Nick

Castellanos

The 33-year-old outfielder had a disappointing season at the plate in 2025, slashing .250/.294/.400 with 17 homers and 72 RBI in 589 plate appearances, matching his career low with a .694 OPS. It got to a point late in the season where he became nothing more than a platoon bat for the Phillies against left-handed pitching. The Phillies would prefer to trade the disgruntled outfielder rather than eating the final $20 million on his contract to release him, but it’s unclear if they’ll be able to find a willing partner over the winter.

Philadelphia’s ninth-inning rally came up just short as Trea Turner grounded out with the potential tying run at third base to end the contest. Castellanos came through with the biggest hit of the late rally, lining a two-run double down the left-field line against Blake Treinen. Unfortunately, he was thrown out at third base by Max Muncy on ensuing batter Bryson Stott’s sacrifice bunt attempt, which ultimately played a big role in Los Angeles figuring out how to escape the frame.

Castellanos, who had been 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the contest, hit the game-winner just 298 feet to center field with Harrison Bader on third, but James Outman didn’t get much on the throw home and there was no play at the plate. The win makes the Phillies 96-66, which is one game better than last year’s record and their best finish since going 102-60 in 2011. Castellanos closes out the regular season at .250/.294/.400.

Kepler will sit out his second straight contest as the Phillies roll with Nick Castellanos in right field.

Kepler was pulled from Thursday’s game as he was feeling a bit under the weather and now the Phillies will hold him out of action on Friday night against his former club as he’s still not feeling his best. Nick Castellanos will start in his place in right field and will bat seventh for the Phillies against Joe Ryan and the Twins.

Max Kepler presumably is still dealing with the illness that knocked him out of last night’s game, so Castellanos is playing right field tonight. A platoon guy of late, he’s hit .286 with one homer and 10 RBI in 45 plate appearances this month.

Castellanos connected on a two-run homer off Jake Woodford in the eighth inning. The outfielder also drove in a run with a single in the ninth to bring that total to 69 while the roundtripper gives him 17. Castellanos is not the same offensive threat he was a few years ago, but he’s still capable of fireworks here and there.

Kepler was a key force in the Phillies’ destruction of the Mets here. He was in the middle of three separate rallies and helped put the finishing touches on their victory with a long home run in the eighth inning. Hot as of late, Kepler has an .885 OPS over his last 15 games and has now started against seven straight right-handed pitchers. That’s mostly come at Nick Castellanos’ expense, who’s only started against two of the last seven righties.

This certainly explains why Nick Castellanos is getting the nod to face Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean. Marsh should return to Philadelphia’s lineup at some point this week once he’s feeling better.

Unless Marsh is hurting, this seems like madness. The Phillies are facing a righty tonight, and Marsh just went 6-for-15 with a homer and three doubles in the series against the Marlins. He’s batting .485 with two homers in his last nine games.