The Phillies are still living off star power, but the shine has dulled a bit in ESPN’s latest MLB core rankings.
Kiley McDaniel’s new list has Philadelphia down to No. 9 after the club checked in at No. 3 in the previous edition. That drop tracks with a roster that still features impact talent, but not quite the same depth in the “Solid” tier that helped prop up the group before.
There’s no shortage of headline names here. Trea Turner was rolling through a monster 2025 season in the last ranking update, Bryce Harper remained one of the game’s most complete players, and Kyle Schwarber was driving his way toward a career year before free agency. On the mound, the Phillies were leaning on Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez behind Christopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler, with Jhoan Duran anchoring the back end after arriving from the Minnesota Twins.
A lot of that core is still in place, but the ranking tells the story of a group that’s aging and thinning out around the edges. Philadelphia’s regulars on both the lineup card and the pitching staff are getting older, and the team’s top-end production has been enough to keep it in the top 10 - just barely.
The rules behind McDaniel’s exercise also matter here. Wheeler, Duran, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh weren’t eligible, which cuts into the Phillies’ standing.
Their young pieces haven’t exactly provided an immediate lift, either. Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford got off to rough starts, though both have since gotten on track and are playing.
Aidan Miller, meanwhile, had not been in action until a few days ago.
The regression shows up in a few familiar places. Nola, Turner and J.T.
Realmuto have all slipped overall. Jonathan Bowlan has been a pleasant surprise out of the bullpen, moving into the “Solid” tier, but one middle-relief success story isn’t enough to offset the drop elsewhere.
What’s still holding this group together is the front of the rotation. Luzardo has been the big surge, putting together the best season of his career and putting himself in line for Cy Young Award votes.
He could also make some notable MLB history with the way he has dominated on the road. Sanchez remains right there with him, giving Philadelphia an “Elite” left-handed tandem that stands as the most dominant duo of its kind in baseball.
Harper and Schwarber remain in the “Plus” tier and continue to serve as the offense’s centerpiece.
The Phillies still have enough talent to matter in the National League playoff race. But the margin is tight.
Dave Dombrowski has work to do this offseason, with age, defense and the need to get younger all sitting squarely on the agenda. The rotation can carry a lot, but it can’t do everything.
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He did not get the win, but the bigger takeaway for Philadelphia was the stability he provided in a game that mattered in the National League Wild Card race. The Phillies have stayed in strong position, and Painters ability to turn in a competent, composed start gives them another arm that can help them hold that spot. For a rookie who has already been through a demotion and a reset, the encouraging part is not just the result against Atlanta, but the sense that he may be becoming a tougher problem for opponents to solve. [Read more 🡒]