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  • Phillies Stars: Top 10 Best Baseball Players of All Time – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Phillies•Unique Columns

    THIS BLOG CONTAINS LINKS FROM WHICH WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION. Credit: Pexels

    The Philadelphia Phillies have produced some of the most memorable moments in Major League Baseball history.

    From championship glory to individual brilliance, the franchise has been home to extraordinary talent that has captivated sports betting fans for generations.

    These legendary athletes didn’t just play the game; they revolutionized positions, set records that still stand today, and created a winning culture that resonates throughout the sport.

    Whether you’re analyzing player statistics for online sports betting strategies or simply appreciating baseball’s greatest talents, understanding the impact of these iconic Phillies provides valuable context. Modern platforms like Betiton Sport offer comprehensive MLB betting odds and live betting opportunities, where knowledge of historical player performance enhances your experience.

    The Legacy of the Philadelphia Phillies in Baseball History

    Credit: Pexels

    Since their founding in 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies have built one of baseball’s most enduring franchises. The team has experienced dramatic highs, including their memorable 2008 World Series championship, and challenging rebuilding periods.

    Throughout it all, the franchise has consistently produced elite talent that has shaped the evolution of Major League Baseball and provided sports betting online fans with unforgettable moments.

    Top 10 Phillies Best Baseball Players of All Time

    Selecting the greatest Phillies requires examining career statistics, postseason performance, individual awards, and lasting influence on the franchise. These ten players represent the pinnacle of achievement in Phillies history.

    1) Mike Schmidt // The Powerhouse Third Baseman

    Mike Schmidt stands as arguably the third greatest baseman in baseball history. His combination of power hitting and defensive excellence redefined expectations for the position.

    Schmidt’s 548 career home runs and ten Gold Glove Awards showcase complete dominance.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Mike Schmidt Third Baseman 1972-1989 3× MVP, 12× All-Star, 10× Gold Glove, 548 home runs, 1980 World Series MVP

    2) Steve Carlton // The Left-Handed Legend

    Steve Carlton’s intimidating presence on the mound made him one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers. “Lefty” won four Cy Young Awards with the Phillies, showcasing remarkable consistency. His devastating slider baffled hitters across the National League throughout his career.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Steve Carlton Pitcher 1972-1986 (Phillies) 4× Cy Young Award, 10× All-Star, 329 career wins, 4,136 strikeouts

    3) Chase Utley // The Ultimate Team Player

    Chase Utley epitomized winning baseball through his relentless work ethic. The second baseman combined offensive production with defensive excellence, earning six All-Star selections.

    His 26 career playoff home runs made him a postseason legend among best baseball players ever.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Chase Utley Second Baseman 2003-2015 (Phillies) 6× All-Star, 4× Silver Slugger, 26 playoff home runs, 2008 World Series champion

    4) Ryan Howard // The Home Run Machine

    Ryan Howard’s towering home runs and prodigious power made him one of baseball’s most feared sluggers. The 2006 National League MVP crushed 382 career home runs, including memorable postseason blasts that propelled the Phillies to their 2008 championship.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Ryan Howard First Baseman 2004-2016 2006 NL MVP, 3× All-Star, 2× Silver Slugger, 382 home runs, 2008 World Series champion

    5) Jimmy Rollins // The Spark at Shortstop

    Jimmy Rollins brought dynamic energy and all-around excellence to shortstop.

    The 2007 National League MVP combined speed, power, and defensive brilliance. His leadership helped transform the Phillies’ culture from one of underachievement to championship winners.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Jimmy Rollins Shortstop 2000-2014 2007 NL MVP, 3× All-Star, 4× Gold Glove, 2,306 career hits with the Phillies

    6) Robin Roberts // The Workhorse of the Phillies’ Golden Era

    Robin Roberts anchored the Phillies’ pitching staff during the 1950s with remarkable durability. He pitched 300+ innings in six consecutive seasons while maintaining exceptional control. Roberts won 234 games in a Phillies uniform, more than any other pitcher in franchise history.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Robin Roberts Pitcher 1948-1961 (Phillies) 7× All-Star, 234 wins with Phillies, 1950 NL pennant, Hall of Fame inductee

    7) Richie Ashburn // The Contact King and Fan Favourite

    Richie Ashburn’s exceptional bat control and defensive range in center field made him a Phillies icon.

    The two-time batting champion accumulated 2,217 hits while rarely striking out, making him the ideal leadoff hitter for championship-contending teams.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Richie Ashburn Center Fielder 1948-1959 (Phillies) 5× All-Star, 2× batting champion, 2,217 hits with the Phillies, Hall of Fame inductee

    8) Cole Hamels // The Calm Ace of the 2008 Champions

    Cole Hamels’ ice-cold composure during the 2008 postseason established him as one of baseball’s premier big-game pitchers. His World Series MVP performance showcased pinpoint control and nerves of steel when championships hung in the balance.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Cole Hamels Pitcher 2006-2015 4× All-Star, 2008 World Series MVP, 2008 NLCS MVP, no-hitter in 2015

    9) Bryce Harper // The Modern Face of the Phillies

    Since signing his record-breaking contract in 2019, Bryce Harper has rejuvenated Phillies baseball. The two-time MVP winner brought star power and clutch performance, most notably during the 2022 postseason.

    Harper ranks among the MLB’s best baseball players of his generation.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Bryce Harper Right Fielder 2019-Present 2× MVP (2015, 2021), 7× All-Star, 2021 NL MVP with Phillies, 2022 NLCS MVP

    10) Jim Bunning // The Perfect Game and the Perfect Competitor

    Jim Bunning’s Father’s Day perfect game in 1964 remains one of baseball’s most memorable achievements. The Hall of Fame pitcher brought fierce competitiveness and exceptional control, accumulating 89 wins during his Phillies tenure.

    Player Position Years Active Key Achievements
    Jim Bunning Pitcher 1964-1967, 1970-1971 7× All-Star (career), Perfect game (1964), 89 wins with Phillies, Hall of Fame inductee

    Honoring Excellence: The Phillies’ Greatest Contributors

    The Philadelphia Phillies’ history showcases how individual brilliance combines with team success to create lasting legacies. These ten players represent different eras and playing styles, yet they share common traits: a dedication to excellence and a profound impact on franchise history. From Schmidt’s power to Carlton’s dominance to Harper’s modern star power, each defined their generation.

    When considering baseball’s best players throughout MLB history, these Phillies legends consistently appear in broader conversations. Their achievements provide context for evaluating current players and offer benchmarks for excellence that transcend team boundaries.

    For those engaged in baseball betting through online betting platforms or simply appreciating the game’s history, understanding the contributions of these players enriches the entire baseball experience.

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    Enhancing Your Philadelphia Sports Fan Experience

    Tags: Bryce Harper Chase Utley Cole Hamels Jimmy Rollins Mike Schmidt MLB Philadelphia Phillies Phillies PHLSN PHLSportsNation Richie Ashburn Robin Roberts Steve Carlton WegENT

    Categorized: Phillies Unique Columns

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  • Phillies Offseason Predictions – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Phillies

    Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

    The dust has settled on the 2025 MLB season with the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrating back-to-back World Series Championships just like everyone expected. With the 2025 season in the rearview mirror, the attention turns to the offseason. One that might be the most pivotal offseason this franchise has had since they signed Bryce Harper in 2019.

    Who’s Back, Who’s Gone

    Right off the bat, it’s very easy to say the Phillies’ top priority is Kyle Schwarber, which I completely agree with. I would love to see Schwarber finish his career in a Phillies uniform, especially after the season he put together last year. As great as his play is on the field, he’s an amazing clubhouse guy, which is another reason why I think the Phillies must re-sign him. It’s going to leave a bad taste in a lot of fans’ mouths if the Phillies don’t offer Schwarber.

    While Schwarber is priority number one, resigning JT Realmuto would be my number two. I think JT should finish his career with the Phillies, and to me, it makes too much sense. He had a great offensive season, considering how slow he started out of the gate. He is familiar with our pitching staff, and I have never heard any of the pitchers he’s worked with complain about how he handles things. Realmuto is still a top catcher in the league despite his age, and there aren’t many other options to replace JT. The key replacement would be trying to trade for Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, but I would much rather the Phillies resign JT and not give up any assets.

    Harrison Bader, I would love to have back, but I’m not sure where he would fit. If we could sign him for a year or two, I don’t mind Bader being a nice bridge player until top prospect Justin Crawford gets settled at the major league level. Bader would be a great mentor for Crawford during his first few years at the major league level.

    In terms of who’s gone, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Nick Castellanos traded along with Johan Rojas and possibly even Alec Bohm. Castellanos is the one most likely to be moved, especially with how things were handled with him the last few months of the season. Ever since his incident with Rob Thomson, it’s been painfully obvious that the Phillies want to try and move him.

    Rojas has become expendable with the emergence of prospect Justin Crawford, who should definitely be on the Phillies’ opening day roster as their centerfielder. Crawford hit .334 in Triple-A last season and played above-average defense in centerfield. Mix in 46 stolen bases, and you now have a better version of Johan Rojas in centerfield.

    Alex Bohm could be in a similar situation; however, I don’t know if they will cut ties with him just yet. Top prospect Aidan Miller is still only 21 years old, but he put together a strong season across Double-A and Triple-A last season. Miller broke the Reading Fightin Phils record for most stolen bases in a season with 52. If the Phillies move Bohm, I definitely expect Aidan Miller to be with the big league club this season. Unless Miller puts together an incredible spring, I do expect him to start the season in Triple-A. That means the Phillies would need to try and find a bridge third baseman until Miller is ready. Nolan Arenado is a name to watch if they do end up trading Bohm. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Phillies went with Bohm to start the season and then moved him in the middle of the year if Miller is ready and performing.

    Pitching

    In terms of the pitching, getting Zach Wheeler back healthy is the most important thing for this team. The development of Andrew Painter will be something to monitor as well. Ranger Suarez is the big decision this front office will have to make. His performance has statistically tailed off in the second half of the season, and staying healthy has been a struggle. I’m hesitant to throw money at someone who has struggled to stay healthy. It’s going to be an extremely important decision and one that takes a few years to develop before we decide if it was the right move. It all comes down to money, whether they want to give Suarez the contract he deserves.

    If Suarez returns, the Phillies’ rotation will be poised to be a top rotation in baseball again. Christopher Sanchez was your NL Cy Young runner-up after Paul Skenes took home the award last week, which is an incredible accomplishment for Sanchez. A pitcher the Phillies acquired in a trade from the Rays a few years back has turned into a Diamond in the rough. If Wheeler comes back healthy, Aaron Nola bounces back, and Jesus Luzardo builds off of last year’s strong season, then the Phillies could no doubt have the best rotation in baseball.

