Christopher Sanchez went the entire month of May without allowing a run, breaking a 115-year-old franchise record.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Sanchez extended his scoreless innings streak to 44 last week, setting a franchise record by passing Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander in a 3-0 win against the San Diego Padres. The Phillies’ seventh shutout in May is their most in a month since July 1951, when they had eight.

Sanchez reached the milestone by pitching the four innings needed to pass Alexander, who had a 41-inning scoreless streak in 1911. The Phillies are second in the National League East with a 29-27 record.

Philadelphia is still looking for its first World Series appearance since 2022, when the Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in six games.

Sanchez is dealing with the start of the year. He said he didn’t believe he had his best stuff against the Padres, but he dominated the lineup, and striking out 32 batters is impressive.

Sanchez was an inning away from the team record. There was a heart-stopping moment when Edmundo Sosa caught a fly ball just in front of the wall leading off the fourth inning. Sanchez then struck out Xander Bogaerts, allowed a double to left, and got Jackson Merrill to ground out to second base to set the record.

The Padres stranded runners in scoring position in the first and second innings, but Sanchez still had a great game. He now has the longest single-season scoreless inning streak by a left-hander in the expansion era, passing Clayton Kershaw’s 41-inning streak in 2014.

Sanchez is pitching at an elite level and will look to maintain his momentum.

​

Don Mattingly will take over as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies after Rob Thomson was fired.

The Phillies have started the season 10-19. Thompson was the second manager fired this season, with the Boston Red Sox firing Alex Cora a few days earlier.

Entering this season, the Phillies had the second-longest playoff streak in baseball, making the playoffs every season since 2022. Thompson was promoted to manager in the middle of the 2022 season after Joe Girardi was fired. However, the Phillies struggled to begin the season, the first time the team struggled under Thomson’s leadership.

The Phillies score the third-fewest runs per game. Their best hitter right now is Brandon Marsh, who has four home runs and 17 RBIs. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner have all struggled this season.

They also have the third-highest team ERA. Cristopher Sanchez is the only starting pitcher with an ERA below 4.00. Jhoan Duran got off to an excellent start with a 1.35 ERA and five saves, but is currently on the IL with a left oblique strain.

There’s some optimism about their pitching staff, since Zack Wheeler will be returning from Tommy John surgery this season. However, the offense is mostly healthy, just not performing. 

Mattingly will need to find a way to get the Phillies hitting again. As a former American League MVP and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, he’s one of the most qualified people to try.

He was the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011 to 2015 and the Miami Marlins from 2016 to 2022. He won National League Manager of the Year with the Marlins in 2020. The Marlins ranked in the top 10 in offense despite not having many notable players. Brian Anderson was their best hitter with a 116 OPS+. The Marlins hit extremely well with runners in scoring position. 

The Phillies ended 2025 with a 96-66 record, only to lose in the NLDS for the second straight season – the Dodgers bested them in four games. Philadelphia played consistently good ball throughout the regular season, eventually catching the Mets for a second consecutive NL East title.

Aaron Nola had an injury-riddled season, starting only 17 games. Nola missed three months due to a right ankle sprain. In the 17 games he started, Nola recorded a 6.01 ERA and a 5-10 record.

>GET PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES SEASON TICKETS NOW!

Harrison Bader and Jhoan Durán were acquired prior to the trade deadline because the Phillies needed reinforcements in the bullpen and outfield. Bader finished 2025 with 54 hits, 5 home runs and 16 RBIs on a .305 batting average. Durán recorded 16 saves in 23 games while maintaining a 2.18 ERA.

Philadelphia’s offense ranked in the top three in batting average at .258. Their offense also recorded 212 home runs and 753 RBIs. The pitching staff recorded a 3.79 ERA, placing them eighth in the majors in ERA – they also struck out 1,471 batters and surrendered 1,342 hits.

Trea Turner led the MLB with a .304 batting average and led his team in hits with 179. He also stole 36 bases and hit seven triples in 2025. Kyle Schwarber was a league leader in home runs and RBIs, recording 56 and 132, respectively. Bryce Harper hit 27 home runs and batted in 75 runners, while J.T. Realmuto sent 17 balls out of the park and recorded 72 RBIs. In 202 innings, Cristopher Sánchez recorded a 2.50 ERA and gave up 171 hits, while striking out 212. Jesús Luzardo led the pitching staff in strikeouts with 216 and wins with 15.

Manager Rob Thomson was extended through the 2027 season on December 9, 2025, followed by Adolis Garcia’s signing a week later. Philadelphia resigned some 2025 players, including Luzardo, Durán, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa. Outfielder Nick Castellanos was released on February 12, 2026, signing with the Padres three days later.

The Phillies enter 2026 with lofty expectations – most predicted that the Phillies would be a playoff team if the roster stayed healthy. ESPN gives the Phillies a 74% chance to make the playoffs and a 5.9% chance for a World Series title. Age is a concern because most of Philly’s star players are in their 30s, slowly closing the championship window. It all comes down to whether or not the stars can rise up to the occasion come October and follow through with a title.

Philadelphia Phillies schedule:

Mar 26, 2026	vs Texas	W 5-3	1-0	C. Sanchez(1-0)	N. Eovaldi(0-1)	J. Duran(1)
Mar 28, 2026	vs Texas	L 5-4 / 10	1-1	C. Martin(1-0)	J. Duran(0-1)	T. Alexander(1)
Mar 29, 2026	vs Texas	L 8-3	1-2	M. Gore(1-0)	J. Luzardo(0-1)	—

