{"id":672778,"date":"2026-04-10T22:30:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/672778\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T22:30:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:30:31","slug":"brandon-marsh-is-hitting-cleanup-on-friday-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/672778\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandon Marsh is Hitting Cleanup on Friday Night"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n Phillies
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\n \"Luke
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\"Apr<\/p>\n

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Phillies haven\u2019t had a true cleanup hitter in a long time. They don\u2019t really have a \u201ctrue\u201d one on Friday night either, but the Phillies are riding the hot hand.<\/p>\n

Brandon Marsh is hitting cleanup on Friday night as the Phillies open up a 3-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Barring a roster move, the Phillies will not face a left-handed pitcher all weekend. Arizona will start Mike Soroka, Brandon Pfaadt, and Zac Gallen, while not carrying a single left-handed pitcher in their bullpen. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they don\u2019t have a lefty in their pen, so we just stacked all the lefties all together at the top there.\u201d Rob Thomson said pregame on Friday. \u201cSo once you get down to Crawford, it\u2019s 5 out of 6 in a row\u201d<\/p>\n

Marsh is hitting .294 against right-handed pitching this year with a .795 OPS, and hitting .321 against right-handed pitching since May 1st, 2025. The Phillies hold the 6th-highest OPS in all of baseball against right-handed pitching in 2026 (.728). Luckily, they won\u2019t have to worry about any lefties this weekend, because that OPS drops to 28th in baseball at .502.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the Phillies will line up on Friday night:<\/p>\n

Turner 6<\/p>\n

Schwarber DH<\/p>\n

Harper 3<\/p>\n

Marsh 7<\/p>\n

Stott 4<\/p>\n

Garcia 9<\/p>\n

Bohm 5<\/p>\n

Realmuto 2<\/p>\n

Crawford 8<\/p>\n

When someone slides up, somebody else has to slide down. Alec Bohm will hit 7th on Friday night after a brutal start to his 2026 campaign, hitting just .186 in 43 at-bats with just two extra base hits. \u201cIt\u2019s just about getting him back to being himself, using the whole field,\u201d Rob Thomson said. \u201cI think guys are trying to do a little too much. We need to work counts, work pitchers, chew up pitchers, use the whole field, and keep moving the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Soroka has pitched well in 2026, but left-handed hitters have found more success against him throughout his career than righties. Friday night will be a good chance for the Phillies to get back in the win column after a couple brutal games out at Oracle Park, their house of horrors. <\/p>\n

An update on Zack Wheeler:<\/p>\n

Wheeler will make another rehab start on Tuesday for the Reading Phils vs. Somerset, with an 80-85 pitch count. The Phillies have him scheduled to pitch again for Reading on Sunday, but that start is not set in stone. Thomson said pregame on Friday that if Tuesday goes exceptionally well, there\u2019s a chance that Sunday start could not happen, and Wheeler could be on his way back to the majors. <\/p>\n

Zack Wheeler will start for Reading on Tuesday (80-85 pitches) in Somerset, NJ, and has another rehab start scheduled for Sunday (also with Reading). <\/p>\n

If he looks ready on Tuesday, Sunday could be canned. But it\u2019s scheduled as of now. pic.twitter.com\/WmfyH52nNY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/p>\n

Luke Arcaini covers the Phillies for Crossing Broad. The wave is the worst thing is sports. Follow him on Twitter @ArcainiLuke<\/p>\n

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