    Winter Meetings

    Most action won’t start happening until the week of the MLB Winter Meetings, which will occur from December 7-10. That is when the owners and managers will get to work on building their ballclubs for the 2026 season, as everyone has a fresh start for a World Series run.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Aidan Miller Alec Bohm Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Jesus Luzardo Kyle Schwarber MLB Nick Castellanos Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized: Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Rob Thomson Set to Return as Phillies Manager in 2026 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

    The Phillies announced on Monday that Manager Rob Thomson will be returning for the 2026 season.

    Thomson will be entering the final year of his contract, making 2026 a true make-or-break season for both Thomson and the Phillies.

    Philadelphia Heartbreak

    It’s been five days since the Phillies lost Game 4 of the NLDS in the most heartbreaking fashion you could imagine. The first series in MLB history to end on an error. Of course, it would happen to the Phillies.

    It took me all day Friday to go through the stages of grief following the loss. I was not angry at Kerkering for a miscue throw to—the. In fact, I completely understand the mental state when you first bobble a ball. Even if you knew where you were supposed to go with the ball, the second you bobble it, panic sets in, and that’s exactly what happened. I know Kerkering can be a good reliever, and I hope he bounces back next year with us.

    Different Year, Same Result

    While my sympathy was with Kerkering, my anger was directed towards Rob Thomson, the entire lineup aside from JT Realmuto, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos. The big three of Turner, Schwarber, and Harper went 1-14 in the Game 4 elimination game. The third season in a row, the big guns disappeared when it mattered most. That part of it is on the players, and while Rob Thomson makes the lineup, he can’t control what pitches these guys are swinging at.

    Rob Thomson controls the bullpen and who comes in certain situations. This is part of his job; Rob Thomson has been horrible at it in the postseason. In 2023, he brought Craig Kimbrel in against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which eventually led to the Phillies blowing the lead and the series. Since that series, Rob Thomson has poorly managed the bullpen when it matters the most. It’s led to the Phillies blowing leads in multiple playoff games over the last few years, including in this year’s series. Going to Kerkering with runners on was a terrible idea from the start. 8/13 inherited runners have scored on Kerkering since August. Having him in the game in that moment was a terrible decision by Rob Thomson. Even leading up to that, one might question why we walked Ohtani in the 7th inning to load the bases? Duran would walk in a run, tying the game 1-1 after Mookie Betts worked a walk. Thomson made a few questionable decisions, but it’s not solely on him to blame.

    What Went Wrong?

    Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

    I touched on the lack of production from Turner, Schwarber, and Harper before, but it’s important to know how flat-out bad these three were in this series. Aside from the Game 3 outburst, these three underperformed when the lights were the brightest. While I still want the Phillies to re-sign Kyle Schwarber, you have to wonder if he decreased his price tag following his poor October showing. Harper and Turner need to figure out a way to make their $300 million price tags worth it come October. Harper had an incredible postseason in 2023 and 2024, but his last two postseason showings have been lackluster. You aren’t gonna win many baseball games when the highest-paid players don’t show up.

    Harrison Bader was injured with a groin injury, which also hurt the Phillies in terms of their lineup. Bader was such a spark for this team down the stretch, and his absence should not go unnoticed. I’m hoping the Phillies could bring him back, but the question is for how much and where he would play. If Bader did play his last game in a Phillies uniform, he was an incredible addition to this team, and it’s a shame he got injured when he did.

    I tip my cap to Alec Bohm and JT Realmuto, who had really strong showings at the plate in the division series. I would love to have JT back behind the plate next year, as he is set to hit free agency. If JT walks, I expect the Phillies to possibly pursue a trade with the Baltimore Orioles for catcher Adley Rutschman. Rutschman would be a nice replacement for the Phillies if Realmuto isn’t on the team next year. With that being said, I do hope JT works out a deal and hopefully ends his career as a Phillie.

    Pitching Excellence

    The starting pitching once again showed up when it mattered most, despite not having Zack Wheeler. Christopher Sanchez pitched two great games and further solidified himself as a true ace during this series. Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suarez all pitched great throughout the series as well. The starting pitching was dominant all year, and they performed well above expectations in this series.

    Ranger Suarez is the only starting arm that is a free agent this upcoming winter. The big question is, do you pay Ranger Suarez knowing you have a replacement in Andrew Painter coming up? Suarez has been one of the best lefties in the game over the last two years, so although it would hurt to lose him, the Phillies might not be able to afford to keep him. It’s going to be very interesting to see where Suarez lands this upcoming offseason.

    Season Conclusion

    That’s officially a wrap on the Phillies’ 2025 season, as well as my first season covering the team. It was a pleasure to bring you weekly storylines and my thoughts on this ball club throughout the year. The season ended like no one could have expected, with a game-losing error. One of the main things I love about baseball is that you can shake off whatever happened in the game before and get right back at it within a day or two. But in this scenario, having to sit with this feeling all offseason is certainly going to sting.

    While some fans (including myself) are still angry with this team and the result, I can already feel the excitement and optimism of opening day 2026 when the Texas Rangers come to town. Only 163 days until The Bank is packed for Opening Day on March 26, 2026!

    One Last Weekly Prediction: The Seattle Mariners are going to be your 2025 World Series Champions.

    Tags: 2025 MLB Postseason Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Arizona Diamondbacks Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Christopher Sanchez Craig Kimbrel Dodgers Harrison Bader Jesus Luzardo Jhoan Duran JT Realmuto Kyle Schwarber Los Angeles Dodgers MLB MLB playoffs MLB Postseason NLDS Orion Kerkering Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Playoffs Postseason Ranger Suarez rangers Rob Thomson Texas Rangers Trea Turner

    Categorized: Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • No Guts, No Glory – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Watching the Phillies in the playoffs the last three seasons has been excruciating. Anyone hoping for something different this season, think again. It ended in a complete disaster. It’s tough not to feel for Kerkering a little bit, but that is an inexcusable error. He has struggled with runners on base all season. It was unfair to bring him in there. The worst part is he ended up making the pitches and got the ground ball. But instead of a calm cool collected throw to first Kerkering panicked. One of the most gut wrenching things I have witnessed. 

    What Really Went Wrong

    We can look up all the stats, splits, and percentages we want. But the eye test tells you all you need to know. The bats failed to show up. Turner, Schwarber, and Harper showed up for one of the four games. But that’s why you lose a series right? The big players didn’t produce. So now they go home. What puzzles me about the offense is their inability to adjust. Now, four straight seasons of chasing pitches at bat after at bat. Every batter wanting to win the game in one pitch. The goal should have been to have the best at bat for the team. Instead guys are up there hacking away trying to have a moment. 

    The Phils made Glasnow throw 19 pitches in the first inning. Even though they didn’t score, that’s a successful inning and part of winning baseball games. You have to make pitchers work. Obviously, the Phillies did the opposite. Glasnow cruised through 6 innings. If the Phillies kept grinding away he should’ve been on the ropes by the 5th inning. There are many ways to blame the offense for the losses. But overall it was their inability to make anything happen. JT and Kepler were really the only two guys to hit, The stars and the bats let the fans and the pitching staff down. 

    Topper, Topper, Topper

    I have many gripes with Rob Thomson. Yes, he has done a great job at bringing this group together. He has the Phillies playing great regular season baseball. They are fun to watch again and in an Eagles city, when the Phillies are good it’s a baseball town. But then, the playoffs. Whatever happened in 2022 is not there anymore. The players have to win the game, but there have been countless decisions from the manager that have hurt the club in the postseason. 

    Game One

    With a fully rested bullpen Thomson decided to bring Robertson back out for the 7th inning. This forced Strahm to come in with multiple runners on. The decision to bring Robertson back out is what cost them. A reliever comes into a high leverage situation with their adrenaline pumping. He did his job and got out of the jam, he should have never gone back into the game. Topper overthinking the bullpen once again.

    Game Two

    The Phillies had life. With no outs Nick Castellanos doubled in Realmuto and Bohm. The offense was finally rolling. Three straight hits. Zero outs. Ninth inning. Citizens Bank Park going absolutely nuts.

    Bunt – ball one. Bunt again – Castellanos gunned down at third. 

    This was one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. The Dodgers couldn’t buy an out in that inning. Even Castellanos doubled on that outside pitch he strikes out on all the time (you know the one).

    All the momentum in the world was on the Phillies side. And then he gave them an out. Rob said here you go a free out and the Dodgers said thank you. In your last at bat in the game, the manager gave the other team an out. I was stunned. Topper has no feel for the game going on around him. He even admitted in his press conference he was playing for the tie. A shocking statement to hear. That is the complete wrong mindset coming from the manager.

    Stott has had multiple playoff moments for the Phillies. He’s come up with big hits each post season. Thomson should trust him to come through. Do you think Dave Roberts would have made Tommy Edmunds bunt in that situation? No chance. Stott wasn’t even given an opportuninty to hit. No doubt in my mind the Phillies win that game if Stott doesn’t bunt.  

    Those were the two big decisions that cost the Phillies in this series. Although, all of this is not on Rob Thomson, I believe this team has gone as far as they will with him. He doesn’t have quite the right feel of how to manage postseason games. He never seems to pull the right strings. It may be time to move on at the end of the season. 

    What’s Next

    This team is clearly in need of a shake up. I am not sure if blowing it up is the right call. Dombrowski should prioritize Realmuto, Schwarber, and Suarez. They haven’t shown up recently, but I believe the core of Turner, Schwarber, Harper, and Realmuto can get the job done. They need to step up in the playoffs, but I believe in those guys. 

    There are a couple of spots the Phillies need to address. They need to find a clean up hitter. The front office should look to upgrade in right and at third. It’s time to move on from Castellanos and Bohm. It would be nice to see Bader back in center. The ship has run its course for some of this crew and hopefully the roster looks a little different next season.

    Photo Credit: Matt Slocum/AP Photo

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Brandon Marsh Bryce Harper Christopher Sanchez David Robertson Jesus Luzardo JT Realmuto Kyle Schwarber Major League Baseball Matt Strahm Max Kepler Nick Castellanos Orion Kerkering Philadelphia Phillies Ranger Suarez Rob Thomson

    Categorized: Phillies

    Liam Mahoney

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  • Bryce Harper sends message to Phillies fans that booed him

    Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper gave an honest take on fans booing him during the first two games of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

    Harper has been poor throughout the series, hitting 1-for-7 with three strikeouts, one walk and no runs or RBIs. He has only a single, failing to deliver against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers so far.

    More news: Phillies Manager Calls Out Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber After NLDS Game 2

    The Phillies had home-field advantage, hosting the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park, but they squandered both games, primarily due to their offense and bullpen not supporting the Phillies’ starters.

    While Game 1 did not feature many boo birds, Game 2 did, especially as frustrations with the offense — namely the big three of Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner — grew over 18 innings of poor batting.

    More news: Bryce Harper Disagrees With Manager’s Assessment of Phillies’ Struggles

    Harper got his own personal chorus of groans from the crowd, though he did not take it as a personal attack.

