Nick Castellanos finds himself out of the Philadelphia Phillies lineup for the first time since September 30, 2023. The decision, however, has nothing to do with an injury or a routine day off. Instead, it stems from an incident that unfolded during Monday’s game, prompting manager Rob Thomson to make a tough call after Castellanos reportedly made an “inappropriate comment” following his exit from the game.
Castellanos expressed his displeasure about being pulled during the match, saying, “I wasn’t happy about (being removed from Monday’s game), spoke my mind.” It’s clear that emotions ran high, leading to Thomson’s assertion that Castellanos had crossed a line. “So my punishment is I’m not playing,” Castellanos added, acknowledging the consequences of his words.
In Monday’s contest, Castellanos was replaced by Johan Rojas as a defensive measure starting in the bottom of the eighth inning. He had led off the top of the eighth with a routine fly ball to center field, so the reasoning behind the manager’s decision to make a change in a close game isn’t entirely surprising, even if Thomson typically doesn’t rotate players in and out during critical moments.
This marks the first game without Castellanos in the lineup since the final stages of the regular season, and it comes as a considerable shift for the Phillies. Castellanos has been a reliable presence on the field, boasting an impressive streak of 236 consecutive starts. While this may not be a record that makes headlines, it’s worth noting that in today’s game, where load management has become the norm, such a streak is commendable. Over the last three seasons, Castellanos has only missed three games, sitting third in total appearances from 2023 to 2025, trailing only Matt Olson and Marcus Semien.
Going into Tuesday’s matchup, the Phillies are riding high after a 5-2 victory against the Miami Marlins on Monday, bringing their season record to 43-29. As they aim to extend their winning streak to six games, they’ll have to do so without Castellanos, who has been a key contributor to their success. It will be interesting to see how the team adapts and whether they can maintain their winning momentum in his absence.