DATE	OPP	TIME / TV	VENUE	HOME STARTER	AWAY STARTER	BUY TICKETS
Mar 30, 2026	vs Washington	WAS 9, PHI 2 – 8thNATV	Citizens Bank Park	T. Walker(-, 0.00 ERA)	F. Griffin(-, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $20.40
Mar 31, 2026	vs Washington	6:40 pmMLBN	Citizens Bank Park	A. Painter(-, 0.00 ERA)	Z. Littell(-, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $40.80
Apr 1, 2026	vs Washington	1:05 pmNATV	Citizens Bank Park	C. Sanchez(1-0, 0.00 ERA)	C. Cavalli(0-0, 4.91 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $24.48
Apr 3, 2026	@ Colorado	4:10 pmROTV	Coors Field	M. Lorenzen(0-0, 6.23 ERA)	A. Nola(0-0, 5.40 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $80.46
Apr 4, 2026	@ Colorado	8:10 pmROTV	Coors Field	J. Quintana(0-0, 4.15 ERA)	J. Luzardo(0-1, 9.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $32.26
Apr 5, 2026	@ Colorado	3:10 pmROTV	Coors Field	T. Sugano(-, 0.00 ERA)	T. Walker(-, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $14.98
Apr 6, 2026	@ San Francisco	9:45 pm	Oracle Park	A. Houser(-, 0.00 ERA)	A. Painter(-, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $11.69
Apr 7, 2026	@ San Francisco	9:45 pm	Oracle Park	R. Ray(0-1, 3.38 ERA)	C. Sanchez(1-0, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $19.20
Apr 8, 2026	@ San Francisco	3:45 pm	Oracle Park	T. Mahle(0-1, 4.50 ERA)	A. Nola(0-0, 5.40 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $31.40
Apr 10, 2026	vs Arizona	6:40 pmDBTV	Citizens Bank Park	J. Luzardo(0-1, 9.00 ERA)	M. Soroka(-, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $32.40
Apr 11, 2026	vs Arizona	1:05 pmFS1	Citizens Bank Park	T. Walker(-, 0.00 ERA)	B. Pfaadt(-, 0.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $63.60
Apr 12, 2026	vs Arizona	1:35 pmDBTV	Citizens Bank Park	A. Painter(-, 0.00 ERA)	Z. Gallen(0-1, 9.00 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $50.40
Apr 13, 2026	vs Chi. Cubs	6:40 pmFS1	Citizens Bank Park	C. Sanchez(1-0, 0.00 ERA)	M. Boyd(0-1, 14.73 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $27.90
Apr 14, 2026	vs Chi. Cubs	6:40 pmTBS	Citizens Bank Park	A. Nola(0-0, 5.40 ERA)	C. Horton(1-0, 2.84 ERA)	Tickets Starting at $20.40
Apr 15, 2026	vs Chi. Cubs	6:40 pmESUN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $23.64
Apr 17, 2026	vs Atlanta	6:40 pmBRVN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $79.15
Apr 18, 2026	vs Atlanta	7:15 pmFOX	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $55.08
Apr 19, 2026	vs Atlanta	7:20 pmPEAC	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.72
Apr 20, 2026	@ Chi. Cubs	7:40 pm	Wrigley Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $10.55
Apr 21, 2026	@ Chi. Cubs	7:40 pm	Wrigley Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $10.07
Apr 22, 2026	@ Chi. Cubs	7:40 pm	Wrigley Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $10.91
Apr 23, 2026	@ Chi. Cubs	2:20 pm	Wrigley Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $10.79
Apr 24, 2026	@ Atlanta	7:15 pmATV	Truist Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.89
Apr 25, 2026	@ Atlanta	7:15 pmBRVN	Truist Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $33.53
Apr 26, 2026	@ Atlanta	1:35 pmBRVN	Truist Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $21.60
Apr 28, 2026	vs San Francisco	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $13.20
Apr 29, 2026	vs San Francisco	6:40 pmMLBN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $25.70
Apr 30, 2026	vs San Francisco	1:05 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.00
May 1, 2026	@ Miami	7:10 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $18.00
May 2, 2026	@ Miami	4:10 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $12.19
May 3, 2026	@ Miami	1:40 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $17.63
May 4, 2026	@ Miami	6:40 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $11.16
May 5, 2026	vs Athletics	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.48
May 6, 2026	vs Athletics	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.48
May 7, 2026	vs Athletics	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $25.70
May 8, 2026	vs Colorado	6:40 pmROTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.72
May 9, 2026	vs Colorado	6:05 pmROTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $48.96
May 10, 2026	vs Colorado	1:35 pmROTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $84.00
May 12, 2026	@ Boston	6:45 pm	Fenway Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $42.00
May 13, 2026	@ Boston	6:45 pm	Fenway Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $42.00
May 14, 2026	@ Boston	6:45 pm	Fenway Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $56.40
May 15, 2026	@ Pittsburgh	6:40 pm	PNC Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $54.00
May 16, 2026	@ Pittsburgh	4:05 pm	PNC Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $50.40
May 17, 2026	@ Pittsburgh	1:35 pm	PNC Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $54.00
May 18, 2026	vs Cincinnati	6:40 pmRDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.48
May 19, 2026	vs Cincinnati	6:40 pmRDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.48
May 20, 2026	vs Cincinnati	1:05 pmRDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.48
May 22, 2026	vs Cleveland	6:40 pmGDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $48.96
May 23, 2026	vs Cleveland	4:05 pmGDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $49.54
May 24, 2026	vs Cleveland	1:35 pmGDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $48.59
May 25, 2026	@ San Diego	6:40 pmPDTV	Petco Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $29.63
May 26, 2026	@ San Diego	9:40 pmPDTV	Petco Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $26.40
May 27, 2026	@ San Diego	4:10 pmPDTV	Petco Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $15.70
May 29, 2026	@ L.A. Dodgers	10:15 pmATV	Dodger Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $69.60
May 30, 2026	@ L.A. Dodgers	10:10 pm	Dodger Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $83.38
May 31, 2026	@ L.A. Dodgers	4:10 pm	Dodger Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $51.60
Jun 2, 2026	vs San Diego	6:40 pmTBS	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Jun 3, 2026	vs San Diego	6:40 pmPDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Jun 4, 2026	vs San Diego	1:05 pmPDTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Jun 5, 2026	vs Chi. White Sox	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $48.96
Jun 6, 2026	vs Chi. White Sox	4:05 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $48.00
Jun 7, 2026	vs Chi. White Sox	1:35 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $48.96
Jun 8, 2026	@ Toronto	7:07 pm	Rogers Centre	—	—	Tickets Starting at $26.62
Jun 9, 2026	@ Toronto	7:07 pm	Rogers Centre	—	—	Tickets Starting at $17.99
Jun 10, 2026	@ Toronto	7:07 pm	Rogers Centre	—	—	Tickets Starting at $21.31
Jun 12, 2026	@ Milwaukee	7:40 pmBRTV	American Family Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.40
Jun 13, 2026	@ Milwaukee	7:15 pmFOX	American Family Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $45.60
Jun 14, 2026	@ Milwaukee	2:10 pmBRTV	American Family Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.00
Jun 15, 2026	vs Miami	6:40 pmMATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Jun 16, 2026	vs Miami	6:40 pmMATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Jun 17, 2026	vs Miami	1:05 pmMATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.00
Jun 18, 2026	vs N.Y. Mets	6:40 pmMLBN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $55.08
Jun 20, 2026	vs N.Y. Mets	7:15 pmFOX	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $66.00
Jun 21, 2026	vs N.Y. Mets	7:20 pmNBC	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $58.80
Jun 22, 2026	@ Washington	6:45 pmNATV	Nationals Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $26.40
Jun 23, 2026	@ Washington	6:45 pmNATV	Nationals Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $18.00
Jun 24, 2026	@ Washington	6:45 pmNATV	Nationals Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.96
Jun 25, 2026	@ Washington	6:45 pmNATV	Nationals Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $26.40
Jun 26, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	7:10 pm	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $46.09
Jun 27, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	4:10 pm	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $43.32
Jun 28, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	1:40 pm	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $33.60
Jun 29, 2026	vs Pittsburgh	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $31.20
Jun 30, 2026	vs Pittsburgh	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $57.60
Jul 1, 2026	vs Pittsburgh	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $61.20
Jul 2, 2026	vs Pittsburgh	12:35 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $42.00
Jul 4, 2026	@ Kansas City	8:10 pmRYTV	Kauffman Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $37.12
Jul 5, 2026	@ Kansas City	3:00 pmPEAC	Kauffman Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $31.00
Jul 6, 2026	@ Kansas City	2:10 pmRYTV	Kauffman Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $16.02
Jul 7, 2026	@ Cincinnati	7:10 pmRDTV	Great American Ball Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $17.11
Jul 8, 2026	@ Cincinnati	7:10 pm	Great American Ball Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.74
Jul 9, 2026	@ Cincinnati	7:10 pmRDTV	Great American Ball Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $19.39
Jul 10, 2026	@ Detroit	6:40 pmDSN	Comerica Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $31.80
Jul 11, 2026	@ Detroit	6:10 pmDSN	Comerica Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.00
Jul 12, 2026	@ Detroit	1:40 pmDSN	Comerica Park	—