    “I love playing at the Bank. I love our fans. I boo myself when I get out. I’m the same way,” he said after the game when asked about the boos.

    “I trust in what they do. They show up for us every day, day in and day out. So if we deserve to be booed, if we deserve to — they spend their hard-earned dollar to come watch us play; they expect greatness out of us and I expect greatness out of myself and my teammates as well.

    “If they believe that, I don’t know what’s going through their head or mindset. We’ve got some of the best fans in baseball, and they make me play better. So I enjoy it.

    “I will probably get booed tomorrow night, too. So it’s kind of the same thing. It’s, like, what are we talking about? Same stuff.”

    More news: Phillies Announce Shocking Starting Pitcher Change for NLDS Game 3

    Harper and the Phillies will get a chance to start making things right on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium as they go on the road for an elimination game against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

    For all the latest MLB news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.

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  • Phillies Offense Disappears, Rob Thomson Strikes Again – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Phillies had the entire city riled up and ready for another deep postseason run after finishing 96-66 and getting a first-round bye. Everyone knew the Dodgers wouldn’t be easy, but when your top three guys refuse to show up when it matters most and your manager continues to make terrible decisions, you won’t often find yourself in a winning situation.

    To be very blunt, the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies are who we thought they were.

    Same Results, Different Year

    The Phillies are down 0-2 and would need to win three games in a row against the Dodgers, with the next two games in Los Angeles. I’m not gonna sit here and feed optimism when this team has given nothing for us to be optimistic about.

    The Phillies are 1-7 in their last eight playoff games. They refuse to work any ABs, and when they do, they end up swinging at what would be ball four most of the time. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper have disappeared. Those three in this series are 1-21. I’m gonna say that again. The top three hitters in this lineup are 1-21. I don’t care if you’re playing the Colorado Rockies, you aren’t gonna win games with the top three guys on your team going 1-21 at home in a series. The middle and bottom parts of the order haven’t been any better. This team couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat right now.

    No one in the order has stepped up and tried to provide a spark. Nick Castellanos had a two-run double in the 9th inning of game two that barely got me excited because I just knew the Phillies were gonna find a way to ruin the situation.

    Rob Thomson Strikes Again

    Following the double from Castellanos, Bryson Stott then bunted with 0 outs, runner at second, which resulted in Castellanos being thrown out at third. I nearly turned the game off. Bunting in that situation comes from the manager, and boy oh boy would I love to know Rob’s thought process behind this one.

    You are handcuffed because, with Bader dealing with a groin injury, you had to save a pitch runner for Bader. You can’t run for Castellanos, but Castellanos doesn’t run well, so what do you do? HAVE STOTT SWING THE BAT. THIS IS BASEBALL!

    I understand the concept of moving the runner over, but once again, Thomson’s lack of baseball feel strikes again. The crowd was finally into it, the tying run is at second with 0 outs, and you bunt into an out at third and kill any rally you had. Just to top it off, Bader would single in the next AB that would’ve likely scored Castellanos. Can’t make this stuff up.

    This 9th-inning debacle by Rob Thomson wasn’t even his worst moment of the night. Thomson decided to go with Orion Kerkering out of the bullpen first when Jesus Luzardo ran into trouble in the 7th. Luzardo pitched a gem in this game and is the only Phillie worth noting from last night. Luzardo had runners on second and third when Thomson pulled him and put in Kerkering.

    Let me remind you, Kerkering has been terrible inheriting runner all season. One look at a stat sheet and anyone who works in baseball would be able to tell you that. Everyone but Rob Thoms, apparently. He puts in Kerkering, who immediately gives up two runs after nearly getting an out at home. The Dodgers would add on, giving themselves a 4-0 lead in the 7th. Since August, Kerkering has let 8/13 inherited runners score when he comes out of the bullpen. That is not good. Going to Kerkering in that situation is a terrible decision, knowing he’s not good with runners on base. I would’ve much rather seen Strahm in that situation, who was up and warm.

    If the Phillies go to LA and lose game three, getting swept in this fashion is more than enough of a reason for the organization to have a long conversation this offseason about the players and staff on this ball club. The team has gotten better every year since 2022, and yet the results are worse and worse. At this point, players and coaches need to be held accountable.

    Heading to LA

    The Phillies will travel to Los Angeles today and play game three of the series Wednesday night at 9:08. The Dodgers will start Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA, 201 Ks), and the Phillies will start Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01ERA, 97 Ks). As you can tell, the pitching matchup heavily leans in the Dodgers’ favor. Maybe the struggling offense will get going since they are away from home.

    The Phillies will be playing for their season Wednesday night and avoid getting swept 3-0 in embarrassing fashion.

    Tags: Alec Bohm Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Harrison Bader Jhoan Duran JT Realmuto Kyle Schwarber Max Kepler MLB Nick Castellanos NLDS Orion Kerkering Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Rob Thomson Trea Turner

    Categorized: Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Phillies Top NLDS Moments – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Liam Mahoney   |  

    Oct 2, 2025

    Philadelphia Phillies fans wave their rally towels during Game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

    Over the last two nights the Los Angeles Dodgers handled the Cincinnati Reds with ease to set up a date with the Phillies. The National League Division series starts on Saturday in South Philly. Let’s take a look at some of the top NLDS moments in Phillies history

    1981 First Ever NLDS vs Montreal Expos

    Did you know the Phillies played in the first NLDS ever? They fell to the Montreal Expos (3-2) in 1981. However, George Vukovich hit a walk-off homer run in the 10th inning of game 4 to send it to a game 5.

    Liam Mahoney

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  • Phillies Postseason Expectations and Predictions – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    After a grueling 162-game season, the Philadelphia Phillies finished their season with a record of 96-66, good enough for the second-best record in all of Major League Baseball. They won the NL East with a 13-game lead over the New York Mets, a team that won’t be playing into October after a historic second-half collapse. The Phillies have the luxury of a first-round bye and will open the NLDS at home on October 4th against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Cincinnati Reds. The best time of year is here; nothing beats October baseball.

    Playoff Expectations

    Win the whole thing.

    The end.

    All jokes aside, this team is more than capable of delivering a World Series title to Philadelphia. The loss of Zach Wheeler is massive, and not having him throughout this postseason run will sting. However, I trust Christopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, and even Aaron Nola enough to hopefully get us deep into the postseason.

    Looking at the pitching first, I would say this is the best overall staff the Phillies have had in recent years. Not only are the starters great, but the bullpen, with guys like Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Jhoan Duran, rounds out one of the best staffs in the postseason. The last few seasons, the Phillies have lacked solid bullpen arms, and this year is the complete opposite. I feel comfortable knowing Duran is pitching in the 9th if we have a 1-2 run lead late.

    As for the offense, that will be the biggest question mark. Last postseason, the bats disappeared. This year, that simply can’t happen. This team is way too talented offensively to go through a slump this time of year. Led by Kyle Schwarber, this Phillies offense should be able to put up runs. The Phillies’ ability to weather the storm with starting pitching to get into the opponent’s bullpen will be interesting to see. They chased too much out of the zone last year, and it eliminated easy walks and ways to get guys on base. If this lineup can stay consistent and play within itself, the team can put up 5-7 runs per game in the postseason.

    Getting Trea Turner will be massive for the top of the order, especially since with Bader moving back down, it will make the lineup longer in terms of depth. Harrison Bader has been the best trade deadline acquisition Dave Dombrowski has made in recent years. His play in CF will be an integral part of a potential Phillies World Series run. The Phillies have lacked a true centerfielder over the last few playoff runs, so hopefully, Bader will be another spark for this team.

    Postseason Predictions

    Right now, I can see the Dodgers beating the Reds easily in the Wild Card round to set up a NLDS matchup with the Phillies. While the Phillies will have home-field advantage, it’s a best-of-5 series for the NLDS. Truthfully, if the Phillies play their brand of baseball, I could see the Phillies taking the series 3-2

    Next, they would face the Brewers in the NLCS, who I’m predicting will go on to beat the Padres in the NLDS 3-1. A Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies NLCS with the Phillies winning 4-2 in 6 games.

    I do believe this team is good enough to make a run through the National League and win the Pennant this year. The way the Phillies played in the second half makes me highly optimistic that this team will be able to make it to the World Series.

    As for who they will play, my two guesses are the New York Yankees or the Seattle Mariners, which I know could be a shock to some people. I think the Mariners have the offense and the pitching staff that could help spark a run for them. It would be exciting to see Seattle playing in a World Series. If the Yankees end up making it, then it’s time for us to get our revenge for what happened in 2009.

    My overall prediction is the Phillies win the World Series in 6 games, and we’ll have our second championship parade of the year on Broad Street in November!!

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Christopher Sanchez Harrison Bader Jhoan Duran Kyle Schwarber MLB Nick Castellanos Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized: Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Phillies Enter the Final Week of the Regular Season – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Last week, the Phillies clinched the NL East title, guaranteeing another year of Red October and the opportunity to play for a World Series. While winning the NL East is nice, getting a first-round bye would be amazing for a team that’s been banged up down the stretch. With six games remaining in the regular season, the Phillies look forward to closing out the season and then preparing for what is hopefully a memorable Red October run.

    Six Games Remain

    The Phillies return home this week with an off day on Monday, so they have time to settle in after the West Coast road trip. While on the road trip, the Phillies took 2/3 from the Los Angeles Dodgers, including the NL East clinching win Monday night. After the emotional series win over the Dodgers, the Phillies would lose 2/3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team fighting for that last spot in the NL Wild Card race.

    I’m not putting much stock into the series loss to the Diamondbacks because they did take the series from the Dodgers. By Sunday, I could imagine the team just wanting to return home.

    The Phillies have six games remaining in the season, all of which are at home. In fact, the Phillies have an opportunity to play at home until game 3 of the NLDS, which would be Wednesday, October 8th. That leaves 17 days in between road games for the Phillies. Something I think will help this team a lot. The Phillies have a three-game series against the Miami Marlins (76-80) and the Minnesota Twins (67-89). It’s kind of poetic that the Phillies are ending their season against the team that traded them their two most important deadline acquisitions. Harrison Bader and Jhoan Duran have been amazing for the Phillies and have certainly performed above expectations. Those six games are very winnable, but the Phillies are still three games back of the Brewers for the one seed, so they would need a miracle to secure that top seed.

    Playoff Positioning

    The Phillies will most likely finish with the two seed in the National League, which is good for the sake of the first-round bye. While some are scared about the time off during Wild Card games, this team needs to get healthy and also give the pitching staff a much-deserved rest. Trea Turner is expected to return for the last series of the season, and Alec Bohm made his return against the Diamondbacks. Bohm homered in his second game back and made his impact felt immediately. Having Bohm back in this lineup is huge, especially with runners on base. Getting Trea Turner back will be another massive boost for the offense, in hopes that he returns to the player he’s been all year. Turner was hitting .305 when he was placed on the IL a few weeks ago.

