Phillies Pivot to Mattingly as Interim Manager Amid 9-19 Start

The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start and promoted bench coach Don Mattingly to interim manager, hoping new leadership can spark a lagging lineup, shaky defense and inconsistent pitching. Team president Dave Dombrowski, who previously replaced Joe Girardi in 2022, moved quickly and even pursued Alex Cora, who declined. The club also shuffled the staff, adding Dusty Wathan as bench coach and Anthony Contreras as third-base coach, in a bid to revive a season that has undercut World Series–level expectations and the franchise’s large payroll. Thomson departs with a historically strong early record, but his tenure faced criticism as the team stalled in 2026.