Heat Check: Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler are finally producing for the Phillies

Drew Smith
June 17, 2025
Phillies
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Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh are playing their best baseball of 2025, and it’s showing in the win column.

Kepler homered again Monday night. He crushed a go-ahead solo shot off Sandy Alcantara in the fourth and extended both his personal hitting streak (six games) and the Phillies’ win streak (five games) in a 5-2 victory over the Marlins.

Max Kepler Go-Ahead HR vs Marlins

MAXED OUT!@Toyota x #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/1IdpvDSQJP
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 16, 2025

The Resurrection of Brandon Marsh

Brandon Marsh tripled in the seventh and came around to score on a Trea Turner single, then added a walk and another run in the ninth.

Brandon Marsh is now riding a seven-game hitting streak and looks completely different at the plate. Over his last 20 at-bats, Marsh has 10 hits and is spraying line drives all over the field. It’s the most locked in he’s been all season, and the Phillies badly needed it.

Brandon Marsh has 10th hit in last 20 at-bats

Brandon Marsh triple. His 10th hit in his last 20 at-bats. pic.twitter.com/YOLDWP8pqX
— John Foley (@2008Philz) June 17, 2025

Check out these numbers straight from the Marshland:

Marsh has a .400 batting average with 12 hits, 3 RBIs and 5 runs scored in 13 games since June 1, 2025.

Marsh is batting .333 with 29 hits, a homer, 10 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 35 games since May 1, 2025.

The #Phillies OPS in June (had 30+ ABs)

Brandon Marsh — .990
Trea Turner — .977
Alec Bohm — .881
J.T. Realmuto –.806
Max Kepler — .802
Nick Castellanos — .765
Otto Kemp –.676
Kyle Schwarber — .617
Bryson Stott –.378
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) June 17, 2025

These are the contributions Philly’s been waiting for from both corner outfielders. Brandon Marsh has been streaky in the past but hasn’t looked this dialed in since last summer.

Since May 1, he’s batting .333 with a .406 OBP and .859 OPS. Over that same stretch, Kepler has shown some signs of life as well, with three homers and two doubles in his last six games.

Trea Turner Sets The Tone in Miami

Trea Turner continues to be a metronome at the top of the order. He led the game off with a homer and racked up three hits, pushing his NL-leading total to 88.

Since May 1, Turner’s slashing .312/.358/.497 with 13 steals, helping to carry the offense during Harper’s absence.

Monday’s win also featured another promising start from rookie Mick Abel. After some command issues in his last outing, Abel rebounded with five innings of one-run ball. He’s now 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA through four starts.

Topper pulled him after just 77 pitches, noting that Abel is lined up to pitch on four days’ rest next time out — a workload they’ll need to manage carefully with Aaron Nola still sidelined.

Trea Turner sets the tone, Mick Abel shoves, Phillies win fifth straight in Miami

The bullpen continues to hold up its end. Taijuan Walker, Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, and Orion Kerkering combined to shut the door. Kerkering earned his first career save with a 1-2-3 ninth and has been borderline untouchable for the last month.

With the Mets idle, the Phillies gained another half game in the NL East race and now trail by just two games. And wouldn’t you know it — the Mets are coming to town this weekend for a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.