    While the top three seeds are all solidified, with the Brewers, Phillies, and Dodgers, the other three spots could all be shuffled come next week. The Chicago Cubs are 88-68 and hold the top Wild Card spot, followed by the 85-71 San Diego Padres. Those two spots are very likely to remain the Cubs and Padres. That last spot, however, is completely up for grabs. Yes, that means the New York Mets might miss the playoffs (Bummer). The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets are both tied with the same record, 80-76, with the Reds holding a tiebreaker over the Mets. The Arizona Diamondbacks are 79-77, just one game back of that last spot. The final six games for these teams are going to be must-watch TV, so if you are a baseball fan, I suggest you tune in.

    While anything can happen in these final six games, I don’t think any Phillies fan would be opposed to the Mets not making the playoffs. The Cincinnati Reds have been a team I’ve liked all year and would be an interesting club to see make the postseason. As for the Diamondbacks, I want our revenge from 2023.

    Upcoming Week

    I expect the Phillies to hopefully win 4/6 games to close out the season. I would like them to finish strong so they go into the bye with some confidence before having to ramp it up again for postseason baseball. We are nearly one week away from the greatest time of year. Buckle up, Phillies fans.

    Prediction of the week: Alec Bohm homers twice at home this week, continuing his great performance since returning from injury.

    Oh, and the Mets miss the playoffs, and the Reds take the last spot.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Brandon Marsh Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Christopher Sanchez Harrison Bader Jhoan Duran Kyle Schwarber Max Kepler MLB Nick Castellanos Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Ranger Suarez Trea Turner

    Categorized:Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Phillies Magic Number Down To One, Clinch Postseason Berth – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Credit: John Jones/Imagn Images

    The Phillies came into last week preparing for their biggest series of the season, a four-game series against the New York Mets, with their magic sitting at 13. Since then, the Phillies would go on to sweep the Mets, take two out of three from the Kansas City Royals, and now sit just one game away from clinching the NL East for consecutive seasons. The last time the Phillies did that was in 2010-2011.

    NL East Dominance

    As of today, the Phillies are 89-61, 12 games up on the New York Mets (77-73) for first place in the NL East, which is something I didn’t expect to write this season. I truly believed the Mets would be competitive and the NL East would be close for the majority of the season. However, the Mets have played dreadful baseball in September and just snapped an eight-game losing streak yesterday.

    As for the Phillies, they are playing their best baseball of the season right now. The pitching looks great, the offense looks better despite the Phillies missing both Trea Turner and Alex Bohm this week, and the bullpen has found its rhythm. They have found different ways to win games, not just relying on the offense or pitching. Some nights, the pitching staff looks incredible when the offense doesn’t, and vice versa. This team looks like a team built to win in the postseason, and the Phillies are just 12 games away from starting another attempt at a World Series run. The Phillies head out west for six games before returning home for a six-game home stand to close out the season.

    The Phillies currently sit as the two seed in the National League but are only two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (91-59) as the one seed. If the Phillies could clinch home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs, that would make me feel much better entering the postseason.

    Bader Leading Off

    Once the Phillies announced that Trea Turner was going on the IL, I was unsure who the Phillies would bat leadoff. In last week’s article, I discussed the potential for Stott or Bader to step into that role. In the first game, Rob Thomson went with Bryce Harper in the leadoff spot, which was questionable and rightfully so. In the next game, Rob put Bader at the leadoff spot, and it clicked. In his first game batting leadoff, Bader went 3/5 with a home run against his former team, the New York Mets. Thomson kept Bader in the leadoff spot for the remainder of the week, and boy, did it work. Bader had a great week and has had an even better start to his Phillies career. Bader has a .349 BA with a .940 OPS in 38 games played for the Phillies. Not only has he delivered offensively, but defensively, he’s been great as well. Bader has made some really impressive grabs in the outfield, and for the first time in a while, it feels like the Phillies have found their centerfielder.

    Dave Dombrowski did an incredible job this trade deadline, not only acquiring Harrison Bader but also Jhoan Duran, who has continued to pitch great for us as the closer. The Phillies added a legit CF and closer and now look like a team primed to make some noise in the postseason.

    Two Weeks Remain

    The Phillies kick off their final road trip of the season tonight, as they open up a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (84-65), a team that’s fighting to clinch the NL West. This series could also be a potential playoff matchup. The Dodgers have had a down year compared to where everyone expected them to be. Injuries have hit them hard, and the pitching isn’t what they had hoped. The Phillies always seem to play well at Dodger Stadium, so wins in 2/3 games seem likely. They have an off day on Thursday before they play a three-game weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-75).

    The Phillies need just one more win on the season to clinch the NL East, and I like their odds to do it tonight at 10:10 EST with Ranger Suarez on the mound.

    Weekly Predictions

    Not only do the Phillies win the NL East this week, but they also overtake the Milwaukee Brewers for the one seed in the National League.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Brandon Marsh Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Harrison Bader J.T. Realmuto JT Realmuto Kyle Schwarber MLB New York Mets Nick Castellanos Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Ranger Suarez Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized:Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • The New York Mets Come to Town in September Division Showdown for Phillies – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Credit: John Jones/Imagn Images

    The Phillies took 2/3 from the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins last week, helping them maintain a seven-game lead in the NL East.

    The New York Mets (76-67) come to town for a four-game series that can make or break their season.

    The Phillies have an opportunity to make up for what happened in New York just a few weeks ago and bury the Mets.

    The Final Sprint

    The Phillies enter Monday night with their magic number sitting at 13 and the Mets coming to town for a four-game series. To say this series is the most important so far this season is an understatement, especially after the Phillies were swept in New York just two weeks ago. Luckily, the Phillies won’t have to deal with the horrors or parabolic microphones that Citi Field brings. They will have to deal with being without their top hitter, Trea Turner, as he is currently undergoing MRI scans on his right hamstring after he left the game early Sunday. They are unsure how serious the strain is, but it’s not ideal for the Phillies to be without their leadoff hitter for the next few games and possibly even weeks.

    If Trea does end up on the IL, I am curious who Rob Thomson will end up batting leadoff. With the year Kyle Schwarber has had, I feel like you have to keep him at the second spot in the order. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bader or even Stott bat leadoff if Trea misses an extended amount of time.

    Revenge Time

    PHOTO: John Jones/Imagn Images

    As the Phillies enter this series against the Mets, I am feeling confident this team will win at least 2/4, if not 3/4, over the Mets at home. After getting swept on the road a few weeks ago, I would like to think this team has the firepower to get there get back in some way. This is a series where the Phillies need Bryce Harper to tap into some of that postseason energy and deliver some big hits. If Turner is out for this entire series, which is likely, the Phillies will need their big bats in Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to show up. Schwarber was in the midst of a 0-17 stretch the last time he played the Mets, so I’m hopeful that won’t be happening again this series.

    I’m also looking for Alec Bohm and Harrison Bader to stay consistent as well. Bader has been a great addition to this team as he has made some great plays in centerfield while also coming up with some clutch hits.

    The Phillies will also need a better pitching performance from Aaron Nolan in game one compared to the last time he pitched. Nola has been shaky since returning from the IL, and without Zach Wheeler for the rest of the season, the Phillies desperately need Nola to get back on track. If Nola can have a solid start tonight, that would give both him and the Phillies a much-needed confidence boost heading down the stretch.

    Upcoming Week

    After the Phillies complete their four-game series against the Mets, they jump right into a weekend series matchup against the Kansas City Royals (73-70), a team that is also fighting for a playoff spot. This team is targeting a playoff spot in the American League.

    As of Monday, the Royals are two games back of the final wild card spot in the American League. The Phillies have a big week ahead with a chance to not only bury the Mets but take full control of the NL East with 19 games remaining.

    Weekly Prediction: Bryce Harper has one of those signature series where he crushes the ball and powers the Phillies to a series win against both the Mets and Royals.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Harrison Bader J.T. Realmuto JT Realmuto Kansas City Royals Kyle Schwarber Mets MLB New York Mets Nick Castellanos NL NL East Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Ranger Suarez Rob Thomson Royals Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized:News Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Phillies take another series from Marlins, but Trea Turner exits with hamstring injury

    The Phillies took another series down in Miami. 

    They lost to the Marlins, 5-4, on Sunday, but still took two of three for the set to make it three straight series wins ever since that disaster of a trip up to Queens a couple of weeks ago. 

    The bats piled on Friday night while Cristopher Sánchez was stellar again in the first win; Bryce Harper homered, Harrison Bader stayed hot, and Jesús Luzardo held strong for the second on Saturday; then Taijuan Walker bounced back from a bad first frame on Sunday to fight through six innings and afford the Phillies a chance to climb back. They just couldn’t manage that last hit in their lone loss. Otto Lopez’s second homer of the day, a seventh-inning solo shot off José Alvarado, put the game just out of reach despite one last push and a run knocked in by Kyle Schwarber in the ninth.

    The Phillies left the field at LoanDepot Park on Sunday at 83-60. They’re still holding a healthy lead over the Mets in the NL East race, which now stands at 7.5 games, but that lead is about to be put back up to the test again – and with a scare now that they might have to go without Trea Turner for it, who pulled up lame running out a ground ball on Sunday (more on that below).

    They’re returning home to Citizens Bank Park next, and the Mets will be meeting them there for a four-game set beginning Monday night at 6:45 p.m. ET.

    Last time at Citi Field, the Phillies got swept in a rivalry matchup they looked largely unprepared for, and the rest of the season series to this point hasn’t looked much better for them. 

    The Mets are 7-2 against the Phillies to this point in 2025. They have the Phillies’ number, and the Phillies need that to change quickly. 

    Because one good showing this week can effectively put the division away…or create the space for it to be a wide-open race again if it goes south the other way. 

    Aaron Nola is expected to go up against New York’s Nolan McLean to open the series. The season hasn’t been kind to the Phillies’ veteran right-hander, through injury and then a rough return from it, but there would be no better spot for a return to form. He needs it, and the club needs to see something from him as it begins to form its postseason rotation. 

    Ranger Suárez goes Tuesday night against Sean Manaea in a battle of lefties, and then it’s Sánchez’s turn against right-hander Clay Holmes on Wednesday. 

    For those two, it’s simple: Keep pitching lights out, all while the bats try not to get fooled again. 

    It’s a pivotal point in the season for the Phils, that could really help to set the tone for October. Make it count. 

    Trea-Turner-Homer-Phillies-MArlins-9.7.25-MLB.jpgSam Navarro/Imagn Images

    Trea Turner homered earlier in Sunday’s loss to the Marlins.

    A few other notes from Miami…

    • Trea Turner went 4-for-5 in Friday’s win to continue on as the Phillies’ most consistent hitter this season. He got the day off on Saturday, then on Sunday, he hit a solo homer in the sixth, but exited quickly in the seventh after running out a ground ball that was misfired to first.

