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Justin Crawford enjoyed a (Grape)fruitful opener, Kyle Schwarber has already gone yard, and some pitchers stood out for the Phillies over the weekend.
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Geoff Mosher
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Tag: Rob Thomson
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Phillies spring training roundup: Opening weekend begins with a bloop and a blast
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Inside Phillies Spring Training: Players to Watch and Key Storylines – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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THIS BLOG CONTAINS LINKS FROM WHICH WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION. Credit: Philadelphia Phillies-Facebook The Philadelphia Phillies’ 2026 Spring Training in Clearwater is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched preseasons the organization has had in years.
With a blend of established major leaguers, high-profile prospects, and a deep group of non-roster invitees reporting to BayCare Ballpark, the Phillies enter camp with several roster decisions that could impact the Opening Day lineup and the trajectory of the season.
Development, competition, and opportunity intersect throughout camp, especially for young players attempting to prove they belong at the highest level.
Some MLB prospects consider the 2026 Spring Training a pivotal testing ground to accelerate their path to the majors, especially those on the fringe of Opening Day.
Phillies Non-Roster Invitees for 2026 Spring Training
The Phillies’ non-roster invitee list for 2026 Spring Training reflects both organizational depth and targeted upside. This group represents players who are not currently on the 40-man roster but have been invited to major league camp to compete, gain experience, and potentially force difficult roster decisions. The presence of high-ranking prospects alongside veteran players with prior major league time creates a competitive environment that benefits both player development and roster evaluation. Spring Training offers these players a platform to showcase improvements made during the offseason and demonstrate their readiness for a larger role.
Outfielder Justin Crawford and infielder Aidan Miller headline the non-roster invitees and will draw consistent attention throughout camp. Crawford, the Phillies’ No. 3 prospect and a 2022 first-round pick, enters camp with expectations tied to his elite speed, defensive ability, and contact-oriented offensive profile. His performance in center field and at the plate will be monitored closely as the organization evaluates how soon he can contribute at the major league level. Miller, a 2023 first-round pick, arrives after a strong finish to the 2025 season and continues to rise within the system thanks to his advanced approach, athleticism, and versatility in the infield.
Credit: Philadelphia Phillies-Facebook The pitching contingent among the non-roster invitees adds considerable depth to camp. Left-handed pitchers Génesis Cabrera, Tucker Davidson, Tim Mayza, and Andrew Walling bring a mix of major league experience and bullpen versatility, while right-handers Andrew Bechtold, Jonathan Hernández, Michael Mercado, Trevor Richards, and Bryse Wilson provide options for both starting and relief roles. Alongside several MLB prospects, this group allows the Phillies to evaluate different arm profiles and insurance options as they build out their pitching staff for a long season.
Five catchers are also part of the non-roster invite group, including Kehden Hettiger, Mark Kolozsvary, Paul McIntosh, René Pinto, and Caleb Ricketts. With catching depth always at a premium over a 162-game schedule, Spring Training becomes an extended evaluation period where defensive skills, pitch framing, and pitcher relationships are just as important as offensive production.
Infield depth is reinforced by non-roster invites Keaton Anthony, Christian Cairo, Carson DeMartini, Aroon Escobar, Liover Peguero, Bryan Rincon, and José Rodríguez, with Felix Reyes providing additional versatility as a utility option. These players give the Phillies multiple contingency paths depending on injuries, performance, and long-term planning. The outfield group is rounded out by Dylan Campbell, Bryan De La Cruz, and Dante Nori alongside Crawford. De La Cruz stands out with 491 MLB games played and Dominican Winter League MVP credentials, adding a veteran element to a youth-heavy group.
MLB Pipeline Top 100 Phillies Prospects
The Phillies’ farm system continues to gain national recognition, with three players earning spots on the 2026 MLB Pipeline Top 100 list. These rankings highlight the organization’s ability to develop impact talent and reinforce why Spring Training carries such weight for the club’s future.
Each ranked prospect enters camp at a different stage of readiness, but all three factor into the Phillies’ long-term competitive outlook.
Aidan Miller
Aidan Miller’s placement at No. 23 overall underscores his rapid ascent since being drafted in 2023. His blend of plate discipline, speed, and defensive flexibility positions him as a potential cornerstone infielder. Spring Training gives Miller the opportunity to face major league pitching consistently, offering a clearer picture of how close he is to handling everyday competition.
Andrew Painter
Andrew Painter, ranked No. 28 overall, remains one of the most valuable pitching prospects in baseball. Although he is already on the 40-man roster, his progress and workload will be a storyline throughout camp as the Phillies weigh how best to deploy him during the season.
Painter’s presence adds intrigue to the rotation conversation and speaks to the organization’s pitching depth.
Justin Crawford
Justin Crawford’s ranking at No. 53 reflects his elite athletic tools and defensive value in center field. His speed and ability to impact games without relying solely on power make him a unique asset within the system. Crawford’s Spring Training performance will help determine how quickly his skill set translates to everyday major league use.
Having three players ranked in the Top 100 places the Phillies among organizations with meaningful prospect capital. It also reinforces why Spring Training serves as more than preparation; it is a proving ground where development timelines can shift based on performance and readiness.
Position Battles to Watch
Roster competition remains one of the defining features of Spring Training, and the Phillies’ 2026 camp is no exception. Several position battles will unfold as the coaching staff evaluates combinations that balance immediate competitiveness with long-term development. These decisions influence not only Opening Day but also how depth is structured throughout the season.
The outfield picture is especially fluid, with Justin Crawford pushing for consideration alongside established options. His defense and speed offer a different dimension, forcing the organization to weigh developmental value against immediate needs. Corner outfield depth also factors into bench construction and late-game strategy.
Infield competition centers on depth and future planning. Prospects such as Miller, Escobar, and others must show consistency against higher-level pitching while demonstrating defensive reliability. Their performance could determine who serves as injury replacements or mid-season call-ups.
Pitching roles remain one of the most competitive areas of camp. Non-roster invitees and 40-man roster arms alike will compete for bullpen spots, long-relief roles, and rotation depth. How pitchers handle command, workload, and situational pressure during Spring Training often carries significant weight in final roster decisions.
The catcher hierarchy will also take shape, with multiple invitees competing to establish themselves as reliable depth options. Defensive competence, pitcher management, and offensive contribution all factor into how the Phillies organize their catching depth for the season.
Importance of Spring Training for Prospects
For players on the edge of the major league roster, Spring Training represents a defining stretch of their careers. The daily exposure to major league coaching, competition, and expectations provides insight into how prepared a player truly is for the next level. Performance in Clearwater can directly influence organizational timelines.
Standout camps have the power to accelerate a prospect’s path, while inconsistent results can reaffirm the need for additional minor league seasoning. For players like Crawford and Miller, every at-bat and defensive rep carries significance as the Phillies assess readiness.
Players on minor league contracts face a different challenge, using Spring Training to elevate their standing within the organization. Strong performances can lead to roster consideration or establish a player as first-line depth when injuries occur.
The Phillies’ coaching staff evaluates more than statistics during camp, focusing on adaptability, preparation, and response to adversity. Spring Training offers insight into which players are prepared for the grind of a full season.
