers, while right-handed batters have hit over 50 points better against lefties. Managers who exploit those splits consistently squeeze extra wins from their roster.
The “father of advanced stats “Bill James and later sabermetricians quantified this advantage, showing that a well-executed platoon could add the equivalent of 2–4 wins over a full season. That’s the difference between hovering around .500 and making a legitimate playoff push.
It’s Worked Here! Phillies (Somewhat Recent) History of Platoons
Believe it or not, even blue collar, old-school Philadelphia has had its share of successful platoons through the years, with several standing out:
1983 Phillies – “The Wheeze Kids”
The 1983 Philadelphia Phillies, managing an aging roster, relied heavily on platoons to keep their veterans fresh. In the outfield, Von Hayes, Gary Matthews, Garry Maddox, Bob Dernier, and Joe Lefebvre rotated frequently, while first base duties were shared between Pete Rose and Tony Perez. Joe Morgan handled most of the second base work, though Kiko Garcia also saw time, and behind the plate, Bo Diaz split reps with Ozzie Virgil Jr. This allowed the Phillies to stay competitive and ultimately reach the World Series despite the advanced age of most key players.
1993 Philles — Outfield Rotation
The pennant-winning 1993 Phillies leaned on a unique platoon in the outfield. Lenny Dykstra was the everyday center fielder, but Jim Eisenreich, Milt Thompson, Pete Incaviglia and Wes Chamberlain rotated in the corners. This allowed manager Jim Fregosi to mix power, speed, and defense based on matchups. Thompson also became a dangerous late-game pinch hitter.
Phillies #8- Jim Eisenreich, OF (1993-96)
– 499 Games, 24 HR, 193 RBI
— Philly Sports By Number (@philly_number) July 5, 2025
2007 Phillies- Third Base Shuffle
During the 2007 National League East-winning season, the Phillies quietly employed a third base platoon of Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms, and Abraham Núñez. While none stood out as stars, their combined contributions helped solidify the infield for a young core of Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard.
Other Famous Platoons in Recent MLB History
1983 Orioles: John Lowenstein and Gary Roenicke’s left field platoon fueled a World Series title against “The Wheeze Kids.”
2002 Athletics: Moneyball A’s leaned heavily on platoon-based roster building…just about everywhere!
Moneyball! pic.twitter.com/ufg2zzWtxi
— Stirrups Now! (@uniformcritic) January 4, 2023
2013 Red Sox – Left Field Platoon: Jonny Gomes and Daniel Nava combined for a .278/.362/.450 line, producing a wRC+ of 121, showing how an effective platoon can boost overall production.
Come for the Jonny Gomes HR.
Stay for the Nap beard-tug. #GetBeard | #RedSoxEncores pic.twitter.com/kCDfTJ4xVe
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 2, 2020
2016 Cubs: Joe Maddon rotated Jorge Soler, and Jason Heyward with Cape May-native Matt Szcur in the outfield and Ben Zobrist with Javier Baez on the infield en route to the Cubbies first World Series title in nearly a century.
2023 Texas Rangers: The most recent World Series champion strategically used platoons in several key positions, particularly in the. By matching players with specific strengths against left-handed or right-handed pitchers, they maximized offensive potential and defensive flexibility, helping secure the championship against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Why it Matters for the 2025 Phillies
For this Philadelphia Phillies team, the current outfield mix isn’t just about covering defensive ground—it’s about maximizing offensive output in a playoff race.
Split
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
vs. LHP
.229
.321
.396
.717
vs. RHP
.315
.376
.470
.846
Brandon Marsh since returning from injury on May 3: .302/.361/.454 (.815 OPS)pic.twitter.com/8Uut03jwL9
— John Foley (@2008Philz) August 6, 2025
Split
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
vs. LHP
.299
.333
.422
.755
vs. RHP
.207
.289
.395
.684
Harrison Bader, Welcome to Philadelphia! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/BO56VUQYqF
— MLB (@MLB) August 5, 2025
Split
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
vs. LHP
.324
.369
.561
.930
vs. RHP
.257
.292
.412
.704
Known dad Nick Castellanos hits a GRAND SLAM for the dads🔥pic.twitter.com/L8ZC6j1XgF
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) June 15, 2025
Split
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
vs. LHP
.199
.296
.364
.659
vs. RHP
.211
.298
.365
.663
By rotating these four, manager Rob Thomson can protect slumping hitters, play matchups, and utilize late-game defensive flexibility. It’s an approach straight out of baseball’s history books—proven time and again.
Max Kepler extends the @Phillies lead with a solo shot 😤 pic.twitter.com/BIXLbb7z78
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2025
Players (Cough, cough Nick Castellanos) Need to Put Their Pride Aside for October Glory
Platoons may frustrate players who are used to an everyday role, but history shows they win games. From the Wheeze Kids to 1993’s bunch of whacky misfits to the present-day roster, Phillies fans know firsthand how sharing a position can push a team deep into Red October.
Note: Current Phillies stats do not include Thursday’s game against Seattle