    The immediate diagnosis is a hamstring strain, per the Phillies (via The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber). Then The Athletic’s Jayson Stark chimed in with the following observation from last season:

    There will be more to learn once the Phillies get back home, and of course, they’ll hope that Turner’s injury isn’t that severe. But it’s not the kind of precedent anyone wants to hear this late into the year. 

    • Nick Castellanos tripled in the second inning on Sunday after hitting a fly ball to center field that Miami’s Jakob Marsee missed the diving catch attempt on. Brandon Marsh scored from the first, and that marked the start of the Phillies’ gradual climb back to making it close. 

    Castellanos finished Sunday 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, he’s slashing .200/.253/.321. He wasn’t in the lineup through the first two games of the Marlins series, and at this point, he isn’t an everyday player anymore.

    Brandon Marsh, Harrison Bader, and Max Kepler seems to be the leading combo in the outfield now. Castellanos should still see time in right field, but it’s being heavily cut into now. He has to play a different role, and he has to find a way to leave an impact with it.

    • Walker Buehler started for the IronPigs in Triple-A on Saturday. The Phillies picked him up last week, and intend to add him into a six-man rotation to close out the regular season. For a club with uncertain right-handed starting depth, they need to see what might be there.

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    Nick Tricome

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  • Phillies Weekly Recap: Phillies Maintain Six Game Lead Despite Being Swept By Mets – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Phillies got swept by the New York Mets to start the week, shrinking their division lead to four games. After the weekend, the Phillies had taken 3/4 from the Atlanta Braves while the Mets lost 3/4 to the Miami Marlins. With that, the Phillies’ lead went back to six games as we enter the final month of the season.

    September Starts Now

    As the calendar turns over to September, the Phillies lead the NL East by six games, which is something they would’ve loved if they heard that in April. However, the last series at Citi Field proved that playing the Mets on the road is the worst thing that could happen to the Phillies come October. The Phillies have lost 10 straight games at Citi Field, and this past series was no different. The Phillies got absolutely dominated. To put it frankly, the Phillies showed absolutely no fight against the Mets. Something that I will touch on later. However, that debacle of a series went down the drain after they returned home and took 3/4 from the Atlanta Braves. Starting the series off with a four-homer game from Kyle Schwarber, the fourth in franchise history. Thanks to our friends down in Miami, the Marlins took 3/4 from the Mets, bringing the lead back to six games.

    That brings us to today. A six-game lead with 25 games to play in the season. Four of those 25 are against the New York Mets, but this time at home. If the Phillies can take 3/4 from the Mets during that series while maintaining this current lead, they could bury the Mets that series. If that’s the case, this team is going to have to put up way more of a fight than last time.

    Lack of Urgency

    This is something I have avoided all year because I don’t want to doubt Rob Thomson, but with the season coming down the stretch, my biggest concerns are the offense disappearing and Rob Thomson. Last Tuesday, while the Phillies were getting mopped up by the Mets, the umpiring was questionable (as it was the whole series). I was waiting and waiting for Rob Thomson to explode and give his team some kind of juice. Instead, he just sat in the dugout. The night before, he put Jordan Romano in a close game, then immediately gave up four runs. No spark, no flare, not much of anything. A series against a division rival, and the team looked flat. It reminded me of the days of Charlie Manuel. I’m watching, thinking Charlie would’ve lost his mind by now. I’m not even in the dugout, and I can tell this team is flat. Isn’t it part of a manager’s job to motivate their guys when needed?

    Ever since Rob Thomson put Craig Kimbrel back into that Diamondbacks series two seasons ago, I have questioned his bullpen decisions in big-time games over and over again. A clear example of this is putting Orion Kerkering in (a guy who has struggled inheriting runners on base) in a BASES LOADED jam against the Mets. What do you think happened? He gave up runs. For someone who claims to be so analytical, I truly question Thomson’s managerial feel for a game. Yes, baseball is a numbers game, but you also have to go with your instinctive feeling. The fact that we kept trotting out Jordan Romano and his 8 ERA is beyond me. Then, for the organization to cut Joe Ross and not Romano is questionable to me as well. If Romano is on the postseason roster, that tells me everything I need to know about this team. Time and time again, it feels like Rob presses the wrong button, and one wrong push might cost him his job this offseason.

    Now, yes, they turned the page and beat the Atlanta Braves, but is that something we really should be happy about? Beating down on a team that is 62-75. They did what they should have done. I’m not calling for Thomson’s job, but if this team loses in a fashion in which the offense disappears and Thomson mismanages the bullpen (again), I think the conversations are going to get really loud about whether Rob is the guy. This core is not getting any younger, and at some point, you have to explore other options. He’s a player’s manager, but sometimes this city needs a little tough love. I’ve yet to see any spark from any player this year outside of Turner and Schwarber.

    Even Harper has been inconsistent lately. Oh, and can we please cut it out with this “Rivalry” series equipment? Here we are entering the final stretch of the season, and our superstar is worried about his batting gloves and cleats matching the color of our division rivals. Guess what, the Phillies are 0-2 in those games. It doesn’t work.

    New Addition

    Hopefully, that spark is coming soon since the Phillies announced yesterday the signing of Walker Buehler, a right-handed pitcher who was let go from the Red Sox last week. Buehler is a former World Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers and provides the attitude this Phillies team desperately needs. Buehler offers playoff experience along with a guy you can trust in a big game in big moments. I think this signing is going to be a very beneficial one for the Phillies come playoff time. With Zach Wheeler done for the year, the only righties we have are Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker. Buehler provides depth at that right-handed pitcher position and can start games but also come out of the bullpen.

    Upcoming Week

    The Phillies have a big week ahead, starting with a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers (85-53). They play Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Milwaukee with an off day mixed in on Tuesday. A huge three-game series with the top two teams in the NL based on record. The Phillies are currently 5.5 games back of the Brewers for the top spot in the NL. After the Brewers, the Phillies head to Miami to take on the Marlins (65-72) in a three-game series.

    It would be massive if the Phillies could win 5/6 on the week. Especially if they can take at least 2/3 from the Brewers, a team that swept them at home earlier this season.

    Weekly Predictions

    The Phillies’ offense gets back into a consistent groove after a week of inconsistency.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Brandon Marsh Bryce Harper Harrison Bader Jordan Romano Kyle Schwarber MLB Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Playoffs Rob Thompson Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized:Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • A Troubling Series in New York – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Phillies entered Monday with a 7 game lead in the NL East. A comfortable, yet not comforting lead. While the Phillies have been playing better baseball of late, notably destroying the Seattle Mariners, the Mets have been in a free fall. Before the start of this series the Mets were 14-19 since the All-Star break. 

    Monday was the beginning of a three game set in Queens, the biggest series of the season so far. The Phillies had a golden opportunity to bury this Mets team and take a stranglehold on the NL East. Instead the exact opposite has happened. The Phillies were swept in embarrassing fashion. They held an early lead in the first two games before having meltdown innings. Instead of burying the Mets deeper than they already were, the Phillies have let them climb out of their grave. This series was about more than moving up and down in the standings. It has given the Mets life, energy and momentum. The Phillies awoke their sleepy northern neighbor with bad baseball and a loser attitude. 

    Game 1

    With an early lead and Cristopher Sanchez on the mound you thought there was no way the Phillies lose. Instead they followed the trend of recent playoff losses. Starting the game off great, getting an early 3 run lead. However, the lead should have been much more. The Phillies left runners on base each inning, including Turner, Schwarber, and Harper going down 1, 2, 3 with two guys on and no outs. That simply cannot happen. You have the Mets best pitcher on the ropes, with a chance to put a dent in the bullpen to start the series. And you let him off the hook. 

    This was followed up by a disaster bottom of the 4th inning. A Cristopher Sanchez balk and wild pitch allowed Alonso to advance to third. I would have liked to see a mound visit after the balk. Sanchez never makes a mistake like that and a visit could have limited the damage before it began. The Phillies have been slow to help their starters all season.

    Then the Mets added a few runs through hits but two ground balls, first to Bohm and then to Turner, should have been kept in the infield. The ground balls may not have turned into outs, but it would have saved runs. It was sloppy, lazy baseball from the left side of the infield. The next inning Sanchez had Soto picked off but Harper held onto the ball too long leading to a Stott drop allowing Soto to reach second and eventually score. 

    That was all she wrote for the Phillies. After the meltdown in the fourth the team looked dead. Let’s not forget it was still a 3-3 baseball game. But by the look of the players and the energy they exuded you could see they didn’t have it. The thing is, nothing drastic did the unraveling. It was bad fundamental baseball. The Phillies did everything in their power to let the Mets hang around and then said here’s the lead you can have it. It was a no guts performance from the ball club. They have to be mentally tougher down the stetch. 

    Game 2

    After the disappointing loss on Monday, Luzardo took the mound to try and even the series. In what felt like a must win, the Phillies once again took an early lead. Harper inside-outed a fastball to knock in two runs. The lead was short-lived. The Mets put up 5 runs in their half of the inning. Once again, an early lead was completely gone. And once again, bad baseball was involved. A Bader overthrow allowed two runners to advance, really putting Luzardo against it. 

    At least this game the Phillies showed some fight. An 8th inning home run from former Met, Harrison Bader tied the game up at 5. Duran ended up blowing the game in the 9th as the Phillies division lead shrank to 5 games.

    What stands out from the 9th inning is the impact of the hitters. The Phillies and Mets both had the top of the order in the 9th. The Phillies went down 1, 2, 3. I can’t explain why but they look overmatched. They look to be pressing to do anything. They can’t figure out a way to win at Citi Field and it is infuriating. 

    Game 3

    I wrote my thoughts for the first two games during the day on Wednesday. I was really hoping I could change my tone a little after game 3. That did not happen. The Phillies were swept by the Mets. The division is down to 4 games. It feels like the lowest point for this group since being eliminated by the Diamondbacks in the NLCS.

    You have to give credit to Nolan McClean who pitched eight solid innings. But the Phillies offense showed little fight. They weren’t even able to scrap together a run with their backs across the wall. This is what concerns me. When they are down, the team looks dead. They look like they want to go home. Instead of rallying the troops and scraping together a win to gain a game back in the division they peter out on their way back down 95.

    Take Aways

    It is hard to take any positives away from this series. The Phillies had a golden opportunity and couldn’t take advantage. The way they lost the baseball games is the most concerning. They look like a team afraid of the moment, wanting the big hit, but not making the right plays to win the game. The Phillies need to find a brand of baseball and stick to it. Against the Mariners they were disciplined, hit the ball where it was pitched, and took advantage of their opportunities. Against the Mets, they did the exact opposite. They were overly aggressive, fell short in big situations, and played sloppy baseball. 

    It is hard to figure out what this team’s brand is, because right now the brand is inconsistentcy. The Phillies are consistently inconsistent. This is where a large portion of frustration stems from for the fans. The Phillies need to man up the rest of the season and prove to themselves they are the baseball team they think they are because the fans are not 100% convinced. 

