All articles tagged with #philadelphia phillies
The Los Angeles Angels signed Taijuan Walker to a minor league deal after Philadelphia released him. Walker, 33, posted a rough 23 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings across five appearances (four starts) this season. The Angels will owe only the prorated league minimum if he reaches the majors, giving them inexpensive depth in a rotation that could use it while they evaluate options.
Since taking over as Phillies interim manager on April 28, Don Mattingly has guided the club to a 16-5 record in 21 games and a 6-0 mark in his first six series, a historic turnaround that could make him the first manager to win seven straight midseason series. The Phillies, who started 9-19, have surged into rare company and earned praise for a leadership style that emphasizes daily winning, though future results remain to be seen.
Rookie pitcher Andrew Painter turned in a six-inning quality start versus the Reds but was pulled after 69 pitches to protect him, as Bohm’s go-ahead homer in the seventh gave Philadelphia the lead. The bullpen faltered with Keller, Alvarado and Kerkering allowing runs, but Bryson Stott hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to cap a 5-4 Phillies win.
Since firing Thomson and promoting Don Mattingly, the Phillies have surged with Harper and Schwarber leading the offense, a revitalized Wheeler-Sanchez one-two in the rotation, and a stronger bullpen; but their run differential sits at -17 and a tougher upcoming schedule will determine whether this is a real turnaround or just a hot streak.
Zack Wheeler’s season debut ignited a 16-5 Phillies run, with Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez delivering elite innings while Schwarber’s 20 homers and Harper’s top-10 OPS fuel the lineup. Aaron Nola shows flashes of peak form but struggles with locating his fastball, raising questions about in-zone contact. The team is balancing star power with in-season adjustments, expanding international scouting (Japan) and elevating Dusty Wathan, signaling a broader push toward sustained contention beyond a few marquee players.
Cristopher Sánchez delivered a complete-game shutout against the Pirates, his second CG shutout, lowering his ERA to 1.82 over 10 starts. Teammates and coaches highlight a remarkable, confidence-driven transformation from an overlooked pitcher to an elite ace, with potential Cy Young contention if he stays healthy.
Kyle Schwarber homered in the first inning for the Phillies in a 2-1 win at Fenway, extending his homer streak to five games. Don Mattingly called him 'dangerous' as Boston’s pitcher struggled early. The reminder comes with Schwarber’s 2021 postseason success for Boston that included a grand slam, and his 204 homers for Philadelphia since 2022, placing him tied for 10th on the Phillies’ franchise list with Dick Allen.
MLB’s early-season power rankings show a tight race with 27 of 30 teams within five games of a playoff spot. Atlanta sits at No. 1 after a strong run, followed by the Rays, Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers. The Phillies have begun to rebound after a brutal April, while the Detroit Tigers have slid further, especially after Tarik Skubal’s elbow surgery and bullpen-heavy plans. The overall picture remains highly fluid as teams juggle rotations and lineups into May.
Bryce Harper exited Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning due to a migraine and was replaced by Felix Reyes; it marks the Phillies’ third migraine-related exit this season, though Harper had not missed a game previously, and entering 2026 he was batting .282 with nine homers and a .929 OPS.
Bryce Harper homered twice (3rd and 8th) as the Phillies exploded for five runs in the 7th and three more in the 8th to rout the Athletics 9-1 on May 5, 2026. J.T. Realmuto doubled and scored after a Marsh/Harper sequence, and Stott also homered in the 7th, helping Philadelphia pull away. Oakland finally pushed a run across in the top of the 9th, but the Phillies maintained the lead and coasted to the win.
The Phillies abruptly fired Rob Thomson after a brutal 9-19 start and a league-worst run differential, signaling a decisive shift by Dave Dombrowski even as team owner John Middleton might resist big changes. The firing felt rushed and messy, with Dombrowski reportedly courting Alex Cora while bench coach Don Mattingly will run the club for the rest of the season. Thomson, though imperfect, guided Philadelphia to back-to-back NL East titles and a 2022 World Series run, making the decision controversial. The piece suggests Cora could be the long-term fix in the off-season, framing Dombrowski as the primary driver and Thomson as the bittersweet sacrificial lamb of the 2026 Phillies.
The Phillies fired interim manager Rob Thomson after a disastrous start and installed Don Mattingly as the new voice to steer the club, with team president Dave Dombrowski saying Thomson wasn’t sure what was wrong and needed a different direction. Thomson publicly took responsibility, praised the organization, and noted he let players play, while Mattingly faces a challenging rebuild as Philadelphia eyes accountability and a path back to contention after years of postseason success but ongoing underperformance this season.
Rob Thomson was fired by the Philadelphia Phillies but said he harbors no hard feelings and understands the decision. Dave Dombrowski had offered the job to Alex Cora, who ultimately did not commit, as Don Mattingly takes over on an interim basis. Thomson indicated he may stay with the organization as a special assistant, and praised the team’s talent and potential to rebound, vowing to remain engaged as the Phillies pursue a turnaround.
Alex Cora isn’t pursuing a new MLB managerial job in 2026, opting to spend time with his sons in Puerto Rico after being dismissed by Boston. Reports allege the Phillies offered him their managerial position before settling on Don Mattingly as interim, but Cora chose not to pursue it. Boston’s payroll obligations would continue if he remains unsigned, with any future team needing to pay fair market value for a manager. Phillies skipper Rob Thomson indicated no hard feelings and left open the possibility of an advisory role in the future.
Alex Cora, just fired by the Red Sox, declined the Phillies’ offer to manage the team, leading Philadelphia to promote Don Mattingly to interim manager. Cora remains under contract with Boston through 2027 and plans to sit out the rest of the season, while Mattingly steers the Phillies in the near term as MLB discusses potential long-term candidates.