The Phillies spent much of 2026 looking like a team trying to dig itself out of its own hole. They opened 9-19, pushed Rob Thomson out in an effort to stop the slide, and clawed their way back into the postseason picture. Then July brought another round of hard questions.
August changed the conversation.
Philadelphia ripped off a 21-7 month, and that surge drew a simple, emphatic verdict from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers: "Philly is back on track."
Rogers pointed to the way the Phillies tightened the NL East race and strengthened their grip on the Wild Card chase. He also noted the nine-game winning streak, a run that included some dramatic victories, and said the club managed all of it without a strong month from ace Zack Wheeler. "Philly is back on track."
For the Phillies, that phrase carries real weight. It means more than a hot stretch.
It means a team that once looked broken now looks like a legitimate World Series threat. August didn’t just steady the season - it rewrote the mood around it.
The month was loaded with reasons for the turnaround. Luis Arraez, Brooks Raley, and prospect call-up Alex McFarlane all gave the roster a lift in different ways.
Aaron Nola bounced back, Andrew Painter looked far better than he did to start the year, and Alec Bohm turned things around. Bryson Stott has been better than ever, and Bryce Harper put together one of the best months of his MLB career.
The supporting cast has chipped in, too. Edmundo Sosa, Derek Hill, and Bryan De La Cruz have all made meaningful contributions, especially in the Phillies’ recent come-from-behind wins.
There were fair questions about how the new-look lineup and fielding setup would hold up with Arraez in the mix. So far, those concerns have been answered. The first month of the experiment has gone smoothly, and the results have been undeniable.
Philadelphia is rolling at the right time. The postseason is now only a month away, and if this team carries August’s form into September and October, it will have a real shot at going all the way.
That’s happening even without Wheeler, Trea Turner, Brandon Marsh, and others delivering good performances. Entering September, the Phillies are just 4.0 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, hold a 5.0-plus game lead over the NL Wild Card field, and are tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top Wild Card seed.
As Rogers put it, the Phillies are back.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Gave Fans Another Reason To Question September Plans
The Phillies opened September with a familiar kind of roster shuffle, activating catcher Rafael Marchan from the 10-day injured list after his rehab assignment and bringing up right-hander Grant Holman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The move expands Philadelphia to 28 players, a reminder that this time of year is less about one tidy lineup and more about sorting out depth, health, and whatever roles still need filling as the final stretch begins.
Holmans call-up is the more intriguing piece for anyone watching the bullpen and bench picture, since he has not appeared in a major league game this season and arrives with a fresh opportunity to make an impression. The timing also stands out because the Phillies had already dealt outfielder Tommy Pham to the Chicago White Sox before the roster expanded, leaving the club with a little more room to experiment, even if the shape of September is still only starting to come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Add Stretch Run Depth As Two Pressure Points Grow
September roster expansion gave the Phillies a little more breathing room behind the scenes, with catcher Rafael Marchan and reliever Grant Holman both joining the major league club. Marchan was reinstated from the injured list after a rehab assignment, while Holman was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, giving Philadelphia an extra option at two spots that tend to get squeezed once the calendar turns to the seasons final month.
For a team trying to manage the stretch run, the moves matter as much for coverage as for headline value. A third catcher can help keep the battery stable if the workload piles up, and another bullpen arm gives the Phillies a bit more flexibility as they try to navigate the final weeks with fewer shortcuts and less room for error. [Read more 🡒]
Ketel Martes Return Just Raised The Stakes For The Phillies
Ketel Marte was back in the Diamondbacks lineup Tuesday night, and his return gave the Phillies another reminder that Arizona can still change the shape of a series quickly. After completing the minimum stay on the injured list with left knee inflammation, Marte came off as the designated hitter in the opener against Philadelphia, with Ildemaro Vargas holding down second base so Marte could focus strictly on the bat.
For a Phillies club trying to keep control of a meaningful September matchup, the timing mattered. Marte had been out since Aug. 20, but even with the missed time he still arrived with a dangerous line at the plate, hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. His presence back in the middle of Arizonas order raises the level of difficulty for a Philadelphia pitching staff that already knew this series would not come easy. [Read more 🡒]