Jul 16, 2026	vs N.Y. Mets	7:10 pmESPN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $55.08
Jul 18, 2026	vs N.Y. Mets	4:05 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $60.00
Jul 19, 2026	vs N.Y. Mets	1:35 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $60.00
Jul 20, 2026	vs L.A. Dodgers	7:10 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $67.32
Jul 21, 2026	vs L.A. Dodgers	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $67.32
Jul 22, 2026	vs L.A. Dodgers	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $67.32
Jul 24, 2026	vs N.Y. Yankees	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $90.00
Jul 25, 2026	vs N.Y. Yankees	6:05 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $95.86
Jul 26, 2026	vs N.Y. Yankees	7:20 pmNBC	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $73.44
Jul 27, 2026	@ Miami	6:40 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $18.30
Jul 28, 2026	@ Miami	6:40 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $13.63
Jul 29, 2026	@ Miami	12:10 pmMATV	loanDepot park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.88
Jul 31, 2026	@ Baltimore	7:05 pm	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	—	—	Tickets Starting at $73.00
Aug 1, 2026	@ Baltimore	7:05 pm	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	—	—	Tickets Starting at $81.60
Aug 2, 2026	@ Baltimore	1:35 pm	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	—	—	Tickets Starting at $66.00
Aug 3, 2026	vs Washington	6:40 pmNATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $40.39
Aug 4, 2026	vs Washington	6:40 pmNATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.00
Aug 5, 2026	vs Washington	6:40 pmNATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $40.39
Aug 6, 2026	vs Washington	6:05 pmNATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $40.39
Aug 7, 2026	vs Toronto	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $85.68
Aug 8, 2026	vs Toronto	6:05 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $61.20
Aug 9, 2026	vs Toronto	1:35 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $45.29
Aug 10, 2026	@ St. Louis	7:45 pmFS1	Busch Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.40
Aug 11, 2026	@ St. Louis	7:45 pmCATV	Busch Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.40
Aug 12, 2026	@ St. Louis	2:15 pmCATV	Busch Stadium	—	—	Tickets Starting at $18.00
Aug 13, 2026	@ Minnesota	7:30 pmNFLX	Field of Dreams	—	—	—
Aug 15, 2026	@ Minnesota	7:10 pmTWTV	Target Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $38.90
Aug 16, 2026	@ Minnesota	2:10 pmTWTV	Target Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $26.41
Aug 17, 2026	vs Miami	6:40 pmMATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $40.39
Aug 18, 2026	vs Miami	6:40 pmMATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $41.62
Aug 19, 2026	vs Miami	6:05 pmMATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $40.39
Aug 21, 2026	vs St. Louis	6:40 pmCATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $59.98
Aug 22, 2026	vs St. Louis	6:05 pmCATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $61.20
Aug 23, 2026	vs St. Louis	1:35 pmCATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $42.00
Aug 24, 2026	@ Seattle	9:40 pmMRTV	T-Mobile Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $27.20
Aug 25, 2026	@ Seattle	9:40 pmMRTV	T-Mobile Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $31.00
Aug 26, 2026	@ Seattle	4:10 pmMRTV	T-Mobile Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $38.74
Aug 28, 2026	@ L.A. Angels	9:38 pm	Angel Stadium of Anaheim	—	—	Tickets Starting at $16.80
Aug 29, 2026	@ L.A. Angels	10:07 pm	Angel Stadium of Anaheim	—	—	Tickets Starting at $16.49
Aug 30, 2026	@ L.A. Angels	4:07 pm	Angel Stadium of Anaheim	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.35
Aug 31, 2026	@ Arizona	9:40 pmDBTV	Chase Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.74
Sep 1, 2026	@ Arizona	9:40 pmDBTV	Chase Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $25.08
Sep 2, 2026	@ Arizona	3:40 pmDBTV	Chase Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $27.60
Sep 4, 2026	vs Atlanta	6:40 pmBRVN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.72
Sep 5, 2026	vs Atlanta	6:05 pmBRVN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $37.94
Sep 6, 2026	vs Atlanta	1:10 pmNBC	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.42
Sep 7, 2026	vs Atlanta	1:05 pmBRVN	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $36.72
Sep 8, 2026	vs Houston	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $24.00
Sep 9, 2026	vs Houston	6:40 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $28.15
Sep 10, 2026	vs Houston	1:05 pm	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $28.15
Sep 11, 2026	@ Atlanta	7:15 pmBRVN	Truist Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.00
Sep 12, 2026	@ Atlanta	7:15 pmBRVN	Truist Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $37.20
Sep 13, 2026	@ Atlanta	1:35 pmBRVN	Truist Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $35.15
Sep 15, 2026	@ Washington	6:45 pmNATV	Nationals Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $15.60
Sep 16, 2026	@ Washington	6:45 pmNATV	Nationals Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $12.00
Sep 17, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	7:15 pmFOX	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $14.88
Sep 18, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	7:10 pm	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $26.40
Sep 19, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	4:10 pm	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $31.20
Sep 20, 2026	@ N.Y. Mets	1:40 pm	Citi Field	—	—	Tickets Starting at $22.57
Sep 22, 2026	vs Milwaukee	6:40 pmBRTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Sep 23, 2026	vs Milwaukee	6:40 pmBRTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Sep 24, 2026	vs Milwaukee	6:05 pmBRTV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Sep 25, 2026	vs Tampa Bay	6:40 pmRATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Sep 26, 2026	vs Tampa Bay	6:05 pmRATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $30.60
Sep 27, 2026	vs Tampa Bay	3:05 pmRATV	Citizens Bank Park	—	—	Tickets Starting at $42.49