    Even after an excruciating series in New York, the Phillies still control their own destiny. They have a four game lead in the division with 29 games left. The Mets come to South Philly in early September for a huge four game series. All hope is not lost and this team will rally. I still expect them to win the division, but this series was not a good indication of what we could see in the playoffs.

    Photo Credit: Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images

    Tags: Bryce Harper Cristopher Sanchez Jesus Luzardo Kyle Schwarber Major League Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner

    Categorized:Phillies

    Liam Mahoney

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  • Phillies Weekly Recap: Zach Wheeler Out 6-8 Months, Phillies Prepare For NL East Showdown – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    May 23, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

    On Saturday, the Phillies announced that Zach Wheeler would be missing the remainder of the season with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, an injury that requires surgery and has a timetable of 6-8 months for a full recovery. The good news, Wheeler had the blood clot successfully removed. The bad news, the Phillies need to find a way to replace their Cy Young caliber ace for the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs.

    Win It For Wheeler

    No MLB team ever wants to lose its ace, especially a team that has World Series aspirations. For the Phillies, this situation is a new one. Since Wheeler signed with the Phillies, he has been a staple of the rotation, especially in the playoffs. Over the last three years, Wheeler has been great in the playoffs and was the best thing we had to ensure a win in a series. You knew if Wheeler was taking the mound, the Phillies had a decent chance to win the game. Now, with Wheeler gone for the season, it’s going to be extremely hard to replace an arm like his. Luckily for the Phillies, they have three arms I would trust in a playoff series, which is more than a lot of other teams have.

    With Wheeler being gone, I could see the Phillies rolling out a staff of Christopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Aaron Nola for a playoff series. Getting a first-round bye is massive for this team, as the National League gets the extra day off in between games this year (the leagues alternate each year). With that extra day, the Phillies will only need three arms for the NLDS. Game one starter is easily Christopher Sanchez, with game two belonging to either Ranger Suarez or Aaron Nola. If Rob wants back-to-back lefties, he will go with Ranger. If he wants to mix a righty in there, he will go with Nola. Despite his injuries and inconsistency, I trust Nola to show up and perform in the postseason. Like Wheeler, he has pitched well in the playoffs, and let’s not forget he was our ace at one point. My stance may change by season’s end, but I wouldn’t mind if Nola got the ball in a game two scenario.

    Ranger Suarez is cool, calm, and collected every time he steps on the mound, no matter the game. Having him pitch in a game two or three is not a terrible situation to be in. The Phillies are very fortunate this year to have a plethora of starting pitching, and if the offense can pick up the pitching, this team can still make noise in the postseason. If Suarez can close out an NLCS to send us to the World Series circa 2023, I would absolutely trust him starting a playoff game for us. He has found his groove in his last two starts, striking out 10+ in both. If that’s the Ranger, the Phillies get in the postseason, I will feel extremely confident this team could win a series even without Zach Wheeler.

    Offense Steps Up

    Losing your ace means you’re going to need more contributions from key players on offense. JT Realmuto has been on fire since June, leading all catchers in batting average since then. Bryce Harper has been swinging a hot bat, and Bryson Stott has been thriving in the nine hole. Rob Thompson moved Stott to 9th in the order a few weeks ago, and I have loved it ever since. Not only is Stott hitting more, but Trea Turner has been great since having Stott before the order turns around to him. Turner is hitting .300 and is the current NL leader in hits with 160. On top of Turner playing great defense this year, he is having his best season as a Phillie so far.

    Kyle Schwarber had a down weekend against the Nationals, but still has 45 homers and 109 RBI. He is second in home runs in baseball and leads the majors in RBI. Schwarber has been elite this year, and the Phillies will need his offense to remain consistent as we head down the stretch.

    Upcoming Week

    The Phillies have a massive week coming up, starting tonight against the divisional rival New York Mets (69-61). The Phillies are currently 7 games up on the Mets as we enter play this evening. The Phillies have an opportunity to bury the Mets this week if they can take 2/3 or even sweep them. It’s the biggest series of the season for this team, right off the heels of the Zach Wheeler news. I would like to think this Phillies team has the toughness and resilience to take at least 2/3 from the team that ended their season last year. It’s also ironic that it’s against Wheeler’s former team. After a three-game series against the Mets, the Phillies head back home for a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves (59-71). Another division rival that will be gunning for the Phillies despite being 10 games out of a playoff spot. The Braves would love to play spoiler and take some games from the Phillies.

    This Philadelphia Phillies team enters the biggest week of the season without its ace. It’s time to see what this team is made of and how battle-tested this team truly is. If the Phillies could take 5/7 games overall, it would be an extremely successful week.

    Prediction of the week: Who else picks up this team other than Bryce Harper? Harper and Schwarber power the Phillies this week, both clubbing 3 home runs apiece. A big week means I get to predict big.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Jhoan Duran JT Realmuto Kyle Schwarber Max Kepler MLB New York Mets Nick Castellanos NL East Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Ranger Suarez Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized:Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • In aftermath of Zack Wheeler loss, Phillies showcase a new rally cry vs. Mariners

    One way to reassure your fan base, and serve notice to the rest of MLB, that losing your best pitcher and best overall player isn’t an automatic championship barrier is to do just what the Phillies did this week.

    They wiped the Citizens Bank Park floor with one of the better teams the American League has to offer, pummeling the Mariners in a three-game sweep by a total score of 29-13 and pounding out an astronomical 48 hits and nine homers, including an exclamation point shot by National League homer leader Kyle Schwarber on Wednesday afternoon to put the finishing touch on an 11-2 whitewashing.

    No Zack Wheeler? No problem.

    Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo each took turns spinning gems while the Mariners spun themselves in and out the batter’s box to the tune of a record 46 strikeouts, 34 coming from the starting rotation. Seattle added to the unseasonably gusty winds swirling around South Philly as the outer edge of Hurricane Erin climbed up the Atlantic. .

    Who’d have thought these Phillies would set a strikeout record that wasn’t charged to their batting order?

    The Mariners walked into a buzzsaw they had no idea was coming, and neither did most of the fans that packed The Bank this week to witness an unprecedented display of batting prowess to complement the electric pitching.

    “Seems like they hit some balls hard, but a lot of what they didn’t hit hard also found holes,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson told reporters after Wednesday’s close game turned into another debacle, a curious statement given the Phils’ nine hits that found holes in the grandstands. “It just made it difficult.” 

    Nobody tell Malcolm Jenkins, but the Phillies are infringing on the Eagles legend’s trademark as they make their messaging loud and clear about losing Wheeler for the rest of the season, and probably the postseason, from a blood clot near his throwing shoulder.

    They all they got, they all they need.

    Nothing would be more bittersweet than seeing these Phillies bring John Middleton his bleepin’ trophy back while Wheeler, in the midst of perhaps his greatest season, watched from home, but the reality is you don’t have squint too hard to see another Philly Special taking place.

    Is there a doctor in the house? We need a blood sample to detect the potential of identical double helixes in the DNA strands of those Eagles and these Phillies. 

    Sánchez, now the team’s de facto ace, channeled his inner Nick Foles, foiling Seattle with an almost out-of-body experience on the mound Tuesday as he masterfully worked his changeup and sweeper against a Murderer’s Row of MLB dinger leader Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Eugenio Suárez, only to have it temporarily spoiled by Orion Kerkering’s inability to throw a strike.

    But the suddenly resurgent J.T. Realmuto’s eighth-inning blast followed by Jhoan Duran’s perfect ninth gave the Phillies exactly what they’d been missing for much of the season’s first four months, and what they’ll need for October to be red again — a serious power threat behind Bryce Harper, and a door-slammer in the ninth.

    Who knows if Realmuto will continue to resemble his 2022 form – the last time he clubbed more than 20 homers – and if the bottom-order Phillies will keep swinging the bats like they did against the Mariners. History says this streaky offense will come crashing back to Earth sooner than later.

    But it’s undeniable that Duran’s addition has already led the Phils to winning games that they previously would’ve lost, like Tuesday’s 6-4 thriller and the consecutive one-run triumphs in Texas two weekends ago that cemented another three-game sweep.

    Is this really a Phillies team refueled by the loss their ace, or just another ephemeral magic-carpet sweeping through the ebb and flow of a long season that’s bound to descend to sea level perhaps as early as this weekend against the Nationals?

    Only time will tell.

    But with every Schwarbarian blast as he hunts down Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP, and with every high-leverage appearance by the Durantula, the Phillies keep pulling away from the Mets in the NL East and hanging with the white-hot Brewers for the NL’s top seed.

    And every game the Phillies get an RBI from someone not named Turner, Harper or Schwarber – that’s up to four straight games, all wins –  the Phillies become an increasingly dangerous team.

    It was suggested here last month that the Phillies didn’t do enough in acquiring only Duran and Harrison Bader at the deadline to truly tilt the championship-contender axis their way, but if these are the Phillies that show up in the playoffs, if role players like Bryson Stott and Max Kepler have awoken permanently from their season-long slumber, then they stand a much better chance of contending than previously thought.

    At this point, it doesn’t appear any reinforcements are coming, or needed, from top prospects Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford.

    Right now, the fate of the 2025 Phillies rests in the arms and bats of the guys who just made a long flight home for the Mariners even longer.

    These Phillies are all they got … is it all they need?

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    Geoff Mosher

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  • Phillies return home with sweep of Mariners in offensive onslaught

    The Phillies needed to get back home after a 10-game rollercoaster of a road trip, and they needed to come back to the Citizens Bank Park crowd with a performance like this week’s. 

    The bats hit all over the field and into the seats; the starting pitchers, in the face of losing Zack Wheeler indefinitely as their ace at the top, held strong; and though the bullpen still proved shaky overall, so long as they can get to the ninth, their newest closer can and will shut it down. 

    The Phillies swept the visiting – and contending – Seattle Mariners in a three-game series and the first leg of a six-game homestand for the club in South Philadelphia, capping the set off with an 11-2 win on Wednesday backed by 12 strikeouts and six excellent innings from Jesús Luzardo.

    The Phillies are 74-53, and continue to maintain their lead over the Mets for first in the NL East, which now stands at a 6.0-game buffer with the Nationals on deck and then a potentially pivotal trip up to Queens coming up. 

    Their work against Seattle was a good start to lead them into it. They needed that. 

    They needed Ranger Suárez to bounce back. The left-hander was falling back into what looked to be becoming habitual second-half struggles, but with the makeup of the Phillies’ starting rotation suddenly shifting, he rounded back into dominance on Monday night.

    Suárez mowed through the Mariners’ order for 6.2 innings, collecting 10 strikeouts and holding them scoreless until, after 102 pitches, a solo homer from Mitch Garver and a hit by pitch to Dominic Canzone that immediately followed put a blemish on the effort and gave manager Rob Thomson the cue to hand the ball off to the bullpen. (What they didn’t need, though, was Jordan Romano, with a six-run lead, nearly sending it all off the rails in an instant. It’s only getting harder to trust him with any situation anymore.)