Fan and media attention only amplifies these storylines, creating an environment where momentum can build quickly.
As camp unfolds, the Phillies’ blend of prospects, veterans, and non-roster invitees ensures that Spring Training 2026 will play a meaningful role in shaping both the Opening Day roster and the organization’s future direction.
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PHLSportsNation
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Phillies 2026 Offseason Check In – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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Credit: Philadelphia Phillies-Facebook As the calendar turns to February, the thought of baseball begins to enter people’s minds.
Pitchers and catchers will report on February 11th, which is just two weeks away.
While the offseason has been severely underwhelming compared to what fans had expected, the Phillies will still have a formidable roster heading into the 2026 season.
They took care of business by resigning both Kyle Schwarber to a 5-year, $150 million contract extension and JT Realmuto to a 3-year, $45 million contract. They added a veteran outfielder, Adolis Garcia, who’s spent his entire career with the Texas Rangers, by signing him to a one-year, $10 million contract.
The Phillies are also hopeful that rookie outfielder Justin Crawford and rookie starting pitcher Andrew Painter will have an immediate impact on the team.
Credit: Philadelphia Phillies-Facebook The problems lie with the fact that they missed out on the big fish in Bo Bichette, who decided that the New York Mets would be a better place for him to win.
To quote the great movie Dodgeball, “That’s a bold move, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for him.”
The Mets pretty much outbid the Phillies by offering him a three-year, $126 million contract. Bichette is owed $42 million with opt-outs after the first and second year. The kicker is that he has an opt-out after the first and second year, so it’s very likely this could be a one-year deal.
The Phillies also lost key starting pitcher Ranger Suarez to the Boston Red Sox, who signed him to a 5-year $130 million contract. Suarez is a great pitcher, especially in the postseason. Still, his injury history and a history of tailing off at the end of the regular season made the Phillies hesitant to offer him that much money, especially when top prospect Andrew Painter will hopefully be on the opening-day roster in 2026.
Running It Back
At this point, it feels like the same team that lost in the NLDS last year, and fans are concerned that this season will involve much of the same. The Mets and Dodgers both got significantly better as the Dodgers went out and signed top outfield FA Kyle Tucker, joining an already absurd lineup. The Atlanta Braves will look to have a bounce-back year as well, hoping guys like Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr, Spencer Strider, and Matt Olson can all stay healthy throughout the season. The NL East will be much more competitive this year, and the Phillies are returning most of the same team.
Rob Thomson did not take kindly to the term “running it back,” as he made it known in his press conference a few weeks ago that this team is different in terms of the bullpen, the addition of Adolis Garcia, Otto Kemp, and the opportunity that Justin Crawford will have this season as well. We got an outfielder to replace losing Kepler and eventually Nick Castellanos, Otto Kemp, who was solid but is most likely a platoon player, and an improved bullpen despite losing Matt Strahm. That’s some real groundbreaking stuff, according to manager Rob Thomson. I beg to differ.
The consensus among the Phillies fans I’ve spoken to this offseason is that they’re very underwhelmed with how they handled it. Now that’s a take I agree with. Getting Schwarber back is enormous, and they are hopeful that Adolis Garcia can provide a spark for this team as he has in the past for the Rangers, especially in the postseason. I’m also very eager to see how top SS prospect Aidan Miller looks in spring training this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets called up before June if Alec Bohm is either traded or struggles early on.
One of the last pieces to fall this offseason will be what happens with Nick Castellanos. The Phillies owe him $20 million next year, which is highway robbery on Castellanos’ end. It’s been expected that he would be traded or released all offseason. While neither has yet to happen, the Phillies will most likely be forced to release him, especially after the way he handled things with Rob Thomson last year.
Spring Is Upon Us
Pitchers and catchers report next week in Clearwater, Florida, for the start of 2026 spring training.
It feels like just yesterday we were watching Kerkering throw the ball over JT’s head while the Eagles lost to the Giants that same night.
I can’t wait to see what heartbreaking thing happens this year.
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Matt Saglembeni
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Rob Thomson Set to Return as Phillies Manager in 2026 – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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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.
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Matt Saglembeni
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Why the Phillies fell apart, again, in NLDS
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No, it wasn’t a nightmare. That really just happened.
The 96-win Phillies, fresh off their best regular-season campaign of their current era, once again collapsed in epic and dramatic fashion.
Their NLDS loss to the Dodgers — coming after a five-day bye week thanks to them earning the NL’s 2-seed — wasn’t just an early exit for a team favored to make the World Series. It was as agonizing a series loss as any team in any sport can ever have.
The Phillies were in every single game, and each of their three losses can be traced back to one mistake, or managerial decision. The Phillies probably should have won this series.
There will be plenty of time to look forward and decide what this team should do next — we have three weeks of stories planned here at PhillyVoice on that topic. But let’s take one more painful look back at what exactly went wrong, and how hindsight can solve all of the Phillies postseason issues, as it always does.
1. The bullpen in Game 1
Thomson’s first controversial decision came in Game 1, as the Phillies were clinging to a one-run lead they gave to ace Cris Sánchez. The Phillies’ manager called on David Robertson to get the last out in the sixth inning, and he did. For some reason, the 40-year-old who was mediocre during the regular season returned for the seventh and put two runners on base.
A few hitters later Teoscar Hernández hit a three-run homer (off Matt Strahm) and the Dodgers stole Game 1. Thomson’s silent admission of this being a wrong decision came later in the series — as he did not make that mistake again. He went with the best pitcher available in Games 2-4, at basically every inflection point, even calling on closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning of Game 4.
Had Thomson sent Ranger Suárez, who was said to be available in Game 1, or Duran, or Kerkering — anyone with more recent success than Robertson, the series could have looked completely different.
2. Harrison Bader’s groin
This was nobody’s fault, it was simple bad luck. But the Phillies’ trade deadline acquisition was arguably their best hitter over the last few months of the season and when he missed most of the series due to a groin strain, the trickle-down effect was huge.
First, he forced Brandon Marsh into action. The platooner went 1-for-12 in the series and was essentially a non-factor on offense. Despite that fact Thomson hit him in the 5-spot all series long. The Bader injury also made Nick Castellanos an everyday player again, and while he did deliver in a big way — a two-run double in Game 2 and the Phillies’ only RBI in Game 4 — his defense was clearly the same problem it was all season out in right field.
3. The bunt in Game 2
Citizens Bank Park was rocking late in Game 2, as an epic comeback was in the making. Down 4-0, three Phillies runs had crossed the plate and the Phils had a runner on second with nobody out in the ninth.
Thomson instructed Bryson Stott to bunt — and he did, into a perfectly executed “wheel play” from the Dodgers defense, gunning Castellanos down at third and essentially robbing the Phillies of a golden opportunity. We’ll be questioning this one for years. Had they not bunted, the single that followed off Bader’s bat would have plated the Phils’ fourth run and, once again, this series would have been totally different.
4. Walking Shohei Ohtani
When Duran entered Game 4 there were two men on and one man out. The Phillies were up 1-0. After a groundout, the intimidating Ohtani came up and Thomson told the umpires he was intentionally walking the Japanese superstar. This despite the fact that the two-time reigning NL MVP was struggling mightily — he was 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the series.
