The Philadelphia Phillies head into Saturday’s game against the Miami Marlins aiming to push their winning streak to five. They’ve been unbeaten since moving on from former manager Rob Thomson earlier this week, and the team has shown improvement under interim skipper Don Mattingly.
A major contributor during this stretch has been rookie outfielder Justin Crawford. The 22-year-old is currently on a five-game hitting streak, going 7-for-20 with two extra-base hits and three RBIs. Through 28 games, he’s batting .269 with a .340 on-base percentage and a .716 OPS. Although he hasn’t hit a home run yet, his impact comes from his speed and defensive ability.
Crawford was initially set to start Saturday’s game in center field, batting seventh. However, he was scratched from the lineup shortly before first pitch. Adolis García shifted to center field, Felix Reyes moved to right, and Garrett Stubbs was added in left field.
The late change was due to a migraine, according to reports. It’s uncertain whether Crawford will be available off the bench, but the team is expected to take a cautious approach.
His next likely opportunity to return could come in Sunday’s series finale.
Crawford remains an important piece of the Phillies’ future. Drafted 17th overall in 2022, he entered the league with high expectations and is beginning to find regular playing time in 2026. With the Phillies sitting at 13–19 and trying to get back into the NL East race, having him healthy will be crucial. For now, the team will look to extend its streak without its young center fielder.
