Philadelphia Phillies: Brad Miller should see more everyday action

I’ve been a big fan of Brad Miller for quite some time (you’ll know this if you follow me on Twitter), and last night’s three home run display against the Chicago Cubs only further solidified my affection for the Philadelphia Phillies versatile go-to bench bat.

Subbing in for the likes of Rhys Hoskins, looking to capitalize against a Cubs pitcher who has struggled against left-handed hitting this year, Miller pretty much single-handily carried his squad to a much-needed series win on the road. Miller is now batting .260 with nine home runs, a .347 OBP, and an OPS just north of .825.

If he had the required number of at-bats to be deemed a “qualified” player, Miller would have the second highest OPS on the Phillies roster.

Now obviously, the beauty in Miller’s game is his ability to provide short bursts of elite offense production, as opposed to being a consistent everyday member in the starting lineup. However, one has to wonder just how much longer Joe Girardi can justify limiting Miller to that pinch-hitting/bench-bat role.

Should Brad Miller be getting more consistent action in the Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup?

While Alec Bohm‘s development is a very important aspect to take into consideration, beginning to  “platoon” the third base position is one pretty quick and easy way to get Miller more frequent days in the starting lineup. Bohm was hitting a measly .215 against right-handed pitching heading into last night’s game, compared to to the .297 that he’s hitting against lefties. Having Miller slide into the lineup for Bohm on days where a southpaw is on the mound makes an abundance of sense.

Rhys Hoskins is another player who could benefit from the occasional day off against right-handed pitching (like last night for example), as he too has struggled against righties this year compared to what he’s been able to do against lefties.

More from Section 215

• 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
• Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
• 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
• Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
• Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles

Hoskins is hitting .225 with a .734 OPS against right-handers, and .250 with a .918 OPS against left-handers.

Miller is also noticeably better at defense than both Bohm and Hoskins, an issue that has really plagued the Philadelphia Phillies this season. Bohm and Hoskins currently rank as two of the worst defenders in all of baseball, whereas Miller is only slightly below average (his defensive production is being pulled down due to some shaky performances in the outfield).

Speaking of the outfield, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to see Miller steal some at-bats from Andrew McCutchen as we get deeper into the summer. Cutch is one of the hottest hitters in baseball at the moment, but that won’t last too much longer. Miller could definitely be a useful left field option later down the road.

Ultimately speaking, it does feel like we’ve reached that point where Miller needs to be considered for a bigger role. He’s not the most consistent of hitters, but the pure power that he brings to the lineup is genuinely game-altering at times.