Like the bunt decision, this went south quickly as Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded to tie the game. The Phillies had enough faith in Duran to bring him in in the seventh inning against the top of the Dodgers lineup but not enough faith in him to get one of those hitters out with a one run lead?
5. Pulling Luzardo
After the Dodgers evened things out late in Game 4, the Phillies were ready, with Jesús Luzardo ready to pitch multiple innings as the pitcher’s duel went to extra innings. Luzardo mowed down the first four hitters he faced and then went single-line out-single to put two runners on with two outs. For some reason — once again Thomson intervened.
Orion Kerkering entered and everyone knows what happened next. He walked Enrique Hernández and then on a weak grounder one batter later, he threw the game away, overthrowing J.T. Realmuto at home when a throw to first would have ended the inning and sent the Phillies to the plate in the 12th inning.
Just like all of the other instances we’ve outlined here, there is no telling whether Luzardo would have been able to get that third out. Or whether pitching to Ohtani would have been the right move. Or whether the Phillies would have plated a tying run if they didn’t give a free out to the Dodgers with a bad bunt attempt. But these decisions were wrong ones. And led to the Phillies being ousted once again way before they were expected to be.
Red October used to be the most exciting time of year, with temperate weather, great vibes and optimism, with all four major sports overlapping ever so slightly in a sports-crazy city. But they’ve become pure hell for the city in recent years.
This one will be hard to forget.
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Evan Macy
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No Guts, No Glory – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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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
Categorized: Phillies
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Liam Mahoney
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Phillies Offense Disappears, Rob Thomson Strikes Again – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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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.
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Matt Saglembeni
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NLDS: Harrison Bader leaves Phillies’ Game 1 loss with ‘groin tightness,’ but believes he’ll be back
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Harrison Bader believes he’ll still be able to play in the NLDS.
The centerfielder had to exit the Phillies’ 5-3 Game 1 loss to the Dodgers in the seventh inning on Saturday night, with what manager Rob Thomson said postgame was “groin tightness.”
Nick Castellanos took up Bader’s No. 8 spot in the batting order, and Brandon Marsh slid over to center field from left for the last two innings.
The Phillies are off Sunday. Bader will have imaging done in the morning, and he and the club will go from there as they approach Game 2 Monday night back at Citizens Bank Park.
He seemed optimistic in the Phillies’ clubhouse.
“Definitely feel like I’ll be able to play,” Bader said. “Just running between first and second base, kind of pulled it at second base, just felt a little weird. I don’t know really what it attributed to.”
He was running, though, on Bryson Stott’s single in the bottom of the fifth, which Thomson confirmed is where the tightness started to set in (via MetroPhilly’s Kyle Fisher).
In the top of the fifth, Bader tracked down a liner hit by L.A.’s Andy Pages to right-center and dove out to make the catch for the out.
Bader stayed in for the sixth, and was only pulled once his turn to bat was back up in the seventh.
He said in the clubhouse that something felt “strange” while standing on second when he was said to have suffered the injury, and felt that he couldn’t fully sprint in center field, which all factored into the decision to sit down the rest of the way.
“I just think random things happen, unfortunately. But in terms of the preparation leading up to the event and whatnnot, I really wu;dn’t change anyhting.
“I think it’s a tough decision to be made,” Bader said. “But, again, I do feel like if something did have to happen, you risk obviously being more injured, and we have a lot of baseball ahead of us. Win or loss tonight, we have a lot of baseball ahead of us.
“So I think it was just the smart decision given how I felt in terms of my symptoms to make that decision. But like I said, there’s imaging tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
The Phillies started Bader in center, Marsh in left, and Max Kepler in right field for Game 1.
Should Bader not be ready in time for Game 2, Marsh will likely stick in center as the Phillies’ most athletic outfielder, while Castellanos would regain his former everyday spot in right, with either Kepler or Weston Wilson back in left.
That was the Phillies’ outfield look before Bader was acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline. However, it was a group that was inconsistent and left a lot to be desired offensively.
The Sunday off day will buy the Phillies a bit of time and clarity on Bader’s status once the imaging comes through.
They’ll hope he won’t be down long, if at all.
“If there’s an absolute chance in hell, you better believe I’m gonna be in there,” Bader said of playing again this postseason.
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Nick Tricome
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Back End Decisions – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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As the playoffs approach the Phillies will be looking to see who earns a spot on the playoff roster. Topper and the staff will also be looking to shore up the playoff bullpen rotation.
Initially, when they acquired Duran there seemed to be a pattern of which pitchers were used when, but recently it has gotten back to what feels like more of, eh whatever, this guy can go in.
If Rob Thomson has one weakness I believe it to be his pitching management. He doesn’t have the gut feel of when to keep a guy in and when to pull him. He doesn’t have a great feel for which bullpen arm should be used next. Part of this comes from his lefty/righty match-up belief. This makes the games and innings pitchers pitch vary because they are coming in to face hitters, not pitch a certain inning. Although I see the value in the matchups, I lean to the old school style and wish Topper would set a “bullpen rotation”.
Obviously Lidge had an insane season, but the 2008 Phillies had the end of games on lockdown. JC Romero in the 7th, Ryan Madson in the 8th, and Brad Lidge in the 9th. I would like to see the Phillies implement a version of this with their roster. A realistic option is having Strahm pitch the 7th, Kerkering the 8th, and Duran the 9th. Ideally, you would be able to use Banks and Robertson in a high leverage situation to close out an inning.
For example, Thomsons style leans more to bring in Strahm to get a lefty in the 6th, after pulling a starter. I believe the Phillies will need to rely on the other arms to get that job done. Strahm is one of the best arms we have, and he should be throwing full innings in the playoffs.
Bullpen Outlook
Even with the injury to Wheeler the Phillies have a strong pitching staff. Sanchez will be the Game 1 starter. The rest of the rotation hasn’t been set, but I can see Luzardo taking Game 2 at home and giving Ranger the road start for Game 3.
I am more interested in how the bullpen will be used than the starters. Last playoffs the bullpen fell apart against the Mets. Against Arizona, Thomson brought in a clearly gassed Kimbrel causing the Phillies to lose a game. In the World Series loss to the Astros Thomson decided to pull Wheeler, leading to a Yordan Alvarez home run. (I am still livid that he was pulled. They were winning, Wheeler should have pitched until his arm came off). The use of the bullpen in the playoffs is Thomson’s biggest weakness, and it is key to the Phillies making a run this postseason.
As I mentioned earlier, I like the idea of a Strahm 7th, Kerkering 8th, and Duran 9th. It gives our three best arms three innings to close out the game. It should be the closest thing to a lock for our bullpen. The risk here is if one of them has an off night it likely costs you the game.
Instead, Topper has gone the matchup route. Which could be favorable because you are maximizing your “odds”, but if those guys get into trouble the game usually balloons. It is pertinent to set a line up and then use the other arms like chess pieces to get you out of jams. Both Banks and Robertson are great options to come in with one or two outs in the inning and men on base. You also have Walker Buehler at your dispense, who could start a game if needed or come out of the pen in big spots, like he did last season with the Dodgers. It will also be interesting to see if Taijuan Walker receives any playing time. Walker was a suitable 5th starter for most of the season, but he doesn’t belong on a playoff mound.
