It's time for the Philadelphia Phillies to make some major lineup changes.
Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly made a couple of interesting decisions on Tuesday with Trea Turner out of the starting lineup. The move that drew the most attention was Kyle Schwarber starting at first base to give Bryce Harper a designated-hitting day.
However, another decision Mattingly made was to have Brandon Marsh hit leadoff, a move that should become permanent for the Phillies.
This rationale for having Marsh hit leadoff moving forward actually starts with Turner.
The former All-Star infielder continues to struggle at the plate this season, logging a .223/.274/.334 slash line, with an OPS of .574 over his last 15 games. The Phillies have tried a number of different things to get him back on track, but nothing seems to be working as of now.
Turner has spent the most time as Philadelphia’s leadoff hitter this season, but Mattingly moved him back one spot in the lineup to mix things up. Still, that minor change hasn’t helped, with Turner logging a .565 OPS, hitting second in the Phillies lineup.
As the struggles at the plate continue, the Phillies must consider more drastic measures and move Turner even further back in the lineup. That move alone could help take some pressure off Turner as he continues to search for answers in the batter’s box.
This move might not only take pressure off Turner but also get Schwarber back to hitting in his sweet spot.
Jun 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Trea Turner (7) looks on after striking out against the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesWith Turner hitting second, it’s forced Schwarber into the leadoff role, but the slugger’s numbers just aren’t the same with him in that spot in the lineup. Schwarber has a 1.020 OPS when hitting second, but just a .716 OPS when hitting first for the Phillies.
There’s no reason for opposing pitchers to give Schwarber anything to hit when Harper isn’t hitting behind him.
That brings everything back to Marsh.
The Phillies need to take advantage of Marsh’s breakout season at the plate, especially with Turner’s struggles. The Phillies outfielder has a .857 OPS and has easily been the team’s third-best hitter in 2026.
Having Marsh hit leadoff could move Schwarber back to the two-hole while still having a threat at the top of the lineup.
At some point, Mattingly must make some changes to his lineup to add some consistency to the Phillies' offense.
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