PHILADELPHIA -- Max Kepler started in left field in the Phillies' 5-0 win over the Orioles on Tuesday night because, well, that's what manager Rob Thomson had promised him.
But Kepler hasn't been promised anything beyond that.
With the Orioles set to start left-hander Trevor Rogers on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park, it's safe to say the left-handed-hitting Kepler won't be in the lineup for the series finale. Thomson is then expected to unveil his new plan for the outfield prior to Friday's series opener against the Rangers in Arlington.
Following the acquisition of Harrison Bader at last week's Trade Deadline, Thomson said he would stick to platoons in both left and center field through the end of the O's series. That meant Bader in center and Weston Wilson in left against left-handed pitchers, and Brandon Marsh in center and Kepler in left against righties.
Bader's clutch three-run homer -- his first as a Phillie -- on Monday night was not enough to alter those plans. Kepler was back in the lineup Tuesday against Baltimore righty Dean Kremer.
"I promised these guys the first six days that we’re going to platoon," Thomson said before the game.
Regardless of when -- or if -- the next one may come, Kepler made the most of his latest opportunity. He clubbed a two-run homer in the second inning, then ripped a line-drive double to start another rally in the fourth.
It was Kepler's first game with multiple extra-base hits since March 31 against the Rockies. He hadn't hit a double in his past 127 plate appearances -- a stretch that dated back to June 13.
“To be honest, it does get to me. I’m an overthinker, even before I started playing this game,” Kepler said. “I try to analyze what I did right or wrong in the past and what’s to come in the future. And that takes away from the present.”
What comes next for Kepler remains to be seen. Maybe he remains part of a platoon in left? Maybe Marsh, who also homered and doubled Tuesday night, takes over that platoon role -- paired with either Wilson or Otto Kemp -- and Bader gets everyday reps in center? The latter scenario would move Kepler to the bench -- or even result in him being designated for assignment.
“Bader is kind of an even split between right- and left-handed pitching,” Thomson said. “Kepler has had some pretty good at-bats of late, so we’ll see.”
Perhaps both platoons go away and the Phillies roll with Bader in center and Marsh in left.
“The at-bats against left-handed pitching when he’s got them have been pretty good,” Thomson said of Marsh. “I like what I see with him.”
That picture should become clearer in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Taijuan Walker -- another Phillie with an uncertain future for the coming days and weeks -- turned in an impressive performance of his own against the O's. The righty tossed six scoreless innings with four strikeouts and zero walks.
It was Walker's first time completing six innings without allowing a run or a walk since Sept. 13, 2016, when he threw an 11-K shutout as a member of the Mariners.
“That’s the best stuff I’ve seen out of him in two years,” Thomson said.
Walker’s impressive outing came on the eve of Aaron Nola's second rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. After taking the mound for the IronPigs on Wednesday, Nola is expected to have one more rehab outing early next week before rejoining the Phillies -- potentially as early as Aug. 17.
At that point, the Phillies will once again be faced with some decisions in the rotation. Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez and Nola are obviously locks. Walker and Jesús Luzardo could also stick if the Phils want to temporarily use a six-man rotation to ease Nola back in -- and lessen the workload for the others.
“Possibly,” Thomson said when asked if Walker could pitch his way into a six-man rotation.
They could also move Walker to the bullpen, where he has a 3.71 ERA in 11 relief appearances. He has a 3.48 ERA in 13 starts.
“That’s up to them, whatever they decide,” Walker said. “I’m ready to do whatever they need me to do. If it’s back in the bullpen or six-man [rotation] or whatever it is, I’m just going to be ready like I have been all year.”
Again, all things that will become clearer in the coming days, though not quite as quickly as the outfield picture.
For now, the Phillies (65-48) sit 2 1/2 games ahead of the Mets (63-51) atop the NL East.
They’ll go for a sweep on Wednesday.
“I’m just happy to still be here and watch these guys ball,” Kepler said. “At the end of the day, we got a ‘W’ -- and I think the Mets just lost. So, good day.”