Embattled Max Kepler Homers After Manager Has to Explain Why He’s in the Lineup

Max Kepler homered against the Baltimore Orioles hours after his manager had to justify his place in the lineup. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Max Kepler started in left field for the Philadelphia Phillies and went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double. The strong performance at the plate came a short time after manager Rob Thomson had to explain why he was even in the lineup to the Philadelphia media.

According to Thomson, he had told his outfielders that they would be a platoon for six days which is why Kepler was in left on Tuesday while Weston Wilson and Harrison Bader, who both hit home runs in Monday's game, were out of the lineup tonight.

Rob Thomson explains why Max Kepler is in the Phillies lineup tonight instead of Harrison Bader. @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/4bM4bnB2Nt

— Dave Uram (@MrUram) August 5, 2025

That opened the door for Kepler to hit his first home run since June 22nd a day after Bader hit his first home run as a Phillie.

Max Kepler's Big Move pic.twitter.com/QFYDcEWGot

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 5, 2025

Kepler talked about his struggles during a rare postgame interview and joked that "the boos are their love language" when asked about Phillies fans.

it's always a little sad when players pull back the curtain on their struggles... Max Kepler did that in the postgame interview pic.twitter.com/TVoCOrzTX6

— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) August 6, 2025

The Phillies acquired Harrison Bader at the trade deadline form the Minnesota Twins.

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