Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Kepler will get a breather for the series finale after he started in left field Friday and Saturday following his reinstatement from an 80-game suspension. Lourdes Gurriel will start in left field Sunday, but Kepler appears likely to get a long look as a strong-side platoon player.
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Diamondbacks' Max Kepler: In left field again
Rotowire
Kepler started in left field and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Kepler, who was in left field for a second consecutive day since being reinstated from an 80-game suspension, is still looking for his first hit in an Arizona uniform. The left-handed batter may be the preferred option in left field against right-handers. The Diamondbacks finish out the series with the Rays on Sunday, when they are scheduled to face Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen. The right-handed hitting Lourdes Gurriel, who is also in the left field mix, was given Saturday off after serving as the designated hitter Thursday and Friday.
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Diamondbacks' Max Kepler: Makes Arizona debut
Rotowire
Kepler started in left field, batted sixth and went 0-for-2 in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Rays.
Kepler made his Diamondbacks debut after serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He was eventually lifted for a pinch hitter when a lefty reliever entered the game in the sixth inning. Kepler figures to settle in on the strong side of a platoon in left field alongside Lourdes Gurriel, who will start there against lefties and shift to designated hitter when Kepler starts against righties, as was the case Friday.
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Diamondbacks' Max Kepler: Starting in left field
Rotowire
Kepler is starting in left field and batting fifth versus the Cardinals on Thursday.
Kepler was added to Arizona's active roster Thursday after completing his 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. The starting outfielders for the Diamondbacks on Thursday are Kepler, Tommy Troy and Corbin Carroll, with Lourdes Gurriel slotted as the designated hitter.
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Diamondbacks' Max Kepler: Joining active roster Thursday
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks will add Kepler (suspension) to their active roster before Thursday's game in St. Louis, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Upon completing his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Kepler will go directly onto the Diamondbacks' roster. The outfielder slashed .333/.474/.567 with two home runs and a 7:6 BB:K in 10 minor-league games, though much of that production came at the lower levels. Kepler gives the Diamondbacks another option in the corner outfield or at designated hitter against right-handed pitching, though he isn't guaranteed a regular role.
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Diamondbacks' Max Kepler: Lands deal with Arizona
Rotowire
Kepler (suspension) and the Diamondbacks agreed to terms Sunday on a one-year contract, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Kepler is serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance enhancing substance, but he will now have a team to return to once the ban is lifted. As a member of the Phillies in 2025, Kepler slashed .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs, 58 runs 52 RBI and three steals over 474 plate appearances during the regular season. He'll remain on Arizona's restricted list until his suspension is concludes June 24, but he'll be able to stay sharp in the meantime by playing in minor-league games over the next couple of weeks.
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Max Kepler: Given 80-game PED suspension
Rotowire
Kepler was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for violating the league's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.
He tested positive for the synthetic anabolic steroid Epitrenbolone. Kepler is a free agent after slashing just .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs over 127 regular-season games for the Phillies in 2025. He will turn 33 next month and, between the lack of production the last two seasons and now a PED suspension, may have a difficult time landing a contract.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Back in action Sunday
Rotowire
Kepler (illness) will start in left field and bat seventh Sunday against Minnesota.
Kepler was held out of the lineup the past two days due to an illness, but he'll close out the regular season as a member of the Phillies' starting nine. The outfielder has gone 2-for-27 (.074 average) with 12 strikeouts over his last eight games.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Remains out with illness
Rotowire
Kepler (illness) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins.
Kepler is absent from the starting nine for a second straight contest due to illness. Considering Philadelphia is locked into a Top 2 seed in the playoffs, the organization can afford to give Kepler an extended rest. Nick Castellanos will fill right field Saturday.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Held out of lineup
Rotowire
Kepler (illness) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins.