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is suing his parents for $3 million, alleging financial mismanagement.

According to the lawsuit, Bohm is accusing his parents, Daniel Bohm and Lisa Bohm, of using multiple limited liability companies to transfer money from his son’s account to their own.

Alec is seeking at least $3 million, as this situation dates back all the way to 2019, according to the Phillies’ third basemen. Daniel and Lisa have both denied any wrongdoing and released a statement.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bohm love their son very much and have always acted in his best interests, both personally and professionally and still do so to this day,” their attorney Robert Eckard said. “They are deeply saddened by the allegations made against them in this lawsuit and the sensational false narrative painted here, which they believe is entirely without merit.”

Alec believes that his parents “overstated certain liabilities in order to misappropriate a portion of monies,” according to the lawsuit.

Despite this news dropping on Opening Day, Alec was a big part of the Phillies’ win over the Texas Rangers, hitting a three-run homer, which was needed in a 5-3 win.

The former Yankees captain will join the Philadelphia Phillies bench as his lifelong pursuit of a World Series ring continues.

This week, the Phillies announced they have hired Don Mattingly to be the bench coach. His son, Preston, is the team’s general manager. 

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Mattingly’s most recent role was with the Blue Jays, where he served as bench coach for three seasons. In 2025, the Blue Jays reached the World Series for the first time since 1993. For Mattingly, it was his first World Series appearance after 40 years in baseball. 

Mattingly was a superstar first baseman for the Yankees from 1981 to 1995. He won the MVP in 1985 and made six All-Star teams. Despite his individual success, his tenure was marked by some of the worst seasons in Yankee history. By the end of his career, he had sustained numerous injuries.

Despite this, he was an important veteran leader to young guys like Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill and Derek Jeter. In his final season, he finally made his playoff debut. Donnie Baseball, as he was known, hit .417 with six RBIs in the ALDS vs. the Mariners. When Mattingly hit a home run, O’Neill said he could physically feel Yankee Stadium shaking.

Despite still having something left in the tank, the injuries added up, and Mattingly was forced to retire. Mattingly was brought back by the Yankees in 2004 as a hitting coach. After Joe Torre left the Yankees, Mattingly followed Torre to the Dodgers.

After Torre’s retirement in 2010, Mattingly became their new manager. He was let go after the 2015 season and hired by the Marlins that offseason. Mattingly got the Marlins to the playoffs in 2020, which was their first time since 2003. Mattingly won National League Manager of the Year for his efforts. He was released two seasons later. 

The Phillies have been consistently competitive but have been unable to get over the top. Could Mattingly’s experience help both sides go from “so close yet so far” to “champion”?

Champions always find a way.

That’s been the story this season for the 2024 World Series holders Los Angeles Dodgers. Dave Roberts‘ side started the campaign 8-0 despite being in multiple close games and having to rally late in matches after trailing. Even after losing 10 of 12 games during a stretch in July, and having difficulties with consistency toward the final weeks of the season, the Dodgers remained top of the NL West and found ways to win.

They showed their title credentials once again on Thursday night in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, winning dramatic 2-1 game in extra innings to send them into the NLCS.

Roberts’ side won twice in Philadelphia, but dropped Game 3 on Wednesday, putting pressure on the team to avoid a win-or-go home trip to the east coast. The Dodgers fell behind in the seventh inning when Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos‘ single RBI put the visitors into the lead.

But once again, the Dodgers responded in the same inning as a walk from shortstop Mookie Betts allowed a free run to score with bases loaded.

Both sides couldn’t be separated as the match went into extra innings. Right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki proved vital for Los Angeles as he recorded zero hits and runs from the eighth to 10th inning, notching two strikeouts and keeping the Phillies away from home plate.

“You’re talking about one of the great all-time appearances out of the pen that I can remember,” Roberts said after the game on Sasaki’s performance. “I can’t speak enough to his growth and his contribution to this club.”

The big moment came in the 11th inning with bases loaded and two outs. Phillies right-handed pitcher Orion Kerkering faced outfielder Andy Pages and it looked to be a routine out with the ball bouncing straight toward the pitcher. However, Kerkering mismanaged the ball and threw it over home plate, giving the Dodgers a walk-off win from an error.

“Andy’ been scuffling,” Roberts said. “But to keep fighting and to put the ball in play, to create something, I give him a lot of credit.

