The Philadelphia Phillies entered the season with high expectations and have lived up to them—at least in a small four-game sample. After winning two of three games in their opening series against the Washington Nationals, they continued their strong start with a 6-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies in their home opener on Monday. A key contributor in that win was new left fielder Max Kepler, who delivered three hits. Signed to a one-year, $10 million contract, Kepler has so far proven to be a valuable addition.
Meanwhile, the Phillies’ NL East rivals, the Atlanta Braves, had a disastrous start to their season. They were swept in four games by the San Diego Padres, scoring just seven total runs, including back-to-back shutouts. Their struggles continued Monday night with another loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. If that wasn’t bad enough for Braves fans, they also received shocking news about their biggest offseason signing—making the Phillies’ acquisition of Kepler look even more like a savvy move.
Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games for PED use, making Max Kepler look like a steal
MLB insider Mike Rodriguez first broke the news late Monday, which was later confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Profar, who was expected to be the Braves’ starting left fielder, had signed a three-year, $42 million contract after an All-Star season with the Padres in 2024. He hit .280 with a career-high 24 home runs and 85 RBIs, earning a starting spot in the National League All-Star lineup. To make matters worse for the Braves, Profar’s suspension makes him ineligible for the postseason, as reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray.
Back in Philadelphia, the Phillies’ offense came alive late in Monday’s win. After being shut down by Rockies starter Germán Márquez, who pitched six scoreless innings, the Phillies broke through against the bullpen. Home runs from Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Kepler helped seal the victory. Kepler’s eighth-inning homer, his first with the Phillies, stayed just inside the right-field foul pole.
Through the early part of the season, Kepler has looked comfortable at the plate, boasting a .364 batting average and a 1.318 OPS. The Phillies had been searching for a corner outfielder in the offseason, particularly one who could play left field while Brandon Marsh handled center. Although Kepler had never played left field in the majors before and added another left-handed bat to an already left-heavy lineup, the signing has looked like a smart move.
Initially, it seemed like the Braves had strengthened their outfield with Profar, but early returns suggest that Kepler might be the better bargain—especially considering Atlanta is paying Profar $14 million per season compared to the Phillies’ $10 million investment in Kepler.