Phillies may face dilemma when it comes to star outfielder and postseason pitching

The Philadelphia Phillies continue to inch closer and closer to their goals of winning the National League East and securing the top seed in the postseason as they pursue their first World Series title since 2008.

So, it only makes sense that some of the team’s attention goes to making sure their roster is set up to put the team in the best position to do so.

One big question for the Phillies is the role of fan-favorite outfielder Brandon Marsh. Phillies beat writer for The Athletic, Matt Gelb, reports that “they are concerned about Marsh against a tough lefty.”

That concern is well founded. In 84 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season, Marsh is batting .194 and slugging .292, with an OPS of .569. He has just one homerun and eight RBI when facing southpaws.

Simply sitting Marsh against left-handers isn’t an option, as he’s one of Philadelphia’s top defensive outfielders. In the postseason, an error in the field could be far more damaging than an out at the plate.

Perhaps the Phillies will platoon Marsh with Austin Hays, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles before the trade deadline. Hays is a career .277 hitter against left-handed pitching. However, Hays has been battling a kidney infection and may not play the rest of the regular season .

Without an opportunity for a rehab stint, the Phillies’ Triple-A season ends on September 22. It could be difficult for him to be ready to face major league pitching.

Manager Rob Thomson will have a difficult choice, though he has been encouraged by what he’s seen at the plate from Marsh lately. “If Marsh continues to swing the bat against lefties — because he is doing better — he's a possibility too. I think it's probably a case-by-case thing," he told Gelb.

Marsh has something to prove before the Phillies take the field when it counts.

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