Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
The left-handed-hitting Kepler will be held out of the starting nine for the third time in five games and for the second matchup against a right-handed starting pitcher (Jake Irvin). Though he's raised his production at the plate in August, Kepler is slashing just .233/.269/.397 since the All-Star break, and his underwhelming numbers appear to have begun to cost him some playing time while Philadelphia frees up more opportunities for trade-deadline pickup Harrison Bader.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Sitting against right-hander
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Kepler is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Mariners.
Kepler has mostly maintained his role as the Phillies' primary left fielder against right-handed pitching even after the team's addition of Harrison Bader, but he'll begin Tuesday's festivities on the bench. Bader is in center field and Brandon Marsh is in left field against Mariners righty Bryce Miller.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Getting afternoon off
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Kepler will head to the bench for the second time in the series while the Nationals send another lefty to the hill in Mitchell Parker. Weston Wilson will spell Kepler in left field and bat seventh.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Idle against lefty
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
With southpaw Patrick Corbin starting for the Rangers, Kepler will take a seat for the series finale. Weston Wilson will replace Kepler in left field and bat ninth.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Homers in win
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Kepler went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Orioles.
Kepler went deep his first time up in the second inning to give the Phillies an early 3-0 lead. He then doubled and scored his next time up. It was his second game this season with multiple extra-base hits and his first game with multiple RBI since July 2. It's been a struggle at the dish most of the season for Kepler in his inaugural season in Philadelphia, and he's entrenched in a platoon role following the trade deadline.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Sitting against lefty again
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Kepler is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Orioles.
The Phillies have platooned both Kepler and Brandon Marsh since the trade deadline. The right-handed-hitting Weston Wilson will start in left field in place of Kepler on Monday as the Orioles send lefty Cade Povich to the hill.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Ready to go Friday
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Kepler (triceps) is starting in left field and batting seventh Friday against the Tigers, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.
Kepler was scratched from the lineup Wednesday due to triceps soreness, but he's back in action following Thursday's team off day. The veteran outfielder scuffled to a .580 OPS over 18 games in July, and he could see his playing time take a hit if the struggles continue after the Phillies acquired Harrison Bader on Thursday.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Scratched with triceps soreness
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Kepler was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox due to triceps soreness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The veteran outfielder was in the starting nine for Wednesday's series finale but ended up being scratched after a lengthy rain delay. The severity of the injury hasn't been disclosed, so Kepler should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's series opener in Detroit.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Taking seat against southpaw
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
After starting six straight games against right-handed starters, Kepler will take a seat against southpaw Carlos Rodon. Kyle Schwarber will draw the start in left field.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Productive in Tuesday's win
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Kepler went 1-for-2 with a walk, a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox.
The steal was Kepler's first of the year, while his second-inning shot off Richard Fitts was his first homer since July 2 and his 11th of the season. Kepler has struggled to make a consistent impact in his first campaign with the Phillies, and through 13 games in July he's slashing just .222/.326/.389 with two homers, three runs and four RBI.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Resting Sunday
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
After exiting Wednesday's 13-0 win over the Giants with a bruised shin, Kepler was cleared to start in both of the Phillies' first two contests in San Diego, going 0-for-5 with a pair of walks and a run scored between those games. Though the lefty-hitting Kepler isn't believed to be dealing with any setbacks, he'll be held out of the lineup against a right-hander (Nick Pivetta) on Sunday in what looks to be nothing more than a rest day with the All-Star break on the horizon. Otto Kemp will cover left field in Kepler's stead.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: In Friday's lineup
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Kepler (shin) will start in left field and bat sixth Friday against the Padres.
Kepler had to make an early exit from Wednesday's contest due to a bruised right shin, but after using the Phillies' day off Thursday to recover, the 32-year-old outfielder will remain in the starting nine.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Leaves game with bruised shin
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Kepler exited Wednesday's game against the Giants with a bruised right shin, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kepler singled in the top of the eighth inning, but Johan Rojas pinch ran for Kepler two batters later. Prior to his exit, Kepler went 1-for-3 with one RBI. He's slashing .213/.307/.378 with 10 home runs, 31 RBI, 34 runs scored and a 34:63 BB:K across 305 plate appearances this season. Kepler's injury doesn't sound serious, and the Phillies have a day off Thursday ahead of Friday's series opener with the Padres in San Diego.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Slugs homer No. 10
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Kepler went 3-for-8 with a two-run home run across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader split with the Padres.
After a 1-for-4 showing in the matinee, Kepler took Dylan Cease deep in the fourth inning of the nightcap to get the Phillies on the board in an eventual 5-1 win. It was Kepler's 10th long ball of the season, but he's struggled to put together a prolonged hot streak -- since the beginning of June, the 32-year-old outfielder is slashing just .183/.287/.354 with four homers, 10 RBI and 11 runs in 26 contests.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Idle against southpaw
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The left-handed-hitting Kepler will hit the bench for the first time since June 9, which marks the last time the Phillies faced a left-handed starting pitcher (the Cubs' Matthew Boyd). With southpaw David Peterson toeing the rubber for the Mets in the series finale, Otto Kemp will step in as the Phillies' left fielder in place of Kepler, who went 9-for-39 (.231 average) with three home runs and a 7:7 BB:K during his stretch of 11 consecutive starts.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Plays hero in win
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Kepler went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.
Kepler broke a 2-2 tie with what proved to be a game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. After opening June in a 1-for-18 slump, the 32-year-old has hit safely in four straight games with four extra-base hits, four RBI and five runs scored. On the season, he's slashing .214/.303/.398 with eight home runs, 25 RBI and 29 runs scored across 234 plate appearances, and he continues to sit regularly against left-handed pitching.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Swats two-run homer
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Kepler went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs.
Kepler got the Phillies on the board in the second with a two-run shot to right for his first home run since May 24 and his first hit since June 3. Over his last 14 games, Kepler is batting a miserable .105/.190/.211 while continuing to work in a strong-side platoon role in left field with Weston Wilson.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Sitting against southpaw
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Kepler will get a breather while the Brewers send southpaw Jose Quintana to the hill. Weston Wilson will check in for Kepler in left field.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Delivers off bench Saturday
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Kepler went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 9-6 extra-innings win over the Athletics.
Kepler didn't start Saturday, but he delivered a pinch-hit homer to tie the game at 6-6 in the ninth inning. He also scored the go-ahead run in the 11th as the automatic runner after he failed to deliver in his 10th-inning at-bat. Kepler is 6-for-15 (.400) with three RBI and four extra-base hits over his last five games. He's at a .233/.317/.415 slash line, six homers, 18 RBI, 22 runs scored, 11 doubles and no stolen bases over 179 plate appearances. Kepler is working in the strong side of a platoon in left field alongside the right-handed-hitting Weston Wilson.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Getting day off versus lefty
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Kepler will hit the bench along with Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott while the Diamondbacks send southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez to the hill. Weston Wilson will enter the lineup in Kepler's stead, drawing a start at first base while Bryce Harper serves as the Phillies' designated hitter and Kyle Schwarber mans left field.
