Schwarber first-base – Kyle Schwarber stepped into the first-base role for the first time in a start since Game 6 of the 2021 ALCS, allowing Bryce Harper to take a night as the Phillies’ designated hitter. With Trea Turner out due to a right wrist contusion, Brandon Marsh landed the
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber has checked plenty of boxes for the Phillies. Tuesday night added a new one.
He started at first base. It was his first start there since Game 6 of the 2021 ALCS against the Red Sox — a stretch that ended only once Tuesday’s lineup dictated the move. Schwarber did appear at first base once before. on May 7 against the A’s. but that was mop-up duty and he did not see any action in the contest.
By putting Schwarber at first, the Phillies got to give Bryce Harper his feet back for a night. Harper — the only Phillies player to play in all 73 games this season — was used as the designated hitter instead. Harper has started 68 of those 73 games at first base, with a handful of DH days. Early this season. Alec Bohm and Felix Reyes covered first base for two games each when Harper was in the DH role.
“It’s not like we’re going to kill him anywhere,” interim manager Don Mattingly said of Schwarber playing first. “He does work there occasionally — we’re not going to kill him anywhere — but he handles himself all right out there. We have to be able to do it some to be able to get Harp off his feet.”.
The switch wasn’t random. Schwarber has made occasional starts in the field over the past few years. but they’ve always come in the outfield. He was the club’s full-time left fielder in 2022, started 103 games in left in 2023, then shifted primarily to DH in 2024. In 2024, he started five games in left; in 2025, eight; and so far this season, two.
When it comes to first base, the history runs slimmer. Schwarber had made just 18 previous starts at first base over his 12-year career, including the postseason — and all of them came for the 2021 Red Sox.
“These guys are baseball players, and they’ve been the best athletes on their teams from the time they were 8 years old, probably,” Mattingly said. “So him going out there — he’s probably gonna have fun out there.”
There was another lineup change happening at the same time. Trea Turner was sidelined by a right wrist contusion, and with that opening, Brandon Marsh was penciled into the leadoff spot for the first time in more than four years.
Marsh last hit leadoff on June 12, 2022, when he did it for the Angels. He typically swings in the middle of the order, and Tuesday’s start was different for that reason alone. Coming into the night, Marsh was ranked fourth in the Majors with a .324 batting average.
Marsh’s leadoff spot also marked something specific about this Phillies season. He became the first Phillie other than Schwarber or Turner to hit leadoff in 2025. Turner began the year atop the lineup but was moved down to the No. 2 spot behind Schwarber on May 26 after his season-long struggles.
With Turner expected back for Wednesday’s series finale, the leadoff assignment is unlikely to become a long-term landing spot for Marsh. Still, for Tuesday, it was the move that filled the gap and kept the lineup moving.
“I haven’t really thought much about that,” Mattingly said when asked if Marsh could get more chances atop the order. “But today it felt right.”
Kyle Schwarber Bryce Harper Trea Turner Brandon Marsh Phillies first base start leadoff spot right wrist contusion Don Mattingly ALCS 2021
Wait so Schwarber at first base again means Harper was DH? Sounds like a schedule thing.
I don’t get it, why not just rest Harper fully instead of moving people around. Like ok one night off but still counts as playing right? Also “right wrist contusion” is such a weird phrase.
So Trea Turner is out with a wrist thing and they just toss Schwarber over to first… wouldn’t that mess up defensive chemistry? Idk the article says he “handles himself” but first base is not the outfield lol.
This is probably just because the Phillies can’t decide who plays where. I swear Harper plays every game and then they’re like “get him off his feet” like he’s gonna sprain a toe if Schwarber doesn’t cover first. Mattingly always sounds calm too, like he’s trying to sell the move.