Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos might have his playing time reduced as his slump continues. Earlier in the season, Castellanos had shown improved plate discipline and was having success at the plate. He had a .282/.325/.451 line with 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 84 games through June 30. Castellanos also recorded a 113 wRC+ and a 0.28 BB/K rate in that span. Since July 1, however, he has a .189/.211/.329 line with six home runs and 16 RBI in 36 games, along with a 43 wRC+ and a 0.10 BB/K rate in that time frame. After playing in all 162 games last season, Castellanos has been given two off days so far in August.
This season, Castellanos has a .253/.291/.413 line with 16 home runs and 61 RBI in 120 games. He also has a 92 wRC+ and a 0.21 BB/K rate this year. His 40.8% O-Swing rate is a career worst, and he’s got a 54.0% O-Contact rate this season. For comparison, Castellanos has a 78.7% Z-Swing rate and a 85.9% Z-Contact rate this season. Baseball Savant ranks Castellanos in the third percentile for chase rate as well. He has a -0.6 fWAR this season, which is tied for the second worst among qualified position players, and his -3.02 WPA is the worst among qualified position players.
Nick Castellanos was hitting .137 with a .333 OPS in August heading into today.
He was 1 for his last 35.
2 straight hits today with a 2B and HR. Had the day off yesterday. #Phillies
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) August 17, 2025
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Nick Castellanos Could See Reduced Playing Time for Phillies
The Need to Play Bader
Harrison Bader, whom the Phillies acquired at the trade deadline, should be playing more often. Between the Minnesota Twins and the Phillies this season, he has a .250/.333/.422 line with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 109 games. Bader also has a 112 wRC+ and a 0.35 BB/K rate this year. Since joining the Phillies, Bader has a .189/.295/.297 line with one home run and four RBI in 13 games, along with a 69 wRC+ and a 0.57 BB/K rate. Part of why Bader does not have great numbers is his inconsistent playing time. Playing on a more regular basis will lead to an improvement in his offensive numbers.
Interesting Splits That Should Matter
This season, Bader has reverse splits. The 31-year-old has a .798 OPS and a 124 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, but a .666 OPS and an 85 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. For comparison, this season Castellanos has a .693 OPS and an 89 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. On the other side of this equation, he has a .728 OPS and a 100 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. Statistically speaking, Bader should be playing over Castellanos against right-handed pitchers. It is also worth noting that there was some talk of Castellanos getting traded at the deadline, but that did not happen.
Top Prospect Could Take Over if Promoted
All indications are that Justin Crawford will be promoted to the major leagues soon. On multiple occasions, Matt Gelb of The Athletic has written that the Phillies think highly of Crawford. This season in the minor leagues, Crawford has a .333/.414/.441 line with four home runs and 40 RBI in 100 games. He also has a 131 wRC+ and a 0.65 BB/K rate this season. Whether it be before or after September 1, it would not be surprising if the Phillies have an outfield trio of Brandon Marsh, Bader, and Crawford this season. If Crawford is indeed getting called up, he needs to play on a regular basis. Castellanos could see his playing time reduced to make this happen.
Main Photo Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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