Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly has shifted All-Star outfielder Brandon Marsh back into a platoon role following extended offensive struggles against left-handed pitching.
Marsh sat out against left-handed starters twice during the team's late-July series against the New York Yankees, including Saturday's 3-1 loss.
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Against left-hander Ryan Weathers, Philadelphia's lineup featured right-handed hitters Edmundo Sosa, Derek Hill, and Bryan De La Cruz in the outfield before Marsh entered mid-game.
Marsh will continue playing left field against right-handed starters alongside rookies Justin Crawford and Gabriel Rincones Jr.
This season, Marsh batted just . 233 with a .
379 slugging percentage and a .
645 OPS against left-handed pitchers, striking out 13 times in a 24-plate-appearance stretch prior to late July.
Mattingly Explains Decision
Mattingly emphasized that the team needed immediate improvement at the plate despite Marsh's early-season flashes.
"Honestly, you have to look at the numbers at some point," said Mattingly, interim manager for the Phillies.
Mattingly acknowledged his ongoing belief in Marsh's long-term capability as an everyday major league starter.
"I do believe that he's going to be a guy that can be an everyday guy," said Mattingly.
"Something we talked about is understanding how to hit lefties and what you need to do."
He noted that current production remains paramount during a tight division race.
"But at some point, we're trying to win games. We need to be better against lefties," Mattingly added.