Looking Ahead
With no Zack Wheeler (who has been historically good in the playoffs) and Nola not up to his usual level, the bullpen will be key to the Phillies playoff run. Duran has become shakier of late and he needs to settle in, but I fully believe in him to close out the 9th. My main worry is Orion Kerkering. He has been getting hit around and letting inherited runners score. The Phillies need him to be him again. He has series changing stuff, but if he is not on his game the bullpen becomes a lot weaker.
The Phillies cannot afford a bullpen performance like last postseason. They will likely need one of their non-big names to step up in a big spot. That is how you win championships. I think a structure to the bullpen will give the Phillies starters and hitters a great idea of what needs to be done the first six innings. The Phillies also lead the league in runs scored in the 7th or later. They can rely on Strahm, Kerkring, and Duran to hold the fort down, while the offense has potential to score late runs. The bullpen has been a key factor in the recent playoff shortcomings. We will see if the bullpen can hold up this time around.
Photo Credit: Hunter Martin/Getty Images
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Liam Mahoney
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Jesús Luzardo’s tremendous bounce-back helps Phillies overcome deficit, finish vital sweep of Mets
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When we last saw the Mets and Phillies collide before this week, Cristopher Sánchez was seen kicking a water cooler in the dugout and Jesús Luzardo was shouting at the home-plate umpire while exiting the mound.
That was Aug. 25-27 in Queens at Citi Field, where the Mets are notoriously dominant – and where the Phillies are notoriously not.
Change the ballpark, change the fortune.
After taking the first three games of the series, starting with Monday’s 1-0 win behind Aaron Nola’s most significant win of the season, the Phillies churned out two blowout wins by a 20-6 combined score before finishing off the four-game sweep Thursday night by rallying back from a four-run deficit to take the critical 6-4 win.
Redemption for Sánchez and Luzardo came in the last two wins, with Sánchez slamming the doors on the Mets on Wednesday that guaranteed the Phils would at very least take the series.
Luzardo showed remarkable poise after allowing four first-inning runs Thursday, silencing the Mets over the next six frames – retiring the last 22 batters he faced – while Otto Kemp, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos helped the Phils rally for six unanswered to send the Mets out of South Philly trailing in the National League East by 11 games with just 15 to play.
The magic number for the Phillies to clinch the NL East is down to 5, and the possibility of a division clinch by the end of the weekend is in play.
Here are some of the other major storylines from the Phillies’ sweep of the Mets:
No Trea is OK
The offense, especially the leadoff spot, passed its first test without Trea Turner and Alec Bohm, although Bryce Harper took home an oh-fer in the opening game from the leadoff hole.
Harrison Bader took the leadoff spot the rest of the way and delivered multi-hit games each time, combining to go 7-for-15 with a homer, double, and five RBIs. Bader is on fire, with four consecutive multi-hit games.
Kemp, up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley again to help replace Bohm, clubbed a two-run homer in the fourth Thursday that cut the Mets’ lead to 4-2 as the Phils climbed out of an early hole, and his RBI double in the sixth tied the game. He also logged two hits, including a homer, in Tuesday’s win.
Starters humiliate Mets offense
Aaron Nola’s miserable, injury plagued season potentially came to a fork in the road, as Nola set the tone for the series by turning in his best start since his Aug. 17 return and perhaps inspired some confidence that he can be a functional starter in the postseason.
Nola has a few more starts before the playoffs to build on Monday’s masterpiece and prove that he can be a starter if he’s needed, but even if Nola’s arrow trends upward, manager Rob Thomson’s decision isn’t being made easy as Sánchez, Ranger Suárez and Luzardo continue to make their cases.
Suárez is racking up strikeouts at an unseen pace for him, as the southpaw fanned 12 in the 1-0 win Tuesday, giving him double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his past five starts. Consider this from MLB.com’s Paul Casella:
Ranger Suarez starts with double-digit strikeouts:
First 111 career starts: 2
Last 5 starts: 3**** Including a career-high 12 K’s tonight.
— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) September 10, 2025
Luzardo appeared to be en route to another one his implosions from earlier this season, allowing hits to five of the first six batters he faced, but the left-hander did much more than settle down or bounce back. When it appeared he might be knocked out early, Luzardo instead completed eight innings and struck out four of the last five batters he faced and 10 overall.
Pete Alonso and Juan Soto were no-shows
When the Mets needed them the most, their superstars couldn’t come through.
Alonso went 4-for-15 in the series and fanned seven times while Soto went 6-for-16 with a double and a run scored. Soto homered, but it came with the Mets down 9-1 in the eighth inning Wednesday, as hollow of a homer as there is.
The supposedly dynamic duo combined to strike out six times in 10 at-bats Tuesday as they had no answer for Suárez.
And don’t let Francisco Lindor off the hook. Last year’s runner-up to Shohei Ohtani for MVP went hitless for the entire series in 16 at-bats, as the Mets’ offense was basically punchless out of the first inning Thursday night.
The Schwarbarian returned – can he break the record?
Believe it not, Kyle Schwarber entered the series without a homer since his four-dinger showcase Aug. 28 against the Braves, an eight-game drought that reached nine when he went homer-less Monday night.
And then came this Tuesday night in the seventh inning, with two on …
Historic homer No. 50 put the dagger in the Mets by opening a 7-1 lead and made Schwarber just the second Phillie, first since Ryan Howard in 2006, to club 50 homers in season. Howard belted 58 in ’06. The question is: With 15 games left, can Schwarber threaten Howard’s 19-year record and get eight more?
Schwarber hit 8 in 11 games between July-July 25 that overlapped with 8 in a 12-game stretch spanning the end of July and start of August.
In short, it can be done.
What’s on deck?
The Phillies stay home and welcome a three-game interleague series against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park. The Royals are fighting for the American League’s third Wild Card berth, but are behind Seattle, Texans and Cleveland.
New Phillies starter Walker Buehler is expected to make his team debut Friday.
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Geoff Mosher
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The New York Mets Come to Town in September Division Showdown for Phillies – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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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.
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Matt Saglembeni
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J.T. Realmuto is scorching hot, giving Phils long-awaited cleanup hitter
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If they only had a legit cleanup hitter, imagine what the Phillies could do?
That was basically the biggest question about the Phillies’ offense for much of the season, as a lineup that routinely started with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper – each with on base percentages above .350 – labored through long stretches of being ineffectual, often lending little support to a pitching rotation that ranks among MLB’s best.
The scariest thought was the Phillies in the postseason and Harper routinely drawing intentional walks as pitchers worked around the top three to face the struggling back six.
But the Phillies appear to have finally found the right man to protect Harper from the four hole, as J.T. Realmuto’s hot streak that actually started in June has really picked up into July and August.
At this point, he’s scorching, and not surprisingly, the Phillies’ offense has been among MLB’s best since the All-Star break. The Phillies have scored MLB’s fourth-most runs since the break going into Saturday’s action, second-most in the National League.
