WASHINGTON — The Philadelphia Phillies announced a notable change regarding slugger Kyle Schwarber during their series against the Washington Nationals, as the major league home run leader was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday due to lower back tightness before making a dramatic return in Wednesday’s victory .
Schwarber was a late scratch just before first pitch on Tuesday night at Nationals Park, with the Phillies citing lower back tightness . Interim manager Don Mattingly indicated the decision was precautionary, noting that Schwarber reported the issue and the team opted not to take risks with the 33-year-old designated hitter . Edmundo Sosa replaced Schwarber as DH, delivering a five-RBI performance in Philadelphia’s 14-9 comeback win .
The Phillies announced Schwarber was again out of the starting lineup for Wednesday’s contest, with the team exercising caution after his back tightened up . Social media speculation regarding his status prompted reassurances from fans noting it was “a random game in June” with no need to risk further injury . Bryce Harper shifted to DH in Schwarber’s absence .
Though not starting, Schwarber was available as a pinch-hitter on Wednesday and made a decisive impact. Working a 10-pitch walk with two outs in the ninth inning against Nationals reliever Orlando Ribalta, he set the stage for Derek Hill’s game-winning pinch-hit two-run homer, securing a 5-4 Phillies victory .
Schwarber acknowledged the difficulty of pinch-hitting, describing it as “the hardest thing to do in the game” . Interim manager Mattingly confirmed the training staff cleared Schwarber midway through the game, with the slugger feeling progressively better and preparing in the batting cage by the seventh inning .
Schwarber entered the series leading the majors with 29 home runs across 75 games, hitting .252 with a .959 OPS . Despite missing consecutive starts, his durability has been notable—having played in all 162 games last season and at least 150 in four straight years (2022–2025) . As of early August, Schwarber remains among MLB home run leaders with 33 on the season .
The Phillies, holding a 43-36 record entering the series, continue to manage Schwarber’s workload carefully as they navigate the second-place position in the NL East . The team’s recent trade deadline acquisition of three-time batting champion Luis Arraez aims to create additional RBI opportunities for Schwarber and Harper moving forward .
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