Phillies Nuggets: Otto Kemp is back, Kyle Schwarber out of Monday’s lineup
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are red-hot, and they’ve returned to Citizens Bank Park, where it is red-hot, to face off with the Cincinnati Reds.
Prior to Monday evening’s game against Terry Francona’s Reds, the Phillies recalled Otto Kemp, optioning Felix Reyes to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Interim manager Don Mattingly explained the decision Monday afternoon.
“The younger guys, it’s hard to just let them sit here when they don’t play, they don’t get the at-bats,” Mattingly said. “Next thing you know, they’re not swinging the bat the way they can. So Kemp gets to go down, he plays every day, gets his at-bats and hopefully he’s swinging good. He’s been swinging good down there. And now, Felix gets his opportunity to go down and get himself going and continue to develop.”
After an offseason where the Phillies heaped praise on him, Kemp recorded just two hits in his first 20 at-bats this season, while also struggling in left field. The Phillies — desperate for an offensive jolt — optioned Kemp to Triple-A on April 18, promoting Reyes.
To his credit, Reyes homered off of nine-time All-Star Chris Sale in his first MLB at-bat, but has recorded just six hits in 38 total at-bats (.158 batting average).
Meanwhile, Kemp thrived with the IronPigs, hitting three home runs, with 21 RBIs and a .792 OPS in 84 at-bats. With the Phillies set to face two lefties in three games against the Reds — Nick Lodolo Monday and Andrew Abbott on Wednesday — it made more sense to have Kemp on the 26-man roster than Reyes.
“It’s nice to be back,” Kemp said Monday in the Phillies clubhouse. “Nice to go get at-bats every day and kind of get my timing back, get my progression back, kind of feel more like myself. But nice to be back and try and help this team just continue to keep rolling.”
Kemp is in the lineup playing left field Monday against southpaw Nick Lodolo, although that may partially only be the case because Kyle Schwarber is out of the starting lineup after waking up under the weather Monday. Schwarber is at the park, so the Phillies will see as the day progresses whether Schwarber is able to pinch hit.
Barring something unforeseen, Schwarber will be back Wednesday when the Phillies face another lefty in Andrew Abbott. So Mattingly was non-committal about whether Kemp will also play Wednesday.
Even if Kemp plays again on Wednesday, the Phillies will inevitably have a stretch where they don’t see left-handed pitching for a while and Kemp’s playing time is limited. How does he plan to stay sharp during those stretches?
“I obviously had a little bit of a trial run at the beginning of the year, and so now coming back, just make a little bit of adjustments to my routine,” Kemp said. “Obviously, from playing every day to who knows what this stretch is going to look like, but yeah, just tweaking my routine a little bit. And tweaking the work that I’m doing in terms of volume, and making sure I’m getting my mental reps in and staying ready … so I’m just kind of treating every day like I’m going to be out there regardless of what the lineup says – so just always staying ready.”
What Kemp did last September — when he forced his way onto the postseason roster by homering four times and driving in 11 runs — was legitimately impressive. Even if he doesn’t have a defensive position, you’ll find at-bats for a guy like that. Now back with the Phillies, Kemp will have a chance to prove that last September wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
The Nuggets
- RHP Gage Wood — selected by the Phillies in the first round of last year’s MLB Draft out of the University of Arkansas — was promoted to Double-A Reading today. According to the Fightin Phils, his Double-A debut is slated to come this Friday. The 22-year-old righty posted a 3.42 ERA and 13.7 K/9 across eight starts for Single-A Clearwater prior to his promotion.
Wood is currently scheduled to make his Fightin Phils debut on Friday in Portland and is scheduled to make his FirstEnergy Stadium debut on Friday, May 29! https://t.co/M2cvrkO9JD
— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) May 18, 2026
- As noted by SportsRadio 94 WIP‘s Dave Uram, Cristopher Sánchez is currently in line to start Friday against the Cleveland Guardians, when the Phillies wear their City Connect uniforms. That night, the Phillies will give out a Sánchez City Connect bobblehead.
- In case you were wondering…
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