Phillies' Kyle Schwarber defying platoon advantage in power barrage

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is crushing left-handed pitching this season.

Schwarber entered Wednesday with a .317/.456/.794 batting line in 79 plate appearances against lefty pitchers, hitting nine homers while drawing 14 walks. He has outhomered every team aside from the Yankees (11 home runs) against left-handers this season.

Such production would seemingly be outside the norm for Schwarber. The Phillies' DH is a lifetime .227/.343/.423 hitter in 1393 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, hitting 64 home runs. Although Schwarber has 194 walks and 432 strikeouts against lefties in his career, he has drawn 14 walks while striking out only 18 times against same-side pitching this season.

Schwarber has essentially made himself platoon-proof. After struggling against lefties for most of his career, he worked to reinvent himself last season, finding opportunities to face lefties during batting practice or simulated games. The work paid off as Schwarber posted a .300/.407/.490 batting line against lefties in 2024 while hitting 12 homers. 

Those improvements have carried over into this season. Schwarber's 300th and 301st career homers came against left-handed relievers. His 300th home run was particularly impressive, a 466-foot blast against Rockies' reliever Scott Alexander, hitting the facing of the third deck in Coors Field.

Schwarber has been a force in the Phillies' lineup this season, regardless of the pitcher he has faced. He entered Wednesday with a major league-leading 17 homers, posting a .257/.390/.583 batting line in 213 plate appearances. His assault against left-handed pitching has been a large part of his success this season, as Schwarber has worked to defy the theoretical platoon advantage.