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Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup prediction with Nick Castellanos in it

By Tim Boyle

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 13: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 13, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Reds won 6-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 13: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 13, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Reds won 6-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Oh, boy! Farewell to the days of the Philadelphia Phillies squeaking away with a 1-0 victory. The Phillies starting lineup suddenly looks like one of the best in baseball.

Do they have holes? Sure. But the addition of Nick Castellanos after already adding Kyle Schwarber turns them from a frumpy teen into a princess – or maybe something a little more threatening.

The Phillies lineup is stacked! That’s the point. With a whole lot of ways for Joe Girardi to list them, what will the starting nine look like?

Predicting the Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup on Opening Day.

Subject to change due to injuries or potential trades by the Oakland Athletics, this is the kind of lineup we could see on Opening Day.

  1. Kyle Schwarber, DH
  2. Jean Segura, 2B
  3. Bryce Harper, RF
  4. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
  5. Nick Castellanos, LF
  6. J.T. Realmuto, C
  7. Didi Gregorius, SS
  8. Alec Bohm, 3B
  9. Odubel Herrera/Matt Vierling, CF

I’ve looked at a couple of lineup predictions since the news broke of the Castellanos signing. The immediate effect was to move Schwarber away from the middle and all the way to the top. It’s not a completely new idea for Phillies fans to see. Rhys Hoskins has batted leadoff plenty in the past. I’m going to go with the people and put him there, too.

Second we have Jean Segura. Some have him lower in the lineup. Some have him in the two-hole. I like the speed up there. A more atypical top-of-the-order guy than Schwarber, he will also help break up the lefties in the one and three spots.

The number three spot will, of course, go to Harper. Is there any debate? It’s where he hits. It’s where he won the MVP.

Fourth is tricky. I don’t think we’ll see much consistency there or too many other places this season. I’m ordering them Hoskins then Castellanos but by only a hair. I think Hoskins’ consistent OBP means more RBI opportunities for Castellanos.

Behind them, we have J.T. Realmuto. Another guy who could hit as high as number two but probably only as low as six, he falls in my lineup prediction merely from a lack of space. It’s a good thing for the Phillies. Realmuto might be the best hitting catcher in baseball this year. Having his bat sixth consistently means the rest of the lineup is carrying them well enough.

Seventh, you can find shortstop Didi Gregorius. While I’m not too confident in him, the Phillies seem to believe a lingering injury is what caused him to play so poorly last season. Getting his left-handed stick into the order here helps things along.

Next, we have Alec Bohm. Batting eighth is not glamorous. Someone has to do it. As a young rebound candidate, hopefully, this takes pressure off of him, and he can thrive hitting so low.

We wrap up with the Odubel Herrera/Matt Vierling platoon in center field. If a righty is on the mound against the Phillies, it’s Herrera. If it’s a lefty, Vierling gets the nod. It’s that simple.

Next. Phillies MVP seasons ranked. dark

There are many ways to skin a Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day lineup. This is just one way. Girardi should have some fun tinkering along the way.

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