Realmuto, who clubbed his third homer in the past four games Friday in a 5-4 loss to the Nationals, is showcasing his rediscovered power stoke at an ideal time, as Bryson Stott has also heated up this month (.365 batting average in August) and as Brandon Marsh continues to rebound from his disastrous April in his platoon role.
“I would say this year, this is definitely the best I’ve felt seeing the ball for sure,” Realmuto told reporters after Friday’s game, when his go-ahead homer in the seventh inning was spoiled by Jhoan Duran’s first blown save as a Phillie. “I just feel like I’m getting my good swing off more often than not.”
How hot has Realmuto been?
Entering Saturday’s game against the Nationals, Realmuto is on a six-game hitting streak with 10 hits in that stretch. He’s raised his batting average 10 points in the span, up to .279. Only Trea Turner and Alec Bohm have a higher season-long batting average among Phillies hitters.
In the past seven days, Realmuto has the second-highest batting average, second-highest on-base percentage, best slugging percentage, most homers, and fourth-most RBIs in the team’s batting order. His slugging percentage is a ridiculous 1.000, with 19 total bases in 19 at-bats.
Here’s how Realmuto compares to other Phillies batters over the past seven days:
PLAYER BA OBP SLG HR RBI J.T. Realmuto .474 .525 1.000 3 5 Kyle Schwarber .280 .367 .560 2 8 Bryce Harper .333 .414 .583 2 7 Trea Turner .552 .581 .793 1 8 Nick Castellanos .412 .444 .706 1 1 Max Kepler .313 .313 .564 1 2 Realmuto, of course, is in the last year of the five-year, $115.5 million deal he signed in 2021 after the Phillies let him first test the free-agent waters. It’s not uncommon to see players have breakout seasons in contract years, but Realmuto’s surge comes after he played just 99 games last season thanks to a midseason knee surgery and slashed just .266/.322/.429, causing concerns that he was no longer one of the game’s top dual-threat catchers as an offensive weapon and defensive stalwart.
Realmuto really struggled to start 2025, batting just .237 in March/April, followed by .205 in May. On the last day of May, Realmuto was slashing just .222/.293/361 and had just four homers and 21 RBIs.
Now, he’s up to .279/.333/.415 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs – maybe not the kind of prototypical cleanup hitters stats, but perfectly fine given the production the Phils are getting from the first three batters in their order, and helped by some recent surges from Max Kepler, Marsh and Stott.
Arguably the most important part of Realmuto’s second-half emergence is that he’s giving the Phils protection for Harper as a right-handed batter that they weren’t getting from Bohm or Nick Castellanos, and he’s been one of their best hitters against right-handed pitching, which will be critical in the postseason.
Here’s a look at Realmuto in the cleanup spot compared to Castellanos and Bohm:
PLAYER SLASH LINE HR RBI J.T. Realmuto .299/.365/.481 3 7 Alec Bohm .197/.266/.324 3 9 Nick Castellanos .237/.279/.381 5 27 Castellanos has more RBI but also has 194 at-bats from the four hole, while Realmuto and Bohm each have fewer than 80.
Here’s how they compare against right-handed pitching:
PLAYER SLASH LINE HR RBI J.T. Realmuto .304/.362/.444 8 35 Alec Bohm .283/.328/.380 11 40 Nick Castellanos .259/.293/.413 5 31 Again, Castellanos has more at-bats than Realmuto and Bohm, but Realmuto’s slash line is far superior, and exactly what the Phillies need now and gong into the postseason.
The only question is: Can he keep this up?
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Geoff Mosher
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Bryson Stott made a fix to his swing. He’s been surging for the Phillies since.
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Bryson Stott took a look at his swing and finally realized what needed to be fixed.
“Just lowering my hands again,” the Phillies’ second baseman said, “[2023] and the start of [2024] they were pretty low. You take so many swings a day that they started creeping up and creeping up, and didn’t feel it until I started going back and I’m like ‘This looks…something looks weird.’”
So Stott’s solution was to “just try to simplify it,” and so far, the results have been showing.
Stott worked a full count and drove an RBI double to the right-field wall in the second inning of the Phillies’ 11-2 rout of the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, helping to complete the series sweep in what was a total offensive onslaught down at Citizens Bank Park.
He drove in another run with an opposite-field grounder into left, and the night before, he launched a solo homer into the right-field seats.
Since the All-Star break, Stott’s been slashing .300/.387/.500, and 18 games into August entering Wednesday’s series finale, he’s posted an even hotter line of .354/.429/.563.
The 27-year-old infielder has notably struggled at the plate through the first half of the season, and throughout various spots up and down the lineup.
But Stott found stability at the No. 9 spot in the order, and with the adjustment of lowering his hands while he’s in the batter’s box, the payoff has been huge – both for his own production and the Phillies’ overall offensive cohesion, as his hot bat leads right into another with a surging Trea Turner at the top, and then into Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto at the heart of the order.
“He knows where the barrel’s at,” manager Rob Thomson said postgame Wednesday of the change to Stott’s swing.
“You got that guy at the end of your lineup and he gets hot, that really helps your offense,” Thomson continued. “Because it turns it over to Turner and Schwarber and Harp and J.T., who’s swinging the bat well, so that’s a big thing for us.”
And what can help to yield 48 hits and 29 runs scored across a series like it did this week against the Mariners.
Stott can field, run the bases, and has an eye at the plate that can make him an incredibly tough out for opposing pitchers. That much has been known about him ever since he made his way up the Phillies in 2022.
The struggle, and concern, for the past year and a half, though, has been on him actually making solid contact and getting on base first.
Stott hasn’t done that consistently since the 2023 season, when he slashed .280/.329/.419 through 151 games.
But he might be putting the puzzle back together at the plate now. He just needed to get his hands lower.
“You see the talent there,” Turner said of Stott from the clubhouse postgame. “We all know how good he is. He was a little frustrated with himself early in the year, and just feeling like he was missing pitches that he should hit. That’s kind of the difference.”
“The at-bats have been really consistent,” Turner added. “Feel like he’s walking quite a bit, too, in front of me. Feel like he’s getting in good counts, swinging at good pitches. He expects that out of himself. It was only a matter of time because we’ve seen him in the past be really good.”
And he’s doing good right now, which only has the Phillies looking that much better – like capable of piling on 29 runs in three days against a postseason contender better.
“You always want to play well, but doing that in three games against those arms, and they’re really good arms, should just show you that we can do it,” Stott said. “We need to have the confidence that we can do it.”
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Nick Tricome
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How Should the Phillies Use Ranger Suarez in the Postseason? – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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It’s 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning against the Washington Nationals in the 160th game of the regular season.
In the previous four games, the lowly Nationals have scored a combined four runs–tonight, they’ve matched that total over 42 meandering pitches from Ranger Suarez.
PHOTO: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images One of those pitches, in a pivotal 3-2 count, was taken 432 feet to left-center by designated hitter Stone Garrett in his very first at-bat of the season. In total, Suarez would scatter 59 pitches over two innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks in his last start of the season.
Just three months ago, Suarez was on top of the world—a leading candidate for the N.L. Cy Young Suarez owned a dominant 10-2 record with a 1.83 ERA in 16 starts through June 25, landing him a spot on his first All-Star team.
