Struggling Bryson Stott removed from leadoff spot

The Phillies' lineup will look a little bit different Tuesday as they continue their series with the Chicago Cubs. 

After being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, Rob Thomson hinted that he was considering making some lineup tweaks. The Phillies faced a left-handed starter Monday in Matthew Boyd, but even with a right-hander in Colin Rea on the mound this evening for the Cubs, Bryson Stott hasn't returned to the leadoff spot: 

Round 2️⃣#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/trJdjxJtcB

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 10, 2025

Stott had a stretch earlier this season where he was effective at the leadoff spot because he was seeing pitches, but ultimately he didn't reach base at a clip nearly high enough to justify remaining at the top of the order. The former first-round pick is hitting .241 with a .644 OPS this season. He's still hitting fifth, so it's not like he's been banished to the bottom of the lineup. 

As Anthony SanFilippo wrote for On Pattison Sunday, it is fair to wonder given the overall lack of lineup production how much rearranging the order will do. Bryce Harper is on the injured list with right wrist inflammation. Kyle Schwarber (.927 OPS) and Trea Turner (.797 OPS) are each All-Star candidates, but no one else that's currently healthy has an OPS above .756. 

Stott is joined by Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh as players the Phillies hoped would develop into core pieces that haven't done that. Bohm started at third base for the National League All-Star team last summer, but is currently hitting just .272 with a .687 OPS. Marsh is hitting .228 as he continues to try to dig himself out of a hole from a nightmarish start to the season. 

Elsewhere, veterans like Nick Castellanos (.756 OPS), J.T. Realmuto (.228 batting average) and Max Kepler (0.1 WAR, per FanGraphs) have all underperformed relative to their contracts. 

This isn't to say that shaking things up during a rough stretch couldn't prove to be a good strategy. But right now, it's fair to wonder whether Thomson has the horses in the lineup. And if not, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski might need to consider a move that allows the Phillies to acquire another hitter capable of batting in the top four in the lineup in advance of the July 31 trade deadline. 

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