Phillies Move Stott to Leadoff, Schwarber to Cleanup

With the Phillies looking to provide more protection for Bryce Harper in the lineup, manager Rob Thomson has made a notable shuffle: Bryson Stott will now lead off, while Kyle Schwarber slides into the cleanup spot directly behind Harper.

Why Did the Phillies Move Stott and Schwarber?

Tonight, with that in mind, Schwarber hits in the No. 4 spot and Stott moves from eight to one.

Stott’s move from the eighth spot to leadoff is backed by his strong on-base percentage against right-handed pitchers this season. Schwarber, known for his power, adds another layer of danger directly behind Harper.

With Turner remaining in the No. 2 spot and Harper-Schwarber-Castellanos forming the heart of the order, the Phillies are aiming to spark more offense and discourage teams from taking the bat out of Harper’s hands.

When the team faces Cardinals lefty Matthew Liberatore on Sunday, it will be interesting to see if Stott is at the top of the lineup or back near the bottom with Turner back in the leadoff spot.