The Philadelphia Phillies have been one club criticized by their fan base for "running it back" with the same core of players after losing in the NLDS for two straight seasons. While they aren't technically running it back with the same roster as last year, it's difficult to argue otherwise. Another piece of news supporting the "running it back" claim is Phillies manager Rob Thomson's latest comments on the top of the lineup.
Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber should be the Phillies' top three batters. The trio are the club's best hitters. However, who should bat fourth? Thomson's preference for the fourth batter shows an unwillingness to change.
Alec Bohm batting fourth in Phillies lineup shows a preference for familiarity from Rob Thomson
Over the weekend, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reported that Thomson said that Turner, Harper, and Schwarber will be the team's first three batters, but not necessarily in that order. However, it would be the ideal scenario to bat Harper in front of Schwarber to give the first baseman the best protection in the lineup, since that has been an issue for Philadelphia in the past.
However, a big concern with the Phillies lineup is that Thomson said that Alec Bohm is the most likely to hit fourth. The skipper also mentioned Adolis García and J.T. Realmuto as possible options in the cleanup spot. Given his past of displaying power-hitting with the Texas Rangers, García should be given more consideration to hit fourth before Bohm.
Rob Thomson said today that Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will hit 1-3 in the Phillies lineup, not necessarily in that order. He wants them hitting in the first inning.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) February 15, 2026
Alec Bohm is the most likely to hit fourth, but Adolis Garcia and J.T. Realmuto also mentioned.
The Phillies have "been there, done that" with batting Bohm in the fourth spot. The third baseman wasn't clutch batting in the cleanup spot last season. He got 97 at-bats there in 2025 and hit just .216 with a .571 OPS. The Phillies will be counting on him to rebound to his 2024 form, when he hit .283 with 70 of his 97 RBIs and 35 of his 44 doubles in 407 at-bats in the four-hole.
Realmuto might be a better option than Bohm in the fourth spot, but the veteran catcher is declining offensively. If Thomson is looking for better right-handed protection for the third batter, whether that be Harper or Schwarber, García is the option with the most potential to provide it rather than Bohm or Realmuto, despite his higher strikeout totals.
García played 15 more contests than Bohm last year and finished with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs compared to Bohm's 11 home runs and 59 RBIs. While Bohm will total far fewer strikeouts than García in a season, the right fielder is more likely to finish with more home runs and potentially more RBIs despite his struggles the last two years.
Given how hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park can be, García is a candidate to rebound and finish with 25-30 home runs and 85-90 RBIs this season. Bohm's career best in home runs is the 20 he hit in 2023, while García compiled a career-high 39 homers that year. García is the Phillies' best option to bat fourth and protect arguably their two best hitters in Harper and Schwarber.