“It was just (a) great inning and again we just kept fighting and those guys gave us everything they had.”

The Dodgers will advance to the NLCS for the seventh time in the last 10 seasons and will face the winner between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies are in second place in the NL East and currently hold one of the wild-card spots in the National League.

Philadelphia won the NL East in 2024 with a 95-67 record. Unfortunately for the Phillies, their season came to a disappointing end in the NLDS, losing to division rival New York Mets in four games.

In the offseason, Philadelphia signed outfielder Max Kepler and relief pitchers Jordan Romano and Joe Ross. The two reliever signings came after Philadelphia lost Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman, who were valuable pitchers out of the bullpen in 2024.

Philadelphia also made a trade with the Miami Marlins to acquire starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo to bolster the starting rotation.

The Phillies have one of the best offenses in baseball, led by Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto have also contributed at a high level for the offense.

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Philadelphia is inside the top 10 for batting average, slugging percentage, and RBIs. Philadelphia is also in the top five for on-base percentage.

Pitching has also been a strength for Philadelphia, led by Zack Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez.

The Phillies have the second-most strikeouts in baseball, and are inside the top 10 for ERA and preventing home runs. The Phillies are also in the top half of the league for walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and batting average allowed.

Philadelphia is currently dealing with injuries to Bohm and starting pitcher Aaron Nola. Bohm has a rib injury, but he recently started hitting off a practice tee, and Nola has a rehab assignment in Triple-A on July 31.

Philadelphia has all the tools to go on a deep run during the 2025 postseason. If the team can stay healthy and the bats can stay hot, Philadelphia could be a nightmare series for any team.

Philadelphia Phillies Schedule & Tickets

• August 11: at Cincinnati Reds
• August 12: at Cincinnati Reds
• August 13: at Cincinnati Reds
• August 14: at Washington Nationals
• August 15: at Washington Nationals
• August 16: at Washington Nationals
• August 17: at Washington Nationals
• August 18: vs. Seattle Mariners
• August 19: vs. Seattle Mariners
• August 20: vs. Seattle Mariners
• August 22: vs. Washington Nationals
• August 23: vs. Washington Naitonals
• August 24: vs. Washington Nationals
• August 25: at New York Mets
• August 26: at New York Mets
• August 27: at New York Mets
• August 28: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 29: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 30: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 31: vs. Atlanta Braves
• September 1: at Milwaukee Brewers
• September 3: at Milwaukee Brewers
• September 4: at Milwaukee Brewers
• September 5: at Miami Marlins
• September 6: at Miami Marlins
• September 7: at Miami Marlins
• September 8: vs. New York Mets
• September 9: vs. New York Mets
• September 10: vs. New York Mets
• September 11: vs. New York Mets
• September 12: vs. Kansas City Royals
• September 13: vs. Kansas City Royals
• September 14: vs. Kansas City Royals
• September 15: at Los Angeles Dodgers
• September 16: at Los Angeles Dodgers
• September 17: at Los Angeles Dodgers
• September 19: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 20: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 21: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 23: vs. Miami Marlins
• September 24: vs. Miami Marlins
• September 25: vs. Miami Marlins
• September 26: vs. Minnesota Twins
• September 27: vs. Minnesota Twins
• September 28: vs. Minnesota Twins

Philadelphia Phillies Odds

The Phillies have -1600 odds to make the postseason. The Phillies have the second-best odds to win the National League at +500, and the fourth-best odds to win the World Series at +950.

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Philadelphia Phillies’ star Bryce Harper reportedly engaged in a heated exchange with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a recent visit between the commissioner and the ball club, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The meeting between Manfred and the Phillies was part of the commissioner’s visit list with all 30 clubs as he tries to improve relations between players and the league at large.

Things grew contentious during the clubhouse meeting when Manfred began discussing the economics of MLB. The two-time MVP in Harper told Manfred to “get the f— out of our clubhouse” if Manfred wanted to talk about the implementation of a salary cap as part of the next collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA is set to expire in January 2026, with multiple owners voicing support for the implementation of a salary cap.

Major League Baseball is the only American professional sport without a salary cap. The MLB Players Association has long opposed a salary cap, arguing that a cap would increase franchise values more than lessen the disparity between high-spending and low-spending teams.

Harper was reportedly quiet during much of the meeting with Manfred and the team, which lasted more than an hour. However, Harper stood up in the middle of the locker room during the economics discussion and said, “If you want to speak about [the salary cap], you can get the f— out of our clubhouse.”

Harper and Manfred eventually shook hands before Manfred left, but Harper would not take the commissioner’s calls the following day.

Manfred has not committed to pursuing a salary cap, but pressure from multiple owners around the potential for one in the new CBA is intensifying.

On the flip side, players from opposing clubs have reportedly voiced frustration to Manfred in other clubhouse meetings about some teams’ lack of payroll spending.

On Sunday, the MLB announced that left-hander José Alvarado had been suspended for 80 games after failing a performance-enhancing drug (PED) test. The MLB stated that he tested positive for exogenous testosterone, which refers to testosterone that comes from outside the body. This suspension will lead to Alvarado missing most of the regular season and becoming ineligible for the playoffs for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old reliever had pitched to a 2.70 ERA and a 6.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20 appearances. He has notched seven saves this season and for his career he has a 123 ERA+.

The Phillies’ bullpen ranked 24th in the majors in ERA with Alvarado, so losing the closer is a big loss to an already struggling bullpen. Executives Dave Dombrowski and Sam Fuld will have to find bullpen trade candidates to help fill the void for Alvarado.

Potential Trade Candidates

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley has earned Cy Young Award consideration in both 2022 and 2024, but the big question is, will he be available for trade? At this point, it seems like the Cardinals would not be looking to trade him as they have a 26-21 record and are two games behind the Chicago Cubs. If the Cardinals continue winning, it seems unlikely that the impending free agent would be on the move.

A potential move for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks would be more likely due to the club option for next season being nearly double his salary. One thing that might turn off the Phillies would be his durability issues as he has dealt with numerous injuries like Raynaud’s syndrome, shoulder inflammation, lat strains, nerve-related problems, as well as a back issue.

