PHILADELPHIA – A groin injury will keep Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Harrison Bader out of the starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
Bader sustained the injury while running the bases during the Phillies’ Game 1 loss. While initial imaging revealed no major tear or strain, his availability for pinch-hitting duties later in the game remains uncertain, according to manager Rob Thomson. Bader’s absence shifts the Phillies’ defensive alignment and impacts their offensive approach against Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell.
With Bader sidelined, brandon Marsh will start in center field, with Otto Kemp in left and Nick Castellanos in right. The Phillies also opted to start right-handed hitter Edmundo Sosa at second base in place of Bryson Stott, a strategic move against snell, a two-time Cy young Award winner.
Bader, acquired in a trade-deadline deal, quickly established himself as the Phillies’ starting center fielder, hitting .277 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs across his time with Minnesota and Philadelphia this season. His injury adds another layer of complexity to the Phillies’ efforts to even the series against the Dodgers.