    They needed Cristopher Sánchez to continue endlessly rising to the occasion, too. 

    The de facto No. 1 in the Phillies’ rotation now, Sánchez took his turn on the mound on Tuesday night with his changeup as lethal as ever, leaving Seattle’s lineup flailing as he went on to match a career-best 12 strikeouts. When he was pulled in the seventh after allowing a walk, but not before he registered that last strikeout with a 4-1 lead, the left-hander handed the ball to Thomson and walked back to the dugout with the crowd of more than 44,000 not just standing for him, but roaring. (It just happened to be Orion Kerkering’s turn to run into trouble in relief right after, but the Phillies found a way to survive it.)

    Then they really needed that offensive onslaught. 

    By the second inning on Tuesday night, every batter in the lineup had a hit. Bryce Harper went on to crush two homers way into right field, J.T. Realmuto went solo to left for his trip around the bases, and Trea Turner, before either of those, launched a three-run shot over the fence for his first home run at home all season – and what was, then officially wasn’t his 1,500th career hit. 

    “To be honest with you, I don’t think that’s ever happened to me where I haven’t hit a homer at home for however many games,” Turner said from the clubhouse afterward. “Fifty games sounds like a lot, but we’re 120 games in or whatever it is, that’s pretty crazy that I’ve hit as many as I have on the road and zero at home. It was kind of becoming a joke or just giving up on it because it’s really weird.”

    But it was hard to even realize it had been that long before it, finally, happened. 

    Turner went 4-for-6 leading off on Monday night with two runs scored and five runs driven in. On Tuesday, Turner singled, stole a base, and then scored to spot the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Then on Wednesday, he sailed a pitch to the right-center wall from the jump and flew around the bases for a lead-off triple that went on to tie the game early, 1-1.

    In his last nine games entering Wednesday’s series finale, Turner was slashing .450/.476/.600 with a nine-game hit streak that he quickly stretched into 10. 

    The rest of the lineup has been following his lead.

    “I think for him, and I think he understood, that for us to win, he’s gotta score runs and he’s gotta be on base, utilize the speed,” Thomson said postgame on Tuesday night. “The home runs, they’re gonna come…He’s so important to our offense.”

    As are Harper, Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, and of late, Bryson Stott.

    Harper singled to begin the eighth on Tuesday night, then Realmuto homered again for the go-ahead. 

    Schwarber tee’d up on his 44th homer of the season earlier in the first, and reached a new career-high 105 RBIs quickly into Wednesday with a sac fly that scored Turner from third, and all as the “M-V-P” chants grow louder. He still has more than a month to keep building his case, and did so with one more homer to pile on late into Wednesday.

    Then Stott, settling in at the ninth spot in the order, doubled and went 2-for-5 on Monday; drew a walk, stole a base, scored, and homered on Tuesday; and doubled to the right-field wall to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the second on Wednesday that they never looked back from.

    “I like him right where he’s at,” Thomson said pregame Wednesday of having Stott that far down the lineup. “He’s playing great.”

    And the Phillies need that from him. 

    They needed everything they got at the Bank this week, and more of it as the regular season pushes into its final month. 

    Finally, they needed Jhoan Duran, for the save on Tuesday night and just in general. 

    Because for as unstable as the Phillies’ bullpen can still be, one thing is absolute about it now: If the Phils get to the ninth with the lead, you’re seeing spiders on the screen and triple-digits on the radar gun. 

    Then it’s game over.

    Managing the outfield

    Nick Castellanos sat for Wednesday’s series finale against the Mariners. He sat on Saturday in Washington, too. 

    Before the trade deadline, he was an assumed everyday player, but since Harrison Bader came in from Minnesota, the Phillies have been trying to manage a four-man outfield rotation between Bader, Castellanos, Max Kepler, and a Brandon Marsh on a considerable hot streak of late. 

    In his office ahead of Wednesday’s game, Thomson indicated to reporters that the Phillies will likely continue to operate on that outfield rotation. Well, for now, at least. 

    “I mean, if three guys get really hot and one guy’s not…yeah,” Thomson said, not wholly committing to the idea. 

    But for now, Marsh started in left on Wednesday, Bader in center, and Kepler in right. 

    Marsh went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored at the plate, Bader 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Kepler 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fourth that put the Phillies ahead, 3-1. 

    Bader and Kepler have both had their struggles with consistency. So has Castellanos, although he did go 2-for-5 in back-to-back games Sunday in Washington and then Monday at home against Seattle before going 0-for-4 on Tuesday night. 

    There’s a balance to be struck now between getting all four outfielders enough rest and at-bats, Thomson explained. The manager also noted that Castellanos’ knee injury, which he suffered up at Yankee Stadium in late July, was another point to be mindful of as he navigates who plays and when. 

    Granted, Thomson acknowledged, too, that Castellanos would disregard that as someone who prides themselves on playing every day.

    But…

    “He’s a good teammate, and he knows that those other guys are good players, too,” Thomson said of Castellanos.

    “I think they’re all everyday players to tell you the truth,” Thomson added. It’s just you gotta keep them all rested and sharp at the same time if you can.”

    Welcome back

    José Alvarado was reinstated from his 80-game PED suspension on Tuesday and was finally back on the mound on Wednesday.

    Called on for the eighth inning, and with a comfortable 8-2 lead to work with, the Citizens Bank Park crowd welcomed Alvarado back with cheers upon PA announcer Dan Baker’s call that he was entering the game. 

    Then the flamethrowing left-hander made quick work of the Mariners: A 1-2-3 inning, with a strikeout of star slugger Cal Raleigh to send them toward the ninth. 

    He didn’t miss a beat. 

    Nick Tricome

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  • Phillies Weekly Recap: Phillies Maintain NL East Lead, Zach Wheeler Placed On IL – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Phillies went 6-4 over their longest road trip of the season, maintaining a 5-game lead in the NL East. As Aaron Nola returned from the IL, Zach Wheeler went on the IL, with an upper extremity blood clot in his right shoulder. Wheeler currently has no timetable for a return.

    Happy To Be Home

    Despite having a winning record on the road trip, the Phillies’ offense struggled at times, and the pitching rotation took a massive hit with Zach Wheeler heading to the IL. The Phillies started this road trip last weekend in Texas against the Rangers, taking 2/3 in Texas. They lost 2/3 in Cincinnati to the Reds, a team fighting for the final Wild Card spot. They closed out their longest road trip of the season with four games in Washington, splitting the series 2/2 with the Nationals. While they head back home with a winning record on the trip, nothing can make up for the loss of Zach Wheeler.

    It was announced Saturday night that the Phillies would be placing Zach Wheeler on the IL with an upper extremity blood clot in his right shoulder. The Phillies have no timetable for his return at the moment, as he will be getting more testing done on his shoulder throughout the week. The Phillies losing their ace down the stretch is brutal, and with no timetable for his return, who knows if he will even pitch again this season. Blood clots are a serious issue, and I can see the Phillies being over-cautious with Wheeler. My best-case scenario is that he comes back with a week or two left in the season to get a start or two under his belt before the playoffs. The worst case is we don’t see him till next spring training. It’s going to be a very interesting next few days as more news is expected to come on Zach Wheeler’s health.

    Closing Out August

    As we enter the final two weeks of August, the race to the postseason is heating up. The Phillies currently hold a 5-game lead over the New York Mets for the top spot in the division. To close out August, the Phillies have a three-game series against the Mariners this upcoming week and then three series in a row against NL East competition. The Nationals come to town this weekend before the Phillies close the month out with a three-game series against the Mets and a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. These next two weeks will be crucial for the Phillies as they try to set themselves up for back-to-back NL East titles. They have a chance to bury the Mets and take away any last hope the Braves have of making the postseason.

    The offense needs to get it going, and following an 11-run outburst in the final game of the Nationals series, I would hope the offense is starting to find its groove again. Getting Alec Bohm in the lineup is huge, and he showed that Sunday with a homer in his first game back. If the offense can put up 5-7 runs a game down the stretch, the Phillies should be able to use their top-tier bullpen to close out games.

    Speaking of the bullpen, reliever Jose Alvarado is expected to return from suspension this week, which will give the Phillies another hard-throwing lefty out of the bullpen. The Phillies also avoided disaster after newly acquired closer Jhoan Duran took a line drive off the foot Friday night. He was carted off the field as the city of Philadelphia held its breath. They were able to exhale on Sunday after Duran came in and earned a save against the Nationals.

    Upcoming Week

    The Phillies welcome the Seattle Mariners (68-57) to town for a three-game series against a team that’s also fighting for a division. The Mariners are 1.5 games back of the Houston Astros for first place in the NL West. The Phillies have an off day on Thursday, followed by a three-game series against the Nationals in Philadelphia. If the Phillies can finish the week winning 4/6 games, I will be happy.

    Weekly Prediction

    Alec Bohm hits a pair of homers during this homestand, and Christopher Sanchez shines in his first start since the Zach Wheeler news.

    Tags: Aaron Nola Alec Bohm Bryce Harper Bryson Stott Christopher Sanchez Harrison Bader Jhoan Duran Jose Alvarado Kyle Schwarber Matt Strahm Nick Castellanos Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies Phillies Trea Turner Zach Wheeler

    Categorized:Phillies

    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Bryce Harper Breaks Records, Hits 350th HR in 2025 MLB Season

    Philadelphia Phillies’ superstar first baseman Bryce Harper is making headlines once again in the 2025 MLB season, demonstrating why he remains one of baseball’s most dominant forces. On May 16, 2025, Harper recorded his 1,000th RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in an 8–4 Phillies comeback victory. He also became the fourteenth player in MLB history to reach 1,000 RBIs, 1,000 runs, and 1,000 walks before turning 33.

    The two-time National League MVP continues to add to his impressive legacy. On July 23, Harper hit his 350th career home run when he hit it in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox. This milestone further cements his place among baseball’s elite power hitters.

    Record-Breaking Performance Sets New Team Standard

    Harper’s 14 extra-base hits are the most for a Phillies player in a ten-game stretch in the last 125 years. This remarkable achievement showcases Harper’s incredible consistency and power at the plate during the 2025 season.

    The 32-year-old slugger has been on an absolute tear, demonstrating the type of performance that has made him a cornerstone of the Phillies franchise. His ability to produce extra-base hits at such a historic rate has provided crucial support for Philadelphia’s playoff push.

    Opening Day Heroics Set the Tone

    Harper’s homer in the seventh tied the game. The Phillies kicked off their 2025 campaign with a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Opening Day, with Harper playing a pivotal role against his former team.

    He hit second in the season opener behind Trea Turner. Alec Bohm hit third and Kyle Schwarber hit fourth. This lineup configuration proved successful, with manager Rob Thomson continuing to experiment with different batting orders to maximize the team’s offensive potential.

