Why is Kyle Schwarber starting at first base tonight? Phillies make Bryce Harper DH vs. Marlins

The Philadelphia Phillies, coming off a series-opening win over the Miami Marlins on Monday night, are shaking things up with the lineup on Tuesday against Miami.

Brandon Marsh is leading off, Trea Turner is out of the lineup, but most notably, Kyle Schwarber isn't starting as the designated hitter. Instead, Bryce Harper is the DH tonight. So, where is Schwarber playing?

As Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports, Schwarber is playing at first base tonight, taking over for Harper, and getting his first chance to start at the position in half a decade.

Why Kyle Schwarber is at first base vs. Marlins tonight

"Brandon Marsh is leading off, and Kyle Schwarber is playing first base," Gelb reports on the Phillies lineup Tuesday night.

It's a fascinating situation for the Phillies, as Marsh, Schwarber, and Harper will begin the game for the Phillies at the bottom of the first in Philadelphia.

But, in the top of the first, Harper will be in the dugout, and Schwarber will man first base. Schwarber previously played first base for one inning this season, but didn't record a putout, and didn't start there either.

He was a starting first baseman for the Boston Red Sox back in 2021, when he started nine games, playing in 10 total, where he recorded one error, a .985 fielding percentage, and -3 defensive runs saved.

MORE: Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Back in 2017 with the Chicago Cubs, he made a very brief appearance at first base, not recording any statistics at the position.

But, across his 12-year MLB career, that's been it for his MLB experience at first base in the regular season. 12 games in total, and nine starts, his last being in 2021 for the Red Sox.

He also started nine games in the postseason for the Red Sox, for a total of 21 games of playing time, with only 18 total starts in his lengthy MLB career.

He's starting there tonight to give Harper a day off, but keeping him in the lineup, and with Turner out of the lineup, and no other worthy options to start in the infield, the Phillies are giving Schwarber a chance to man first base tonight.

More MLB news:

• 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals
• Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 success
• Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agency
• Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM
• Yankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution