Opening Day for the Phillies is in less than two weeks and the goal for the club and the rest of the 29 teams is to stay as healthy as possible as Spring Training slowly winds down. On Sunday, both Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh exited mid-game in a 12-1 victory over Baltimore.
Kepler left the game with a bruised lower back after colliding into the wall in the first inning while Marsh left with a bruised left knee, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. Kepler made the catch and got up under his own power to jog back to the dugout but did not come back into the game. Zolecki followed up, confirming with both outfielders that if it was a regular season game, the two said they would have stayed in the game.
Kepler, who has had a solid spring and showcasing his power, is hitting .346 with three homers, signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies, and is expected to be the starting left fielder for the team. Marsh is looking to be the starting centerfielder but perhaps will platoon with Johan Rojas who has been working his way back from a shoulder injury he suffered during winter ball. On the spring, Marsh has an OPS of .740 in 27 at-bats.
According to Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber, Rob Thomson is expected to give both outfielders an extra day of rest.
The Phillies are back in action at their Florida home stadium, BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater as they host the Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m. which is available to watch on MLB.com live stream.
