After wrapping up a frustrating six-game road swing against the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, the Philadelphia Phillies returned to Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, hoping to regroup as they opened a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Before the game began, one notable adjustment stood out in manager Rob Thomson’s lineup card—Brandon Marsh was benched, with Johan Rojas getting the nod in center field. Marsh has been in a deep offensive slump this season, posting a rough slash line of .108/.250/.189 with only one homer and four runs batted in.
The 27-year-old has failed to produce any extra-base hits beyond that lone home run and is currently mired in a discouraging 0-for-26 hitless streak. Thomson explained that the decision to rest Marsh wasn’t just performance-based—it was also about easing the mental toll that comes with such prolonged struggles at the plate.
“He’s been dwelling on it a lot lately,” Thomson said, according to Brooke Destra of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Everyone hits a rough patch, and I just felt like now’s a good time to give him a breather. Let him step back and observe things for a day or two.”
Thomson added that Marsh is taking his slump personally and is overly focused on not letting the team down, a mindset that may be doing more harm than good. “He’s internalizing it. He feels like he’s not holding up his end for the team. That kind of self-pressure can weigh you down. Sometimes, the best thing to do is step away and breathe.”
Following the Phillies’ 7-0 shutout loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, Marsh openly acknowledged his frustrations and said he feels like he’s not contributing the way he should.
Even though Marsh’s recent production has been far from what he showed during Spring Training or early last year, it’s important to note that the offensive woes extend beyond him. Players like Alec Bohm, Max Kepler, J.T. Realmuto, and Trea Turner have also struggled to find consistency at the plate.
Nevertheless, if the Phillies want to contend this season, they’ll need Marsh to rebound offensively. Having an automatic out spot in the bottom of the lineup is unsustainable and has made life harder for the team during tight games.
On the bright side, the long MLB season gives players plenty of time to turn things around. While this rough patch is frustrating, it’s still early enough for Marsh and others to rediscover their form. A few good games could change the trajectory.
Still, with expectations high for the Phillies this year, fans are growing impatient. The team’s margin for error is shrinking, and the urgency to perform is mounting with each passing game.
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