Kepler had to be pulled from Thursday's contest versus the Marlins due to illness and will miss at least one start. Nick Castellanos will patrol right field and bat seventh in Friday's series opener.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Exits Thursday's contest
Rotowire
Kepler was removed from Thursday's game against the Marlins due to illness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Kepler went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before his exit, which came after a lengthy rain delay. Nick Castellanos took over in right field.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
The left-handed-hitting Kepler had started in each of the last five games -- including twice against left-handed pitchers -- but he'll hit the bench Sunday while the Diamondbacks send southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez to the hill. The Phillies will run out an outfield of Weston Wilson, Harrison Bader and Nick Castellanos from left to right in the series finale.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Slugs homer in win
Rotowire
Kepler went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 9-6 win over the Dodgers.
Kepler has five homers over his last 17 games, going 17-for-60 (.283) with 12 RBI in that span. The outfielder is up to 17 long balls through 121 contests this season, providing decent power as a regular in the Phillies' lineup against right-handed pitching. He's added a .222/.308/.395 slash line with 51 RBI, 57 runs scored, three stolen bases and 18 doubles across 453 plate appearances.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
With southpaw Noah Cameron on the bump for Kansas City, the left-handed-hitting Kepler will bow out of the lineup for the series finale. He'll cede his spot in the outfield to Nick Castellanos.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Homers in three-hit day
Rotowire
Kepler went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, five RBI and a hit-by-pitch in Wednesday's 11-3 win over the Mets.
The veteran outfielder put together an incredible performance, driving in five runs to match his entire RBI total from the month of July and marking his most in a single game since 2016. Kepler's big night was highlighted by his 16th homer of the season, giving him four long balls across his last 15 contests. Consistency has eluded him for much of 2025, and the 32-year-old is now slashing .221/.306/.392 with 50 RBI, 56 runs, eight doubles and three steals over 439 plate appearances.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Launches 15th homer
Rotowire
Kepler went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 9-3 win over the Marlins.
Kepler took Valente Bellozo deep in the second inning for his 15th long ball of the season and later added an RBI single for his sixth multi-hit effort in his last 16 contests. During that stretch, the outfielder has gone 18-for-60 (.300) with nine RBI and 11 runs scored. Even amid recent success at the plate, the 32-year-old is still slashing just .216/.302/.386 with 45 RBI, 53 runs scored, 18 doubles and two stolen bases across 422 plate appearances.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Sitting for third time in four games
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
The left-handed-hitting Kepler will hit the bench for the third time in four games, with two absences coming against southpaws. Though he should continue to play frequently versus righties, Kepler will occasionally find himself as the odd man out of the lineup with the Phillies having begun to open up more playing time for Harrison Bader as part of a four-man rotation in the outfield.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Goes yard Thursday
Rotowire
Kepler went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and a second run scored in Thursday's 19-4 win over Atlanta.
Kepler supplied a first-inning homer to put the Phillies up 5-3, and they never looked back. While he's been in a part-time role recently, Kepler is showing some quality at the plate, going 15-for-46 (.326) with three homers and eight RBI over his last 12 games. The veteran outfielder is still slashing a paltry .216/.300/.382 with 14 homers, 42 RBI, 50 runs scored, 17 doubles and two stolen bases across 109 contests this season. Fellow left-handed batter Brandon Marsh has been Kepler's main competitor for playing time in left field, though Kepler can shift over to right field on Nick Castellanos' off days.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Taking seat against righty
Rotowire
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Kepler will be held out of the starting nine for the third time in five games. Though he's improved his production in August, he's slashing just .233/.269/.397 since the All-Star break, and his underwhelming numbers are costing him playing time while Philadelphia frees up more opportunities for trade-deadline pickup Harrison Bader.
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Phillies' Max Kepler: Sitting against right-hander
Rotowire
Kepler is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Mariners.
Kepler has mostly maintained his role as the Phillies' primary left fielder against right-handed pitching even after the team's addition of Harrison Bader, but he'll begin Tuesday's festivities on the bench. Bader is in center field and Brandon Marsh is in left field against Mariners righty Bryce Miller.