It was a coronation of one of the sport’s top young arms–Suarez had come into the season uncharacteristically healthy and was the team’s best pitcher from Opening Day–no more was he just the team’s best-kept postseason secret; he was a legitimate, top-five starting pitcher in the National League.
Unfortunately, Suarez must have flown too close to the early summer sun, and with his innings totaling higher than ever, he began to crash and burn.
In four starts from June 30 through July 22, Suarez went 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA before landing on the IL with a back injury. Since returning from the IL on August 24, it’s been much of the same: an uninspiring 2-3 record with a 5.74 ERA in seven starts. His velocity has been down. His signature command has wavered. He hasn’t logged a quality start since June 25.In the wake of Suarez’s disastrous second half–and with the emergence of Cristopher Sanchez–the Phillies have demoted Ranger to being the fourth starter in the upcoming NLDS. A decision is to be made as to whether or not Aaron Nola or Sanchez will start Game 2, but regardless, it is known that if the series comes to a fourth game, Ranger Suarez will make the start.
Is that the right move?
I’m not sureif even the Phillies can admit
that it is at this point. It’s incredibly strange to say that, given just how clutch Suarez has been in the postseason the last two years. It is, however, perhaps the only move that the Phillies can make when your Weapon X turns into a hot mess down the stretch. Behind Suarez–who will assuredly have the shortest of leashes in October–there isn’t much in the ‘pen to eat innings. Taijuan Walker won’t make the postseason roster, and long-man Spencer Turnbull, out since June 26, will attempt to pitch in the team’s intrasquad game this week but hasn’t exactly faced Major League competition in his limited rehab stints in Lehigh Valley.
While the chances of Suarez making a complete 180 in time for the postseason are unlikely; however, it isn’t all doom and gloom. The depth of the starting rotation, in theory, can allow for one of the team’s top pitchers to not play to the best of their ability while still having success.
If Ranger can be just 80% of his potential, if he can provide three to five innings of two-run ball and save the bullpen just a little bit, then the Phillies will have a shot.
And if we’ve learned anything over the last two years, it’s that one chance is all that this team needs to go all the way.
PHOTO: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images
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Dylan Campbell
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Phillies clinch NL East title, Wild Card bye with series win over Cubs
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The Phillies got their postseason spot, then their first NL East title in 13 years, and now they have their first-round bye into the NLDS.
In front of a sold-out Citizens Bank Park crowd for the last time in the 2024 regular season, the Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 9-6 on Wednesday night to take 2 of 3 in the final homestand, which coupled with a Milwaukee Brewers loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, bought them a valuable few extra days of rest before the fabled Red October comes back around again.
All that’s left now is one more three-game set in Washington against the Nationals, and one last push in a race with the Dodgers to try and claim the NL’s top seed.
But it’s been a whirlwind few days for the Fightin’ Phils already. Here’s a rundown of it all…
The Toast
The regular-season clock was ticking and magic numbers were shrinking.
Red October, at this rate, was a near inevitability, and to an extent, the NL East title, too. But the Phillies still needed to bag a few more games to get there.
Last Friday against the Mets up in Queens, the Phils punched their first ticket.
Cristopher Sánchez was stellar for five innings, then the bullpen took over and shut New York down, all while the offense teed off for 12 runs on 17 hits.
The Phillies won, 12-2, and although they eventually lost 3 of 4 for the series, they clinched their postseason berth at the very least.
But the party wasn’t on just yet.
In the visiting clubhouse afterward, the team put a hold on the overalls, blaring music, and flying champagne.
They made a toast instead, knowing there was more for them to chase after.
“This is the first step,” manager Rob Thomson told his club. “We can’t have a countdown, J.T., because we don’t know how many games we’ll have. But when we know, I’ll ask you.
“But congrats. This is a huge accomplishment. I love you guys, and this is the first step of many more.”
The Party
The Phillies came back to Citizens Bank Park on Monday for their last home series of the regular season.
The magic number to clinch the division dropped to one. The first NL East pennant in 13 years was right there for the taking against the Cubs, and in front of the South Philly faithful.
Aaron Nola, the longest-tenured Phillie, took the mound and tossed through 6.0 innings before the ball was given to Matt Strahm in relief with the bases loaded. But by then, the Phils were already up 6-1, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos had put a dent in the Cubs, and Nola was walking back to the dugout with a crowd of 42,000-plus on their feet for him.
It was fitting.
Two years ago, way late into a 2022 season when absolutely nothing felt certain yet, Nola was on the bump with a chance to lead the Phillies into the postseason for the first time in 11 years. He gave them 6.2 shutout innings to kickstart what became the October run of a lifetime.
So of course it was him on Monday night, leading the charge on putting another franchise drought of over a decade to bed.
The bullpen held the line again and deadline acquisition Carlos Estévez registered the final out to what’s become his signature Dragon Ball celebration as the rest of the team huddled around the mound.
The white 2024 division pennant was out, the team photo was taken, and now it was time for a party in the clubhouse.
Thomson brought owner and CEO John Middleton in to kick the celebration off. He re-stated the phrase that’s been his whole M.O. since building up this era of Phillies baseball…
“I want my f—ing trophy back!”
The champagne flew.
But there was still work to do.
The Hangover
The postseason spot was clinched, the NL East title was clinched, but the Phillies still had a chase to close out against the Dodgers and Brewers for a bye straight into the NLDS – and possibly the league’s No. 1 seed.
For the physical toll this season has taken on them throughout, they needed the extra few days’ worth of rest and could’ve moved a step closer to it with another win on Tuesday night.
But Tuesday night was the notorious hangover game, and…yeah…
The Final Touches
The dullness didn’t linger.
On Wednesday night, for the last game in front of the Citizens Bank Park crowd before the postseason, the first-round bye was on the table. The Phillies needed a win and a Milwaukee loss to clinch it.
Trea Turner opened with a solo shot in the first, and then Bryson Stott quickly followed up with a two-run double after a Bryce Harper walk and a Castellanos two-bagger to immediately make it 3-0.
Castellanos came back to homer in third, Kody Clemens put a ball in the center-field ivy in the fourth, Brandon Marsh cleared the deck with a bases-loaded double in the fifth, and then Realmuto drove in a run on a liner in the seventh to withstand two Chicago home runs from Nico Hoerner for the 9-6 win.
The Phillies did their part, taking the series finale and 2 of 3 from Chicago, while the Pirates held the Brewers to a 2-1 defeat to lock the Wild Card bye in for Philadelphia.
The series in Washington to tune up and possibly claim the top seed from the Dodgers for full home-field advantage is all that’s left until the calendar flips.
“I think it’s huge to get these guys some rest, and now we can sort of plan out our pitching for the weekend,” Thomson said postgame. “Our starters, I mean, they’re gonna have to start – [Ranger Suárez], [Zack Wheeler], and Nola – but we can pull them back a little bit.”
Then it’s on to the real show, which will begin back here at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 5 for Game 1 of the NLDS.
“We’re all excited,” Marsh said from the clubhouse. “We worked our butts off for this moment. We’re gonna make the best of it.”
