PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber continues to be insane.

The season numbers look great. He has 10 home runs and a .963 OPS. But the numbers against left-handed pitching are even better than they were last season. He came into the game with a 1.207 OPS against southpaws. He finished at .898 in 2024.

That number has gone up. With the lefty José Castillo making his season debut in the midst of multiple significant bullpen injuries for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Schwarber ambushed a first-pitch fastball and pulled it to right field for a game-tying home run.

How does he do it?

“Just staying close and thinking the other way,” manager Rob Thomsom said postgame. “Now they’re starting to do a lot of work against right-handed pitchers. Just some angle toss. It’s a little bit different. He’s getting a little pull happy against righties.”

This is what Schwarber can think about because he is one of the best hitters in the league. He is a little tired of talking about why he is so damn good against lefties.

“It’s just more about taking an at-bat and going from there,” Schwarber said. “There’s no real thought left on left or right on right. It’s more just me trying to execute what I want to do up there at the plate. I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job right now. Just trying to take the stigma of the (concept) of left on left or right on right, whatever it is. Take that out of play, and you feel like you’re doing your job.”

The stigma follows Max Kepler. He entered the game 4-for-23 against left-handed pitching. The Phillies have essentially treated him like a platoon player, except late in games. Thomson has not pinch hit for Kepler because he has liked his at-bats. Kepler has homered in two out of the last three games. He is starting to drive the ball. Weston Wilson will still probably start in left field on Sunday over Kepler against left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.

But Kepler made good on Thomson’s trust with his first truly big hit in a Phillies uniform. On a 1-1 pitch, the Phillies left fielder caught a hanging slider on the inside part of the plate and crushed it to right to make it 3-2. The Phillies, thanks to some stellar bullpen work from Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Jordan Romano and José Alvarado, were able to hang on and secure the game one victory.

“I was just really trying to get my swing off,” Kepler said. “Get something over the heart of the plate. … I got (a heater) where I needed it to be and made contact.”

Kepler credits his comfort in the box during the at-bat to taking reps with lefty batting practice thrower and hitting coach Kevin Long.

“He brings it,” Kepler said. “He’s sweating, huffing and puffing.”