The Los Angeles Angels’ right-hander Kenley Jansen and left-hander Reid Detmers could both be intriguing pieces that the Phillies go for, as Jansen has had lots of late-inning experience despite some signs of deterioration in his signature pitch, while Detmers has struggled the last two seasons, but could be a good buy-low candidate.

The Phillies have many more options to bulk up their bullpen with right-handed pitchers like the Washington Nationals’ Kyle Finnegan, Baltimore Orioles’ Seranthony Domínguez and Colorado Rockies’ Jake Bird. As the MLB trade deadline nears, the Phillies have many avenues to upgrade their bullpen.

The Philadelphia Phillies won Game 2 of their Wild Card series Wednesday to sweep the Miami Marlins. The team will now advance to the NLDS, where they will face the highly touted Atlanta Braves in a rematch of last year’s NLDS.

There were few points throughout the Wild Card series where the Marlins appeared to be in control, as the Phillies dominated much of the action through the first game, a 4-1 victory, and romped in the second to move on.

After an opening game in which Philadelphia mostly relied on ace Zack Wheeler, who allowed just one run and struck out eight batters in 6.2 innings, the team was more productive at the plate in Game 2. With a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, second baseman Bryson Stott hit a grand slam to extend the Phillies’ lead well beyond reach. They went on to win the game 7-1.

Though the bats woke up in Game 2, the pitching was just as dominant, as starter Aaron Nola allowed just three hits in seven scoreless innings of work. The Marlins never seemed comfortable at the plate, scoring just two runs in the entire series. There’s a team on the Phillies’ horizon, however, that will likely prove more capable.

With 104 wins in the regular season and 307 combined home runs, tied for the all-time record, the Braves are the surefire favorite to win this year’s World Series. Power hitters like Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna Jr., the first player ever to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases, are sure to provide a different challenge for Philadelphia’s pitching. Atlanta has several arms of its own as well, as Spencer Strider could possibly be rejoined by injured starters Max Fried and Charlie Morton in time for the series.

When these two teams faced off last year, both were in a roughly similar position. The Braves were formidable World Series favorites while the Phillies were unlikely underdogs who had squeaked into the playoffs as the sixth seed. But in a massive upset, Philadelphia’s pitching outlasted that of Atlanta and the team took the NLDS in four games. The Phillies went all the way to the World Series before falling to the Houston Astros.

Though both teams are in similar positions, the main difference going into this 2023 matchup is that both contenders have improved since last season. The Braves have finally realized their true potential at the plate, improving on a 101-win season in 2022 and setting multiple team and individual records along the way. The Phillies, meanwhile, added star shortstop Trea Turner in the offseason while retaining most of its talented pitching core.

“I think (we match up) pretty well,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday. “They have a great club, don’t sell them short at all. But I think we do match up. I think our offense can go against anybody’s. Our two starters, Wheeler and Nola, they’re really pitching well right now. They’re on a roll, and hopefully, they stay on a roll.”

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner made an undisclosed financial contribution to the team’s advertising campaign in order to send a thank you message to fans on seven local billboards. They simply read, “Thank you, Philly,” a message Turner felt was necessary after fans cheered him on through a profound slump at the plate.

“I think it was nice to get the message out there and say thank you,” Turner said Monday. “I said it in interviews and whatnot, but I think it was just another nice gesture.”

After a rough start to his first season in Philadelphia, Turner began receiving unexpected support from fans at Citizen Bank Park. Instead of characteristic boos or disinterested quiet, he received standing ovations before several at-bats last Friday. The following day, Turner hit a go-ahead three-run home run to lift Philadelphia past the Royals.

With a feel-good moment with the team under his belt, Turner felt obligated to make a reciprocating act of gratitude for the city.

“I feel like when you’re younger, you don’t think about things like that,” Turner said about the billboards. “You’re just kind of living the dream or trying to play baseball and whatnot. As you get older, you start to see what’s important. I’d never done anything to that magnitude.”

If Turner returns to form in the second half of the season, it would be a much-needed improvement for the Phillies, currently 61-51 and holding a slight lead in the NL Wild Card standings. The team’s offense is succeeding thanks to elite hitting from the likes of Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott, and in spite of Kyle Schwarber, the former star currently hitting .182.

With Philadelphia’s shortstop back on the right track, it is still unlikely that the team can do anything to topple the Braves within the NL East. The Phillies can do plenty more to secure a postseason berth, however, and build upon their surprise trip to the World Series last season.

When the Philadelphia Phillies acquired star shortstop Trea Turner in free agency with an eye-watering 11-year, $300 million deal, many marked the reigning National League champions as shoo-ins for another postseason run. The path forward is less clear now, however, as Turner continues to struggle on a Phillies team that is now 23-26 and fourth in the NL East.

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported that Turner has been extremely critical of his start with his new team but is focusing on the way forward for himself and the team.

“I’m honest with myself, I’ve sucked. But every at-bat, every play, every game is another day to try to do better and try to be the player that I know I am. If you harp on yesterday or you harp on the last at-bat, it’s just going to snowball on you, you’re not going to be able to turn it around.”

While Turner’s .251 batting average through 47 games isn’t even close to the worst in baseball, it is also a far cry from the .298 average he earned for the Dodgers last year. With this cold start, he drops below .300 for his MLB career for the first time since his very early days with the Washington Nationals in 2015 and 2016.

“So I’m honest with myself. I tell myself straight, and I don’t lie to myself. I think I’m a positive guy,” Turner said. “I think I can always do better and can always be better. That’s the attitude I have, but at the same time, I know when I don’t do something right.”

Turner has not been the only issue plaguing Philadelphia this season, as Bryce Harper has been notably absent while many other hitters have taken a step back. Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 12 home runs despite a .170 average.

Meanwhile, the pitching staff has proven to be one of the worst in the league with a 4.54 cumulative ERA. Still, the team is only 6.5 games out of first place in the division and can shake things up in series against the Braves, Mets and Nationals over the next two weeks.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Wednesday that they had signed starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard to a one-year, $13 million deal. The team’s goal is obviously to squeeze a little more baseball out of the once-dominant righthander, but at age 30, it appears that his best days are behind him.

