PHILADELPHIA — Harrison Bader stood in front of his locker Wednesday and smiled as reporters asked whether he knew he was hitting leadoff again. The Gold Glove outfielder has become more than a platoon bat since arriving at the trade deadline; he has turned into a catalyst for a lineup missing National League batting leader Trea Turner.

A day earlier, the right-handed Bader had three hits, including a solo homer, from the leadoff spot when the New York Mets started southpaw Sean Manaea. Manager Rob Thomson had said, “Oh, I don’t think I’d do it against right-handers,” but that’s exactly what he did in Wednesday’s third installment of this four-game series.

“I don’t think I committed one way or the other,” Thomson said Wednesday. “I said day-to-day, and that’s what it is. He had a big nig

See Full Page