Phillies bench Nick Castellanos for Game 1 against Dodgers
October 4, 2025
Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos has been benched for Game 1 of the NL Division Series against Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani. Castellanos, who played 147 games this season, has faced communication issues with manager Rob Thomson. Max Kepler is starting in right field and batting seventh. Castellanos has been a key player for the Phillies in the last three postseasons. In 2022, he became the first MLB player to hit multiple homers in consecutive playoff games. The two-time All-Star has lost playing time in a crowded outfield that includes Kepler and others.