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Nick Tricome
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Should the Phillies Bring Back Hector Neris? – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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Former Phillie Hector Neris was DFA’d by the Chicago Cubs earlier this week. Neris, now 35 years old, has pitched to a 3.89 ERA in 46 games with Chicago this season before clearing waivers and subsequently released for the Cubs 18th overall prospect. Neris left Philadelphia in free agency for the Houston Astros where he would beat his former club in the 2023 World Series. In light of the Phillies recent bullpen struggles, does it make sense to bring back the former closer?
The answer is clearly yes. The issue with Neris’ in Philadelphia was the high leverage innings. Neris isn’t the typical closer and does not have typical closer stuff. It was clear very early in a Hector Neris outing what you were getting. Most nights it was the devastating splitter with a ton of tumble but some nights it was the sinker that had little to no movement which would result in a lot of hard contact. It always seemed as if Neris was walking a tightrope which is not at all something you want in a closer.The veteran right hander could fill the Yunior Marte or Max Lazard role as a low leverage right handed option but with plenty of experience. If you replace Marte, Lazard or Jose Ruiz with a pitcher of Neris’ caliber, it makes the bullpen that much longer.While Neris’ tenure in Philadelphia was certainly a rollercoaster, it was overall a success. He pitched to a 3.44 ERA and is currently 8th in Phillies franchise history in Saves. By all accounts Neris seems to be very well-liked by players, staff, and media. It’s very likely there would be mutual interest in a reunion, so why not take a chance?
Photo via Getty Images
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Evan Carroll
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The Race for the First-Round Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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The Philadelphia Phillies started the 2024 season at an incredible pace. It seemed like Rob Thomson’s team couldn’t lose.
Phillies fans are wondering what happened to that team because lately, it seems like all Thomson’s team can do is lose.
The Phillies had a 61-32 record through July 11, including two seven-game win streaks, one six-game win streak, and only seven series losses. They held the title of the best team in baseball for quite some time and had a large lead in the NL East. All was good in Philadelphia.
Teams are Catching Up to the Phillies
Then, just before the All-Star break, the Phillies lost a three-game series to the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park. Not only did they lose the series, but they lost it badly. The Phillies were outscored 29-16 in their home ballpark against one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball. Little did the team and the fans know what would come after that.
The Phillies came out of the All-Star break playing sloppy baseball. They lost five straight series to start the second half of the season, including a six-game losing streak during that stretch. They were able to win the series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and the first game in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. It looked like the Phillies were getting back on track and playing winning baseball again. They fooled us.
After taking the series opener against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies lost three straight games to lose yet another series. Two of those three games were complete blowouts. The Phillies were looking to start fresh against the last-place Miami Marlins back at home after a long 10-game road trip out west.
Taijuan Walker took the mound in the series opener against the Marlins after returning from the IL. This was his first major league start since June 21. He let up two runs in the first inning and only made it through four innings, allowing three total runs. The Phillies’ offense couldn’t get anything going, and they lost their fourth straight game.
The Importance of a First-Round Bye for the Phillies
The Phillies have 42 more games left in the regular season. Their schedule is favorable from here on out. They have two big series against the Atlanta Braves and an important series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Braves are just six games back in the NL East and are creeping up on the struggling Phillies for the top spot.
The Brewers are just two games back of the Phillies in the National League standings. The Phillies are 3-0 against the Brewers this season, with three games left to play. If they finish with identical records at the end of the season, the Phillies need to win at least one more game against them to guarantee potential home-field advantage and the better seed in the playoffs.
As of today, the Dodgers hold the top spot in the NL. The Phillies are 5-1 against them, so the Phillies will have home-field advantage and the better seed if both teams finish with identical records. This is also true with the San Diego Padres, who are two games back of the Phillies in the NL.
One team to worry about is the Diamondbacks. The Phillies are 3-4 against them this year and don’t have any more games against them. The Diamondbacks are two games back of the Phillies in the NL.
The top two division winners at the end of the regular season get a first-round bye in the playoffs. If the season ended today, the Phillies would be the No. 2 seed and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs unless they would end up facing the Dodgers in the NLCS.
It’s also important to have the best record in the majors come playoff time. Home-field advantage in the World Series is determined by the team with the best regular season record. If both teams finished with identical records, the tiebreaker would go to the head-to-head record. The Phillies are the fifth-best team in the major leagues and are 1 ½ games back from having the best record as of today.
The Phillies need to figure things out collectively as a team and get back to playing winning baseball. This slump has lasted too long.
They’ll look to build on their 9-5 victory over the Marlins last night.
It’s important to have a home-field advantage in the playoffs, especially with the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park.
PHOTO: ClutchPoints
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Mike Hennelly
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What Does the Addition of Austin Hays Mean for the Phillies? – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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At first glance, the Phillies’ trade for outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles is not all that exciting.
Despite making the All-Star team last year, the right-handed hitting outfielder is not a superstar or at least a burgeoning one, like the White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr.
His game does not explode off the screen–in more limited action this year than in years past, Hays is hitting .248 with just three home runs in 165 plate appearances. So no, Austin Hays as a player is not inherently exciting–but what he could mean for the team in 2024 is. Hays was brought in to fill a gaping hole in the Phillies’ battered and weary lineup: a righty-hitting outfielder. His services cost the team, Cristian Pache and Seranthony Dominguez, opening another hole in the bullpen and starting a conversation around playing time.
How will Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas be used now that Hays is on the roster?
The initial assumption was that Hays, who positively crushes left-handed pitching–batting .328 with a .894 OPS in 72 at-bats this year–would platoon in left field with Marsh, who hasn’t hit left-handed pitching whatsoever this year.
Instead, manager Rob Thomson has expressed that Hays would get the chance to start every day. And why not?
Hays does have the pedigree: from 2021 to 2023, he hit .261 cumulatively, with home run totals of 22, 16, and 16, respectively. He can play all three outfield positions and’ll be under team control via salary arbitration next year.
There is a simple truth to Hay’s acquisition: the Phillies are not comfortable, especially in the postseason, with Marsh and Rojas’ ability to start in the outfield every day.
Marsh, for all of his lovability and defense versatility, cannot hit lefties to save his life. Rojas, who was sent down to AAA earlier this year, cannot hit any pitcher regardless of which hand throws the ball.In October, the Phillies will invariably face a gauntlet of left-handed pitching.
Whether Hays starts every day or rotates in a platoon with Marsh, the Phillies are primed to be better prepared against lefties.
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Dylan Campbell
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No Need to Stress About the Phillies Fifth Starter – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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If there’s been one consistent complaint about this Phillies team in 2024, it’s been the fifth starter.
Taijuan Walker has been a failed experiment since he signed with the club before the 2023 season. Walker was 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts last year, which was nothing to sneeze at. The issue, especially with the fans, came playoff time and the time since.
Manager Rob Thomson decided not to use the veteran right-hander, which isn’t uncommon in the playoffs. Many teams opt to use a three-man rotation come playoff time to try to gain an advantage over the opposing team. However, Thomson decided not to use Walker at all, even in the bullpen, causing a little bit of controversy.
The 31-year-old has dealt with injuries all season and is currently on the 15-day IL.
The Phillies turned to Spencer Turnbull to replace Walker in the rotation.
