The 2026 MLB season started off as a rough ride for the Philadelphia Phillies, who found themselves in a deep hole with a 9-19 record. This rocky beginning led to the dismissal of manager Rob Thomson, a move that weighed heavily on the players who felt responsible for the outcome. Yet, even after parting ways, Thomson remains a staunch supporter of the team, cheering them on from the sidelines.
Enter Don Mattingly as the interim manager, and the Phillies have turned their season around in spectacular fashion. By June 26, they had surged to a 46-36 record, marking a historic turnaround. As noted by Jeff Kerr of On SI on X, Philadelphia made MLB history by being the first team to dive 10 games below .500 in April and then climb to 10 games over .500 before July.
However, the baseball gods have a sense of irony. In their first chance to push even further above .500, the Phillies stumbled against the New York Mets, taking a 6-2 loss and slipping to 46-37. They'll get another shot at reclaiming that double-digit advantage in the series finale on Sunday.
It's an interesting twist of fate that the Phillies reached this milestone against the Mets. Back when the Phillies were struggling at 9-19, they were tied with the Mets at the bottom of the National League East standings. Philadelphia's decision to shake things up with a managerial change has paid off, while the Mets, who initially stayed the course, have seen their fortunes decline.
The Mets recently parted ways with their manager, Carlos Mendoza, just before this weekend's series, as their season has been marked by disappointment, reflected in a 34-47 record.
The Phillies' resurgence can be credited to their seasoned roster rising to the occasion. Stars like designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, first baseman Bryce Harper, and outfielder Brandon Marsh have been delivering, but it's the supporting cast that's truly stepped up.
Second baseman Bryson Stott has been a standout, leading his position in RBIs since May 1. Alec Bohm, after a sluggish start, has found his groove and is now a contender for a starting spot on the NL All-Star Team.
Timely contributions from Derek Hill, who was acquired midseason from the Chicago White Sox, have also been crucial in getting the team back on track. With the entire squad now firing on all cylinders, the Phillies are finally living up to the high expectations set at the season's outset.
In Other News...
Phillies Trade Idea Could Fix One Problem And Create Another
The Phillies are still hunting for right-handed help ahead of the trade deadline, a search that has become more urgent because the offense has leaned too heavily in the wrong spots. Philadelphia has had trouble generating enough from right-handed bats, so the front office is looking at ways to deepen the lineup and give the club more answers against left-handed pitching as the summer moves on.
Any upgrade, though, comes with a built-in wrinkle. Adding a bat that can change the balance of the lineup also means sorting out where everyone fits on the field, and Bryce Harper's presence makes that a real conversation in Philadelphia. The Phillies can explore plenty of options before the deadline, but until they make a move, the bigger question is whether the fix they want will force them into a tougher decision elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Deadline Gamble Could Finally Fix Their Most Frustrating Lineup Problem
The Phillies have spent much of this season trying to find a better fit in the middle of their lineup and a cleaner answer for an infield that has not quite lined up the way they wanted. With the trade deadline approaching, the idea of adding another bat with a short-term contract has started to make sense, especially for a club that has usually been aggressive when a clear upgrade is available.
Any move of that kind would ripple through the roster. Bryson Stott could wind up in a different defensive home, Trea Turner might be asked to shift off the dirt, and the Phillies would be betting that a roster shuffle can solve a balance issue that has lingered for months. The Tigers are not in a position to ignore deadline value either, so this is the sort of situation that could move quickly if the right pieces line up. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Finally Flipped The Script At Citi Field And Mets Fans Felt It
The Phillies walked out of Citi Field with something they had not been able to say in nearly five years, and it came against a Mets team already trying to steady itself after a rough season. A three-game series win on the road gave Philadelphia a clean answer to one of those nagging divisional quirks, especially after entering the weekend 6-22 there since 2022. The turnaround has fit the larger picture for a club that has looked far sharper under Don Mattingly, with the Phillies playing like a team that expects to win wherever the schedule sends them.
For the Mets, the timing only sharpened the sting. A managerial change had just reset the dugout, but the series still ended with the same familiar frustration for a home crowd that has watched too much of this rivalry tilt the wrong way lately. Philadelphia did not need a statement that went beyond the standings or the optics to feel the significance of it. It was enough that the Phillies finally flipped the script in a building that had quietly become a problem, and they did it in a way that left Mets fans feeling the weight of another lost weekend. [Read more 🡒]