    Harper’s performance on Opening Day was particularly notable given his spring training struggles. He had 44 plate appearances this spring without one. However, true to form, Harper showed up when it mattered most during the regular season.

    Leadership and Team Chemistry

    Beyond his on-field achievements, Harper has emerged as a vocal leader in the Phillies clubhouse. Prior to an Opening Day victory over the Nationals, Harper had an interesting outlook on some of the younger players on the team — a group that he says is no longer “The Daycare” — heading into the 2025 season.

    Harper’s leadership extends to his relationships with teammates. His support for third baseman Alec Bohm has been particularly evident. The face of the franchise has been instrumental in fostering team chemistry as the Phillies pursue their championship aspirations.

    “It’s an opportunity to do it, possibly with guys who might not be here next year,” Harper said after the Opening Day win. “It’s a real possibility. Obviously, I want guys back and to keep plugging along and going with the group, but it’s a real possibility that won’t happen.”

    Current Season Statistics and Performance

    Through the 2025 season, Harper has continued to produce at an elite level. AVG · .266 · HR · 15 · RBI · 43 · R · 47 These numbers reflect his consistent contribution to the Phillies’ offensive attack.

    Harper’s performance has been particularly impressive considering the injury challenges he faced earlier in the season. Harper is hitting .500 with three home runs, five RBI and a 1.944 OPS over his last five games.

    Key Statistical Achievements in 2025:

    • Reached 1,000 career RBIs, becoming the 14th player in MLB history to achieve this before age 33
    • Hit his 350th career home run, joining an exclusive club of active players
    • Set a Phillies franchise record with 14 extra-base hits in a 10-game span
    • Maintained a batting average above .260 despite injury setbacks

    Injury Concerns and Resilience

    The 2025 season hasn’t been without its challenges for Harper. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch and exited Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies said Harper suffered a right elbow contusion and that his X-rays were negative.

    Harper winced in pain after the 95.6 mph four-seam fastball by Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider hit him in the bottom of the first inning. Fortunately, the injury wasn’t severe, and Harper was able to return to action relatively quickly.

    Additionally, Harper dealt with wrist inflammation that required a stint on the injured list. Harper missed just under four weeks due to inflammation in his wrist. His return to the lineup provided an immediate boost to the Phillies’ offensive production.

    Personal Life and Off-Field Updates

    Harper resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, relocating there during the 2023/2024 offseason. The move represents a new chapter for Harper and his growing family.

    Harper and his wife Kayla continue to expand their family. The Harpers’ third child, a daughter was born in April 2024. Harper recently announced their fourth pregnancy by debuting a blue colored bat, handed to him by Trea Turner, revealing that baby is a boy.

    Looking Ahead: Championship Aspirations

    “This is the best I felt in the last year,” Harper said after Friday’s game. “I’m really happy where I am, healthy, strong. I’m just trying to be the best player I can.”

    As the Phillies continue their push for a playoff spot, Harper’s leadership and performance will be crucial. The team currently finds itself in a competitive National League race, with every game carrying significant importance.

    A two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star, Harper is still in search of that elusive World Series title, and that will be his and the Phillies’ primary motivation in 2025.

    Team Outlook and Future Considerations

    • Several key Phillies players are in contract years, adding urgency to the 2025 campaign
    • Harper’s transition to first base has been seamless, providing defensive stability
    • The team’s offensive core remains potent with Harper, Schwarber, Turner, and Bohm
    • Philadelphia’s pitching staff, led by Zack Wheeler, complements the offensive firepower

    Harper’s Impact on Philadelphia Baseball

    Since signing his historic 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, Harper has lived up to expectations and then some. His presence has transformed the franchise, bringing consistent excellence and star power to Citizens Bank Park.

    The former first overall pick continues to demonstrate why he was once dubbed “Baseball’s Chosen One” on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a teenager. His ability to perform in clutch situations and lead by example has endeared him to Philadelphia fans.

    Conclusion: A Legacy in Progress

    As Bryce Harper continues to add to his impressive career statistics and lead the Phillies in their championship pursuit, the 2025 season represents another chapter in what is shaping up to be a Hall of Fame career. With milestone achievements already under his belt this season and the playoffs on the horizon, Harper remains focused on bringing a World Series title to Philadelphia.

    The combination of individual excellence and team leadership makes Harper invaluable to the Phillies’ success. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the superstar first baseman as he attempts to lead Philadelphia to baseball’s ultimate prize.

    Anita Kantar

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  • Instant observations: Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott even NLDS, save Phillies season

    Instant observations: Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott even NLDS, save Phillies season

    The Phillies just needed to break the seal.

    And they did in a big way Sunday, as a pair of monster home runs and a late triple evened the NLDS at 1-1 in a come-from-behind 7-6 walk-off Phillies victory.

    After blowing a two-run ninth-inning lead, the Phillies drew two walks and Nick Castellanos called game.

    Castellanos was mobbed in the infield as a party erupted in Citizens Bank Park. It was his third game-altering hit of a roller coaster ride in South Philly, one that will long be remembered as the Phillies are back in business following a lifeless Game 1 loss.

    The Mets were the feel-good story in baseball (or at least one of them this October), and they finally ran into a (red) brick wall in the form of the Phillies’ awakened offense. Things head up I-95 to Queens with the best-of-five series all squared up. Here’s a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from a storybook Game 2 win:

    The Good

    • Bryce Harper’s baseball bat carries the weight of an entire city on it. And in the sixth inning, he uncorked an aura of bliss and relief with one swing:

    The offense was in total muck and mire, but hitting can be contagious — and Nick Castellanos caught what Harper had seconds later:

    New life for a game, a series, and a season after two long balls, as the Phillies and Mets were suddenly tied at 3-apiece. The momentum had discernibly shifted.

    There’s something unique about baseball that makes it rightly worthy of the romanticism the sport gets from its hardcore and longtime fans. Other sports like basketball or football surely have momentum changes or hugely impactful plays. But they’re often anticipated, or extremely situational. Baseball can turn at the drop of a hat and it did on Sunday in South Philly.

    • While on the subject of Castellanos — the Phils got another huge hit from the streaky outfielder, when a single in the eighth allowed Harper (after a walk) to go from first to third. That’s when the birthday boy Bryson Stott hit a two-RBI triple to put the Phillies ahead for the first time in 16 innings:

    These are the kinds of big-time plays the Phillies have made routinely over the previous two falls. Insurance came on a weakly hit J.T. Realmuto grounder that Mark Vientos was unable to come up with, scoring Stott and giving Philly a 6-4 edge.

    • It was a tough call for manager Rob Thomson to push typical Game 2 starter Aaron Nola back for regular-season phenom Cristopher Sánchez, whose home-away splits made a compelling case for him to start at Citizens Bank Park– the lefty’s 2.21 ERA and 7-3 record through 17 starts in South Philly this year stood as the third-best home season for a starter in the history of the ballpark.

    Three innings in, with Sánchez looking like he was in cruise control, a single from Francisco Lindor and a two-run blast from the red-hot Vientos put him on the ropes quickly, and the Phillies yet again in an uncomfortable spot. 

    Ultimately it turned out okay, as Phillies’ All-Star had five solid innings and was interestingly lifted after 88 pitches. He received zero run support. It’s really hard to make much of Thomson’s choice, as he’d sign up for two runs allowed every day of the week.

    Sánchez did not make his career postseason debut in his start Sunday — he actually has one under his belt from last season. The hurler tossed two and a third innings against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix last October, in what was essentially an opener role. He allowed two runs in an eventual 6-4 loss in the NLCS (that would tie that series at two games each).

    • Nice to get the taste of three straight home playoff losses out of the Delaware Valley (dating back to Game 6 and 7 of the NLCS last year).

    The Bad

    • We’ll save the lamentations about MLB’s postseason format, and how the Phillies’ second-best record in the majors over 162 games was almost eradicated with the “reward” of having five days off last week. But clearly the rust had some weight. The Phillies had just three hits before Harper’s homer, and the bullpen, well…

    • After five pretty good innings, Thomson lifted Sánchez for José Ruiz, who gave up three hits but most damagingly a home run to Pete Alonso to put the Phils further behind 3-0.

    Later, after the Phillies tied it, Brandon Nimmo took another ace reliever Orion Kirkering deep, again putting the Mets up 4-3. Make that eight runs allowed by Phillies relievers so far in this series. Is it on the manager, or do the players need to perform?

    The Phillies had a very striated bullpen this season, with four reliable killer relievers — Strahm, Kerkering, Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez. Three of those four couldn’t hang on to shut down the Mets and if the Phillies want to claw out a series win, they can’t do it without clean innings from those four arms. Strahm was the worst offender, following up his ugly Game 1 with a two-run game-tying homer to Vientos in Game 2.

    • Trea Turner had a pair of stolen bases in the first inning, and Johan Rojas had one in the third — the ultra-aggressive base running was a sign of just how much the Phillies were pressing, with base runners few and far between up to that point this postseason. Stott was the Phillies’ third base runner of the game in the fourth and he was caught trying to nab third. 

    • Alec Bohm was on the bench to start Game 2 after an 0-for-4 Game 1. He was called on to pinch hit, and popped out on one pitch. Edmundo Sosa made an error replacing him at third. What will Thomson do at third on Tuesday?

    The Ugly

    • The bullpen aces giving up clutch hits and home runs to the Mets will be the story of this series if the Phillies falter in it. 

    Take a look:

    Pitcher Reg. Season Games 1-2
    Matt Strahm 1.87 ERA in 62.2 IP 4 ER in 1 IP
    Carlos Estévez 2.57 ERA in 21 IP 0 ER in 1 IP
    Orion Kerkering 2.29 ERA in 63 IP 1 ER in 1.2 IP
    Jeff Hoffman 2.17 ERA in 66.1 IP 5 ER in 0.1 IP

    • They really should name it a “Philly Cheer” when fans sarcastically applaud and cheer for a player, like when Castellanos swung and missed at two atrocious pitches in a row during his fourth-inning at-bat before taking a pitch in the dirt.

    The boo birds were in full swing for a lot of Sunday’s game, replacing the amped-up, high-decibel roars that defined the previous two playoff runs through South Philadelphia. The Phils’ flat offense and desperate approach at the plate was not pleasing to the 46,000 faithful fans in the stands. They let players know when they’re playing well… and when they’re not.

    • During Kyle Schwarber’s third-inning fly out to right — on a line drive that was very close to being a game-tying home run Rojas got some exercise. After a single, the speedy centerfielder threw caution to the wind as he rounded second base on the Schwarber fly out, put on the breaks and retreated to first after the out was recorded, and then did it again as a throwing error allowed him to take second base. He would later steal third. 

    MORE: Bryce Harper on the Phillies’ postseason mentality

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    Evan Macy

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