Struggling Max Kepler cashes in on manager’s promise with strong offensive night
PHILADELPHIA — Rob Thomson kept his word.
The Phillies manager had “promised” his group of outfielders that he’d run platoons in left field and center for the first six games after the trade deadline, and he didn’t want to go back on it. So there was the struggling Max Kepler, penciled in to play left and bat seventh on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, even after newcomer Harrison Bader hit a go-ahead home run against a right-handed pitcher the night prior.
Thomson’s commitment to his plan paid off. The left-handed-hitting Kepler went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two runs scored in a 5-0 Phillies win. He laced two extra-base hits off Orioles righty Dean Kremer, marking his first game with multiple extra-base hits since March 31.
“It was good,” Thomson said. “He got the ball up in the air. That’s what we’re looking for, because he’s got pop.”
Kepler, who entered the game with a .645 OPS on the season, a .566 OPS since June 1 and a .536 OPS since the start of July, stepped to the plate in the bottom of the second inning with a runner on second and the Phillies up, 1-0. In a 2-2 count, he turned on a down-and-in fastball and drove a high fly ball just over the fence in right-center field.
He led off Philadelphia’s half of the fourth and smoked a center-cut curveball down the line in right field for a double. Kepler then came around to score on a Bryson Stott triple off the wall to go ahead, 4-0.
“That was huge, with the homer and then the double,” outfielder Brandon Marsh said. “That was big time for all of us. Kepler, he’s a gangster. He’s going to show up and compete every single day. And today was big for us. He came through.”
Starter Taijuan Walker pitched six smooth innings of shutout baseball on four hits, and the bullpen did its job. The Phillies didn’t even have to use new star closer Jhoan Duran once Marsh homered in the eighth to make it a five-run game.
It was a solid victory for Philadelphia to claim a series win against the Orioles, and Kepler played a key role. Of course, one game is one game. It doesn’t make up for the months of poor play after the Phillies signed Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal to play left.
“I think I’ve gone through stretches where I was hoping to see some balls fall and they didn’t, and I’ve had plenty of these rough patches in my career,” Kepler said. “Obviously, I think being in a new place, a new setting, you want to make a good impression, and I still do. That’s not going to fade until, I think, the season is over and the job is done. But it’s baseball. I just got to put my head down and keep going and try and stay as present as I can.”
Kepler has felt like he’s hit some balls solidly of late. He doesn’t have as much to show for it as he’d like. He’s tried to keep himself from getting frustrated over the results, but that’s not so easy.
“To be honest, it does get to me,” Kepler said. “I’m an overthinker, even before I started playing this game. So I try and analyze what I did right or wrong in the past and what’s to come in the future, and it takes away from the present. I have to remind myself or have my support team remind me that I’m in a beautiful place and a beautiful opportunity and to just enjoy the moment, regardless of rough patches or not.”
One thing that doesn’t get to Kepler is the boos he’s heard from the crowd during this disappointing season. “I think it’s their love language when they boo,” Kepler said. “Sometimes, I don’t fully grasp or understand as to why they’re booing. So I’ve kind of separated myself from that.” Same goes for the cheers. Or the speculation that his roster spot could be in jeopardy following the trade deadline. Kepler is trying to focus on what he can control.
At this point, he’s not worried about playing time. Kepler wants to be a contributor for this Phillies team that now leads the National League East by 2.5 games. He’s accepting of a platoon role and willing “to do whatever I have to do to be a part of this puzzle.”
That’s a good thing for Kepler, because, in accordance with Thomson’s promise, Weston Wilson will almost certainly be out there in left field on Wednesday while Bader mans center field against left-hander Trevor Rogers in the series finale. Thomson will reevaluate the outfield situation during Thursday’s day off.
But at least for a night, Kepler did what the Phillies needed. He raised his OPS to .661 in 98 games. Maybe he can build off it, or maybe it was only a mirage. No matter the case, it seemed like it felt pretty good.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” Kepler said of the adversity the sport brings. “It’s a beautiful thing. But there’s a lot of ugly to it, too, if you allow it to get to you. I’m just happy to still be here and watch these guys ball. At the end of the day, we got a ‘W’ and I think the Mets just lost, so good day.”