Ex-Philadelphia Phillies GM proposes moving Nick Castellanos up to join Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber after D-Backs thrashing
The Philadelphia Phillies lost 12-5 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, their third consecutive defeat. In response, former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. hinted at possible changes in the team's lineup.
Amaro, the Philadelphia GM from 2008 to 2015 said on "The Phillies Show" on YouTube on Monday (Timestamp: 13:04):
“Don’t be surprised if you don’t see some shakeup in the lineup and/or the roster if some of these guys don’t start picking it up. I would move (Nick) Castellanos up because he’s having quality at-bats day in and day out.
“(Bryce) Harper’s bounced back after a difficult stretch, and Castellanos and (Kyle) Schwarber are also having strong performances.”
He also emphasized that while Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski is patient and understands the game, performance is critical, and changes might be necessary if players don't improve.
The suggested adjustment to the lineup highlights a concern with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh, figures in the heart of the lineup, have been facing challenges. This lack of consistency prompted Amaro to propose moving Castellanos, who has been a consistent performer, up to improve the team's offense.
Philadelphia Phillies fall to Diamondbacks 12-5, lose series
The Philadelphia Phillies' 12-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday closed out their four-game series with three losses. The Phillies' current struggles have seen them lose 10 of their last 14 games.
Alec Bohm put the Phillies ahead with a two-run double in the first inning. The Diamondbacks promptly answered with one run in the first and then took charge with a four-run third inning. Rookie Adrian Del Castillo and Jake McCarthy were at the forefront as Del Castillo's two runs and McCarthy's bases-clearing triple in the fifth inning pushed Arizona to an 8-2 lead.
Philadelphia Phillies starter Christopher Sánchez (8-8) had trouble finding his groove, walking two batters and striking out four.
Nick Castellanos had two hits, and Brandon Marsh and Cal Stevenson contributed RBI singles, but the Phillies struggled to match Arizona's strong offense.
Following a 4-6 record on their road trip, the Phillies face a critical period to turn their season around.