PHILADELPHIA – Phillies outfielder Max Kepler made headlines last Thursday when he expressed frustration to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb about his lack of starts against left-handed pitching. Kepler sat for three consecutive games last week against the Mets and Astros.

“The biggest challenge for me is not playing routinely,” Kepler told Gelb. “That’s the biggest challenge.” Kepler also said he was “told I was going to be the starting left fielder.”

Kepler was asked the next day in Atlanta to follow up on his comments by Paul Casella of MLB.com and Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He repeated the same line about being told he was going to be the everyday left fielder at signing, but did not get the same reassurance from the manager or front office during spring training.

“If that’s the role I’m given,” Kepler said, “then transparently, I’ll take it on and hope to make the most of it.”

Thomson said on Monday that he spoke with Kepler about his comments and said they were “a little bit blown out of proportion.”

“He told me, basically what he was trying to say is that he likes to play everyday, and it’s frustrating when you don’t,” Thomson said. “And I get it and I appreciate that. I’d rather have a guy that would want to play every day than not want to play every day.”

Thomson also alluded to Bryson Stott’s comments to The Athletic about rhythm and how he would benefit from playing every day.

“I mean, I’m not using that as an excuse by any means,” Stott told The Athletic. “But I’ve always been a rhythm player. When you’re in a rhythm, you want to stay in that rhythm. If it doesn’t happen, then it doesn’t happen. I just always go back to ‘23, and look what I did in ‘23. I hit .330 off the lefty starters and played in 158 games.”

“I think the same thing with Stott’s comments as well,” Thomson said. “They are just expressing their feelings, and I get it.”

It has not been a good season for Kepler. He is batting .207 with a .676 OPS. His spot in the lineup – and spot on the team – could be in jeopardy if he doesn’t get going in the next few weeks.

Stott is in a similar boat, though his place on the team is safe. He is batting .243 with a .653 OPS. Stott has started nine out of a possible 24 times against a left-handed starting pitcher.

Kepler is expected to start the next three games in left field against the Padres, who have three righty starters slated to pitch against the Phillies.

The Phillies have protected him against left-handed starters. They faced a left-handed starter in three out of the first five games of the season. Kepler started in two of those games. He has yet to start another game against a lefty who was not an opener.

If Kepler, Stott and even Brandon Marsh all feel like they would benefit greatly from being in the lineup every day, regardless of who is starting, is Thomson inclined to play them everyday?

“No, you got to perform,” Thomson said. Though he did compliment Kepler, Stott and Marsh’s recent at-bats against left-handed pitching, Thomson said he has to see more.

The Cincinnati Reds have two lefties lined up to face the Phillies in the weekend series at Citizens Bank Park.

“My job is to put people in the right position to succeed,” Thomson said. “Every day. And that’s not only the starters, but also the guys that are sitting on the bench as well. And their job is to be ready to play every day. So that’s where we’re at. I’ll continue, as I move forward, to do that.”

With Bryce Harper back at first base, Otto Kemp could play “at some different positions” against lefties. Kemp has made three starts in left field. Kemp could also spell Harper if he needs a day.

“I’ve really liked his at-bats,” Thomson said. “I would like to get him in there as much as I can.”