Outfielders (5)
Kyle Schwarber
Hopefully Kyle Schwarber will not see playing time in the outfield during the MLB playoffs. The Phillies' designated hitter has been known to set the stage with some big-time home runs to start the game. It happens in the regular season, and it has happened in the postseason. It seems that the Phillies offense goes when Schwarber goes. Being the table setter makes him one of the most vital players on the roster as the Phillies enter their third straight postseason. There are not many better sights than watching Schwarber crush a home run in the postseason.
Nick Castellanos
The lone Phillies player to play in all 162 games this season is a lock to appear in as many playoff games as the team plays. Nick Castellanos had a sneaky solid season despite struggling mightily at the outset. A big reason for this was improved plate discipline. In 2024, Castellanos struck out 139 times in 162 games. Last season, he struck out 185 times in five fewer games. As a middle-of-the-order hitter, the club will rely on him to put the ball in play against tough postseason pitching.
Brandon Marsh
While Castellanos will play every day, the next few outfielders will likely have their playing time dictated by the dexterity of the opposing pitcher. Brandon Marsh falls into this category. He will see plenty of at-bats against right-handed pitching but could cede time to his fellow outfielders who hit right-handed against a lefty. His .792 OPS against right-handers is clearly preferable to his .552 OPS against left-handers.
Johan Rojas
Johan Rojas will see more time against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching, however, there are times where he could still be in the lineup against the latter. His defensive abilities could end up being a priority for Rob Thomson which could get him more playing time. Rojas set a low bar last postseason so anything better than that performance will be a plus.
Austin Hays
Austin Hays has had an injury-riddled start to his Phillies career. Recently, a kidney infection kept him sidelined for much of the final month of the season. It would be unfair to judge the type of player that the Phillies received at the deadline in such a small sample size, but given his track record, he figures to make the NLDS roster as an additional right-handed hitting outfielder if healthy. Hays was scratched last weekend due to back tightness but appears to be on track after playing in the team's intrasquad game this week, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.