As a member of the New York Mets from 2015 to 2021, Syndergaard quickly became a force on the mound, challenging batters with a powerful fastball and guiding the team to a postseason berth. Though Matt Harvey was the de facto ace in a 2015 rotation that also included Jacob deGrom, it became clear that Syndergaard would be the team’s future when he soundly defeated the Royals in the World Series, earning the only win the Mets would receive after an improbable run through the playoffs.

Syndergaard firmly stepped into his role as the ace in Queens in 2016 when he earned a 2.60 ERA and his only All-Star Game appearance to date. He also represented the Mets in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat to Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the 2016 Wild Card game.

The Mets’ star. affectionately known as “Thor,” lost some of his luster among fans when he regressed in subsequent seasons due to multiple injuries. His condition worsened to the point that he required Tommy John surgery before the 2020 season. He didn’t return to the Mets until the end of the 2021 season and left the team for good the following offseason.

In his first full year since recovering from surgery, Syndergaard started with the Los Angeles Angels before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as the trade deadline neared. He struggled for both teams, compiling a 3.94 ERA and just 95 strikeouts. Though he was on the Phillies’ roster that made an improbable run to the World Series, one could argue that his contributions were detrimental to the team’s overall effort.

Now, the Dodgers are taking the same chance on Syndergaard that the Angels and Phillies did last season, but if those experiments proved anything, it’s that Thor is not the same pitcher he once was. It’s unlikely that the Dodgers are looking for him to be anything more than a stopgap in the rotation, but even in that role, he has appeared ineffective, especially in big games that Los Angeles strives to reach.

A one-year deal is rarely an affront to established baseball norms, as teams are well within their rights to take a gamble on a former star with a short-term contract. But fans of Syndergaard should set the bar low as he returns to the West Coast. Instead of a career renaissance, they should hope that he merely pulls his weight.

The Philadelphia Phillies must beat the Houston Astros tonight to keep its World Series dreams alive.

The two teams last faced off on Thursday evening, where the Astros were able to hang on and win at Citizens Bank Park.

The game tonight will be played in Minute Maid Park, with the Astros hoping to win it in front of its fans.

In line to start Saturday is Framber Valdez for the Astors and the $118 million man, Zach Wheeler for the Phillies.

In the postseason, Wheeler is 1-2 with a 2.67 earned runs against average (ERA) and 28 strikeouts.

Valdez is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 24 strikeouts.

Tonight’s game, which is set to start at 8:03 p.m. Eastern Time can be watched on Fox.

It can be watched through your cable TV provider or through streaming platforms including the MLB and Fox Sports apps.

The Phillies are -184 underdogs in tonight’s game, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Astros will look to win its first championship since 2017 – the year the team got caught in a cheating scandal that resulted in a fine, suspensions and loss of draft capital.

Should the Phillies win tonight, it would force a game seven.

The organization last won a World Series in 2008, when it defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games.

A Phillies victory would set up a winner-take-all-game seven on Sunday night at Minute Maid Park again.

While probable starting pitchers are not clear for game seven, the Phillies could go with Aaron Nola on short rest Sunday, who last pitched on Wednesday in game four.

The Astros could also do the same thing with Cristian Javier.

But expect both teams not to hesitate to go to the bullpen tonight and if it gets to Sunday, as we enter elimination.

In the first close game between the two teams since Game 1, the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 on the road to take Game 5 of the World Series. The Astros are now one victory away from the championship and return home to Minute Maid Park for Game 6 on Saturday.

The Astros’ third win of the series followed two highly polarized games for Philadelphia’s offense, as the Phillies began their two-game home stand in Game 3 with a commanding 7-0 victory featuring five home runs. The next night in Game 4, four Astros pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter, the third in postseason history. Game 5 was less of a spectacle following those two games — a gritty defensive battle that seemed to favor both teams at certain points.

After taking a 2-1 lead and knocking Phillies starter Noah Syndergaard out of the game in the fourth inning, the Astros seemed to be in a solid position early with Justin Verlander on the mound. Verlander was looking to bounce back from a disastrous collapse in Game 1, in which the Phillies mounted a five-run comeback and won in extra innings.

Houston’s ace gave up a solo homer to Kyle Schwarber in the first but escaped jams in the second and third before encountering more trouble in the fifth. Bryce Harper doubled to right field with two outs and Nick Castellanos on deck. Manager Dusty Baker lingered in the dugout but ultimately didn’t make a call to the bullpen.

“I was considering after the Bryce double whether Dusty was gonna leave me in there or not,” Verlander said after the game. “I wasn’t sure.”

To escape his final frame of the night, Verlander had to endure a grueling 10-pitch at-bat against Castellanos, the catalyst for the Phillies’ comeback in Game 1. The hard-hitting outfielder eventually flew out to end the inning and Verlander exited the game after five innings, having allowed one run four hits and four walks.

Both teams failed to score for two innings thereafter before scoring one apiece in the eighth. If not for key defensive stops, both teams could have scored more, but the biggest play of the night didn’t come until the ninth.

With one out in the bottom of the final frame, center fielder Chas McCormick made a leaping into the wall to rob J.T. Realmuto of what would have been an extra-base hit. The catch stymied the Phillies’ final rally bid and allowed Houston to take the 3-2 win.

“I wanted to lay there longer,” McCormick said after the game. “If it were the last out, I would’ve laid there all night.”

With the help of McCormick and a massive defense effort, the Astros are now one game away from their second World Series title in franchise history. They will play at home Saturday in Game 6, and if needed, will also play in Minute Maid Park for Game 7 on Sunday to decide the championship.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been waiting a while for Bryce Harper to return to the lineup – and the big money man delivered quickly. 

During the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Phillies wasted no time making noise offensively. 

The team immediately had the bases loaded with no one out – all set for Harper, who was batting cleanup in the first game back since June. 

The 29-year-old star outfielder took the count to two balls and two strikes. 

He then drove a pitch through the shifted right infield that got too much of the plate. 

That drove in two runs to give the Phillies runners on first and third. 

That was Harper’s first at-bat since June 25 when San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell let a 97-mile per hour (mph) fastball get away from him that unfortunately drilled the star outfielder on the left thumb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2CGlAkmOpc&ab_channel=WestCoastSports

X-rays revealed that it was a fracture.

