The Phillies can look pretty imposing on paper right now. The lineup has Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber producing at an elite level, and if Luis Arraez, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Justin Crawford keep it rolling, that group only gets tougher to navigate. On the mound, Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo give Philadelphia a starting trio that should be a major problem in October.
But the real question sits right behind those starters.
What happens when the bullpen takes over?
That’s where the concern lives for interim manager Don Mattingly, because Philadelphia’s relief corps has not held up well against the kind of opponents it would need to beat in the National League. Corey Seidman noted on X that the Phillies’ relievers have been especially rough against the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers - the teams standing between them and a World Series run.
The numbers are ugly. In 106.1 innings, those relievers have given up 84 runs.
This hasn’t been limited to low-leverage cleanup work in lopsided games, either. The Phillies have had real chances to win plenty of those matchups, and the bullpen still came up short.
Against those four contenders, the Phillies’ relievers have seven losses and six blown saves, and the club is just 7-21 overall in those games. The contrast is stark, because Philadelphia has taken care of business against everyone else, going 76-46. That’s why the bullpen matters so much: the rest of the roster has put the team in position, but October will only go as far as the late innings allow.
Mattingly’s choices will be under the microscope. He’s likely to stretch his starters as long as possible before turning to relief, but at some point the bullpen has to record outs and protect leads.
There is still confidence in Jhoan Duran, even with a few shaky outings, and rookie Alex McFarlane could be asked to handle a bigger role. McFarlane has one rough outing against the Braves, but otherwise has been excellent.
Andrew Painter or Aaron Nola could also factor in if they aren’t needed in the rotation. Both have been pitching very well over the last few weeks, and either one could give a bullpen that needs help a real boost.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Lost A Depth Piece To A Rival For Nothing
The Phillies roster churn this week reached a familiar kind of crossroads, with infielder Christian Cairo moving on after spending the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Cairo never got into a big-league game for Philadelphia, but he was part of the organizations infield depth picture, the kind of player teams like to keep nearby in case the major-league roster needs a quick patch.
Instead, Cairo is headed to a division rival after being claimed off waivers by the Mets, who had an open spot on their 40-man roster following the designation of reliever Chris Devenski. For the Phillies, it is a small move on paper but a reminder that even depth pieces can disappear quickly when another club has room to grab them. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies May Have Found An Expensive Answer To Their Outfield Problem
The Phillies have spent enough time looking for a long-term fix in the corner outfield that even an expensive option starts to make sense if it solves the problem cleanly. Seiya Suzuki fits that conversation because his recent work suggests a player who can handle right field and bring impact at the plate, which is exactly the kind of profile Philadelphia has been hunting as it tries to stabilize the edges of its lineup.
Suzukis appeal comes with the usual catch for a player in that tier: he is no bargain, and the age-and-contract side of the equation matters as much as the bat and glove. Still, the fit is easy to see for a Phillies club that wants more certainty in the outfield, and the question is less about whether Suzuki checks boxes than whether Philadelphia is willing to pay the kind of price a true answer at the position would require. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Are Already Second Guessing One Bullpen Deadline Decision
The Phillies went into the deadline looking for relief help and came away with Brooks Raley, a move that made sense at the time for a club trying to tighten up the back end of games. Since then, though, the fit has looked shakier. Raley has stumbled in recent appearances, and the kinds of late-inning spots Philadelphia wanted to stabilize have instead turned into fresh anxiety.
Relief markets are always part performance, part timing, and the Phillies are already facing the sort of hindsight that comes with every bullpen deal. Erik Miller, Luke Weaver and Tyler Wells all drew attention as alternatives because they were available and pitching well this season, which only sharpens the questions around Philadelphias choice. The season is still unfolding, but the early returns have made this one deadline call look far less certain than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]