PHILADELPHIA — Phillies rookie Justin Crawford had a stable debut collection within the large leagues, going 3-for-9 in his first three video games. He gained’t be within the lineup for the primary sport of his second collection.
Crawford shall be on the bench when Philadelphia takes on left-hander Foster Griffin and the Nationals on Monday evening at Citizens Bank Park as half of a deliberate technique by supervisor Rob Thomson.
“Just to give him a little reprieve from all these left-handed starters,” Thomson mentioned. “But he handles lefties pretty good normally.”
Crawford, the 22-year-old left-handed-hitting heart fielder, began Sunday’s collection finale towards Rangers lefty Mackenzie Gore. He recorded the Phillies’ first hit of the sport towards Gore on an infield single to guide off the underside of the sixth. Thomson inserted Dylan Moore to hit in place of Crawford towards left-handed reliever Robert Garcia within the ninth inning of the 8-3 Phillies loss.
With Griffin, a 30-year-old making his first big-league look since 2022, on the mound, the Phillies (1-2) will hold their righty platoon bats on the sphere with Otto Kemp in left subject and Edmundo Sosa at second base. Catcher J.T. Realmuto will relaxation for a sport in favor of backup Rafael Marchán, and Brandon Marsh will play over Crawford in heart subject, regardless of Crawford hitting .376 versus lefties in Triple-A final season.
Marsh performs a greater left subject than heart and batted simply .197 towards left-handers in 2025. He has three strikeouts in three plate appearances versus lefties thus far this season. But he’s picked up three hits and two doubles in 9 complete at-bats to start out the yr.
“I always have confidence in him, to tell you the truth,” Thomson mentioned of Marsh. “Like any lefty, he’ll go through ebbs and flows over a season, whether it’s facing a left-handed pitcher, a right-handed pitcher or any pitcher. I always have confidence in him, but he’s had good at-bats. Ever since the start of May last year, he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball. So we’ll give him a shot.”
Thomson’s level might need been overstated, however Marsh did have an .836 OPS from May 1 till the top of final season, third finest on the Phillies in that span (minimal 350 plate appearances). Still, he had only a .599 OPS towards lefties in that five-month stretch.
At this level, it appears clear that Marsh is not a viable offensive choice towards left-handed pitching. He’s a priceless strong-side platoon contributor, however he’s overextended in left-on-left matchups. The Phillies would profit from hiding him towards lefty starters every time attainable.
The Nationals haven’t introduced a starter for Tuesday’s sport, and right-hander Cade Cavalli will take the hill for the collection finale on Wednesday. Crawford mentioned he expects to be again within the lineup on Tuesday, and Marsh will possible be beside him in left subject.