Turnbull started the season in the starting rotation
and pitched very well while Walker was making his way back from injury. He was moved to the bullpen once Walker was healthy before returning to the rotation on Wednesday against Detroit.
Turnbull left Wednesday’s game against the Tigers after three innings in which he threw 36 pitches due to right shoulder soreness. The right-hander is at risk of landing on the IL as well.
The Phillies have been one of the top teams in baseball all season, with little holes on the roster. People look at outfield depth and the fifth starter when assessing the Phillies’ biggest needs moving forward into the second half of the season.
It’s time to stop worrying about the fifth starter.
Most teams would love to be in the Phillies’ position with four top pitchers in the starting rotation in: Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez, and Aaron Nola. People don’t usually expect a fifth starter to be dominant or even that valuable to a team’s overall success.
The Phillies will be fine with Walker as the fifth starter moving forward when he returns from injury. They’ll be fine if Turnbull needs to take over the fifth starter spot down the line. They’ll even be fine if they need to opt for the ever-so-popular bullpen game when the fifth spot in the rotation rolls around.
Whoever’s pitching on the fifth day won’t be relevant come playoff time. The Phillies will likely use a three-man rotation again, anyway.
You know a team is good when everyone is complaining about a fifth starter.
PHOTO: ClutchPoints
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Mike Hennelly
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Phillies quick hits: Phillies split London series vs. Mets
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The Phillies finally departed Philadelphia late last week for London to play a two-game set against the New York Mets. Once all of the festivities were put to bed, it was time to play baseball. After an emphatic Phillies victory on Saturday, the team squandered a chance to sweep their rivals due to a poor outing from its bullpen. Here is what stood out from the two-game London series:
Bryce Harper puts on a show in series opener
It almost felt inevitable that the Phillies’ superstar first baseman would do something special in this series, because he always seems to come up with something when the lights are brightest. In the series opener on Saturday afternoon, Harper slashed a double to the opposite field in the first inning. He spent the bottom of the third inning mic’d up talking to the MLB on FOX announcers while fielding his position, then came up in the top of the fourth and obliterated a baseball into the right field seats. As he came back to the Phillies’ dugout, Harper did a soccer-style celebration, much to the amusement of his teammates. Harper singled in his next at-bat, ultimately finishing the game a triple away from an international cycle.
On the 15-year anniversary of the famous Sports Illustrated cover in which Harper, then 16 years old, was billed as “Baseball’s Chosen One,” the two-time National League MVP showed once again the flare for the dramatic that has enabled him to surpass expectations loftier than those forced upon perhaps any other baseball player in history.
Orion Kerkering continues to dominate
The Phillies’ bullpen has been headlined by the outstanding dominance of Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and José Alvarado. Those three being as excellent as they have been in 2024 has set the table for rookie Orion Kerkering to settle down and focus on making his pitches without being overtaxed or overexposed.
With two outs and two runners on base in the sixth inning of Saturday’s series opener, Phillies manager Rob Thomson could have asked starting pitcher Ranger Suárez for one more out as he faced Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. But in three plate appearances against the Phillies’ left-hander on Saturday, Lindor had two hits and a hard-hit fly ball that was caught. So, Thomson got aggressive and handed the ball to Kerkering, who made his skipper look awfully smart.
Kerkering buckled Lindor — a four-time All-Star who was slashing .347/.397/.556 in his last 17 games after a rough start to the season — with his devastating sweeper after nearly touching triple-digits with his fastball that he is beginning to look increasingly confident throwing.
Kerkering came back out for the seventh inning and struck out Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo — neither came on his signature sweeper — before inducing a fly out off the bat J.D. Martinez.
There were many curious if Kerkering would quickly be forced into a closer role in 2024. Because Thomson has three dominant bullpen weapons, that has not been necessary. But it certainly seems like he would be up to the task if necessary.
Taijuan Walker cruises, but Gregory Soto implodes in sixth inning
Walker, the Phillies’ embattled fifth starer, had what was inarguably his best outing of the season in London. Walker only allowed one base-runner across five scoreless innings with six strikeouts before finally running into some trouble in the top of the sixth, allowing a single to Mets catcher Luis Torrens and walking Alonso with two outs.
Because this series was preceded by two days off and will be followed by an additional day dedicated to travel — and because Walker has struggled as he gets deeper into games all season long — Thomson was likely always going to be aggressive with his bullpen in this one. With the remarkable trio of Alvarado, Hoffman and Strahm all unused on Saturday, it seemed prudent for Thomson to ask those three arms to take down the game’s final 10 outs.
Instead, though, Thomson called upon the volatile left-hander Soto to try to extinguish the inning by retiring lefty Brandon Nimmo. Soto gave up a run-scoring double to Nimmo, putting the Mets on the board, and then allowed a game-tying, two-run single to Martinez. Soto walked the next batter, and after three runs had crossed the plate for New York, Strahm entered — with 10 outs still remaining for Thomson’s bullpen to take care of.
Thomson expressed concern before the team departed for London about relievers getting rusty without consistent appearances. Any reliever who pitched in neither London game, he pointed out, would end up going at least five consecutive days without facing hitters. That is likely the reason he handed the ball to Soto, who did not appear on Saturday, rather than going straight to his three horses.
With the amount of wins the Phillies have banked this season, focusing on keeping everybody fresh first and foremost — even if there is a short-term expense — is not hard to understand. But it is difficult not to wonder if things would have been easier had Thomson just given Strahm the ball three batters earlier.
David Dahl keeps on slugging
If Thomson made an error in judgement in the sixth inning, it is safe to say he made up for it in the seventh inning. With the game tied in the bottom half of the inning, Thomson utilized newcomer David Dahl against a right-handed relief pitcher as a pinch-hitter for Johan Rojas. Dahl, who was playing for Triple-A Lehigh Valley seven days prior, launched a go-ahead home run to right field — continuing his hot start since joining the Phillies’ big-league club.
Dahl, who slashed .340/.416/.660 and swatted 12 home runs in 43 games for the IronPigs, was brought back to the majors due to the injuries suffered by Marsh and Clemens. Neither of those two are expected to miss much more time, but Dahl is making a compelling case that he deserves to stick on this roster. Dahl, 30, is 4-6 with two home runs and a double since having his contract selected. It is a small sample size, but he has nearly been perfect in his first week with the Phillies’ big-league club.
José Alvarado struggles with command in ninth inning, Phillies fail to sweep Mets
After all of the chaos, the Phillies had the Mets right where they wanted them on Sunday, with Alvarado jogging in from the bullpen and his team holding a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. But Alvarado simply could not throw strikes. He was not missing by much, but just about everything he was throwing was missing by a bit.
It briefly looked like the Phillies’ left-handed flamethrower was on the verge of escaping a disastrous inning with the game tied, but Alvarado ended up hitting Alonso with a pitch to give the Mets the lead. A passed ball by J.T. Realmuto during the next at-bat gave the Mets an additional run of insurance.
After a brutal performance on Opening Day, Alvarado has been outstanding for the Phillies as the team’s primary closer (though he is occasionally used in earlier innings). But his command has been a bit shaky of late, and it came back to bite him this time around.
The Phillies will have to settle for a series split in London.
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Adam Aaronson
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