3 lineup combinations for when Bryce Harper returns

Bryce Harper is set to come back to the Phillies as a designated hitter much sooner than anyone could have anticipated. His presence will shake up a lineup that desperately needs more power.

The offense is first in hits, third in batting average, seventh in slugging percentage, but 20th in home runs, sixth-worst in strikeout percentage and seventh-worst in walk percentage. They can rack up hits, but they’re struggling to come through with runners on. They’ve scored four runs or fewer in 13 of their first 20 games and are averaging just over seven hits and seven runners left on base in those 13 games.

Despite the talent, things just aren’t working at the moment. There’s hope that Harper’s return could alleviate those concerns, but it may not all click immediately.

On Friday, Harper faced Jeff Hoffman, a current Phillies minor leaguer with years of big league experience who can hit 99 mph with his fastball, in live batting practice. Harper wasn’t his usual dominant self. His timing was a bit off, but that’s expected. He’ll finish the homestand with around 45 at-bats under his belt. It won’t be perfect when he comes back, but a version of Harper still getting his feet wet is better than no Harper at all.

No matter what, he’ll slot right into the middle of the Phillies lineup. Rob Thomson told reporters Friday that while he hasn’t taken a “deep dive” into what the lineup could look like, he doesn’t expect there to be any dramatic changes. As always, the situation remains fluid and depending on the kind of at-bats and success guys could have between now and whenever Harper comes back, this could change.

Lineup combinations are fun to think about because it’s an easy way for fans and media alike to think along with the manager. It’s fun to switch around the Phillies’ preferred starting nine as many times as you’d like, but the reality is that injuries and regression happen. Guys need days off. It’s very rare to have the same nine guys in the batting order for days at a time, especially with Harper limited to DH for the time being.

With that in mind, here are three different lineup combinations featuring the Phillies’ best starting nine that Thomson could try out once Harper returns.

No. 1 — Just add Harp

1. Bryson Stott, second base
2. Trea Turner, shortstop
3. Bryce Harper, designated hitter
4. Nick Castellanos, right field
5. Kyle Schwarber, left field
6. J.T. Realmuto, catcher
7. Brandon Marsh, center field
8. Alec Bohm, first base
9. Edmundo Sosa, third base

One advantage of the Bryson Stott, Trea Turner No. 1 and 2 combination is that it’s much easier to slot Harper into his preferred No. 3 slot. Though if you just slot Harper in at three and keep the same left-right-left-right configuration Thomson and many other managers around the league prefer, it creates a strange dynamic.

Is a guy who hasn’t homered since August of 2022 a No. 4 hitter? Maybe not, but should one of Castellanos or J.T. Realmuto hit eighth in order to have Alec Bohm, who has been the best hitter out of the three, move up to sixth or fourth? It’s much easier for someone like me to write in Castellanos or Realmuto as an eight-hole hitter. It’s another thing to be a manager and tell a veteran that he’s hitting that low in the lineup. It’s why the manager makes the big bucks.

It’s a good problem to have.

No. 2 — Shake it up

1. Trea Turner, shortstop
2. Bryson Stott, second base
3. Alec Bohm, first base
4. Bryce Harper, designated hitter
5. Nick Castellanos, right field
6. Kyle Schwarber, left field
7. J.T. Realmuto, catcher
8. Brandon Marsh, center field
9. Edmundo Sosa, third base

Comfort factors into lineup decisions more than fans would like. This exercise would be a lot easier if Harper had a history of feeling comfortable batting second, but that’s just something Thomson has to navigate when he’s writing out his lineups.

Harper batted fourth in the postseason for the Phillies. It was not an ideal setup, but it might make more sense this time around as a way to both ease him back in and give someone like Bohm a chance to see what he can do with consistent reps in the middle of the order without slighting Castellanos or Realmuto.

Perhaps if Stott begins to struggle and Brandon Marsh continues to be at or near the top of the league leaderboard in OPS, the Phillies should think about switching those two in the order.

No. 3 — Clean it up

1. Bryson Stott, second base
2. Trea Turner, shortstop
3. Bryce Harper, designated hitter
4. Alec Bohm, first base
5. Kyle Schwarber, left field
6. Nick Castellanos, right field
7. Brandon Marsh, center field
8. J.T. Realmuto, catcher
9. Edmundo Sosa, third base

While Bohm is stuck in an 0-for-12 rut at the moment, he does lead the team in RBIs with 16 and has an OPS over 1.000 with both runners on and runners in scoring position. His at-bats in Thursday’s game were ugly, but for the most part, he’s a guy you want up there in run scoring opportunities. The idea of him hitting fourth behind Harper is at least intriguing, especially if Castellanos continues to struggle with hitting the ball out of the ballpark.

Having Realmuto hit eighth is tough, but it’s a good sign when the best catcher in baseball is hitting that low in the order.

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