The good news is the Phillies were able to manage without Harper.

The team held a 32-20 record without him and sit second in the wild card race in the National League.

This year, the Phillies rank ninth in the majors in batting average and eight in on-base plus slugging (OPS). 

Ahead of the trade deadline, the Phillies acquired pitchers Noah Syndergaard and David Robertson.

If the injury hadn’t happened, Harper would have had a decent shot of winning the NL’s most valuable player award again. 

Before the injury, Harper was slashing .318/.385/.985 (batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.) 

Harper has won two MVP awards in his 11-season MLB career: one in 2015, with the other in 2021. 

But likewise, this year’s race will come down between two St. Louis Cardinals: Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. 

But most importantly, the Phillies will hope Harper will stay healthy and that he will help the team make noise in the playoffs. 

Former MLB star Pete Rose repeatedly dismissed reporters’ questions regarding a case of statutory rape at a press event at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday. Before a ceremony celebrating the 1980 Phillies’ World Series victory, his first appearance on the field since the case became public, Rose repeatedly declined to address the issue and made demeaning remarks to Alex Coffey, a female reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Following a defamation lawsuit filed in 2016 by Rose against attorney John M. Dowd, court documents released in 2017 included testimony and a signed statement establishing that Rose engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor in the 1970s. At the time, the Phillies were planning to honor Rose by putting him on their Wall of Fame but scrapped those plans following the development.

Many of Rose’s comments on Sunday about the case have since been criticized, but the honoree’s response to Coffey has received the most attention. The reporter asked Rose if his presence at the ceremony sent “a negative message to women” due to the allegations.

“No, I’m not here to talk about that,” Rose said. “Sorry about that. It was 55 years ago, babe.”

After the ceremony, Rose met again with Coffey, asking if he had offended her and joking that he would “sign 1,000 baseballs” for her forgiveness. He eventually apologized, but Rose’s comments toward Coffey were merely part of a larger effort by the former Cincinnati Reds and Phillies star to dismiss allegations of rape.

“Who cares what happened 50 years ago?” Rose said to an Associated Press reporter. “You weren’t even born. So you shouldn’t be talking about it, because you weren’t born. If you don’t know a damn thing about it, don’t talk about it.”

Rose is obviously familiar with controversy, as his illegal gambling habits as the Reds’ manager from 1985 to 1987 famously led to his lifetime ban from baseball and the Hall of Fame in 1991. Rose has spent his life since on the outskirts of MLB culture, making most of his money through book deals and autograph events, one of which notoriously occurs annually in Cooperstown, New York, on induction weekend.

When Rose walked on to the field at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. In 24 seasons from 1963 to 1986, Rose earned 4,256 hits, the most by any player. He appeared in the All Star Game 17 times and won three World Series, two with the Reds as part of “the Big Red Machine” and one in Philadelphia.

Less than a year ago, Noah Syndergaard rejected a qualifying offer from the New York Mets, today he’s back in the NL East as a member of a rival team. In one of the later deals of the MLB trade deadline, Syndergaard was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Mickey Moniak and prospect Jadiel Sanchez.

Syndergaard immediately upgrades the Phillies pitching rotation which is headlined by Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola.

Though he is having somewhat of a down year (5-8 record, 3.83 ERA with 64 strikeouts and allowing 74 hits), he immediately adds to a core that needs some depth.

Wheeler and Nola have been solid this season with Wheeler boasting a career-best 2.77 ERA with a 9-5 record.

Nola is having a solid year as well, nothing 152 strikeouts with a 3.25 ERA. The trade gives the Phillies another arm at little cost as Syndergaard is set to become a free agent after his one-year, $21 million contract is up.

Syndergaard does have a major injury history, however, as he has missed two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and repeated setbacks.

For the Angels the acquisition of Moniak is a gamble.

A former No, 1 overall pick in 2016, he comes to the Angels with gobs of potential but has yet to realize it.

In his three big league seasons, Moniak has accumulated only 12 hits on 93 at-bats, with an atrocious .129 batting average.

As for Sanchez, he’s a standard outfielder that has yet to see big league or even High-A baseball.

It is clear that the Phillies won this trade, but they also have different aspirations at this point of the season.

They are in the this Thick of the NL Wild Card race with a 55-38 record.

The Angels on the other hand have continued to see their season collapse. They are near the bottom of the AL West with a 4459 record and continue to shell out players despite their fantastic start to the season.

In a season where multiple All-Star level players have been sidelined by injuries, it is not easy to see another player of that caliber continuing to sit on the sidelines. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper continues to be out – and the star is vowing to return this season.

The reigning AL-MVP was sidelined in June after he was struck by a pitch thrown by San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell. Harper was sent to the IL after being diagnosed with a broken left thumb and had to have three pins inserted into his thumb.

Harper spoke to the media earlier this week saying that he would be back but was reluctant to give a timetable on his return. “I don’t want to give anybody a timetable because I don’t know. If I knew a specific date that I’d be back, I’d tell you. I just don’t think it’s fair to anybody. I’ll be back when I’m ready to go,” he said. “I don’t want to hope or think about anything. I just want to go day by day and be back when I can, whenever I feel healthy, whenever that is to help this team win. Granted, if we’re out of it, I’m going to come back and play no matter what, just so I know that I can go out there and play the game. I don’t want that to be my last day playing this year. No matter what the outcome, I’m going to come back, and I’ll be playing.”

Harper will not be able to attend the Phillies’ upcoming road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins due to conflicts with his medical appointments. “I don’t really feel the need for me to go anywhere, especially with appointments for the next two weeks with the doctors,” he said. “If I didn’t have those appointments, I’d be going on this road. After the break, I’ll be kind of a little more open to going on the road and travel and get the things done I need to.”

Prior to his injury Harper was getting back to MVP form. He had been batting .318 with a .985 OPS and 15 home runs. In his absence, however, the Phillies have not wavered in their hunt for a postseason berth. The Phillies are 5-3 in his absence and the offense has still been producing, scoring five or more runs in six of the last eight contests including an 11-0 dismantling of the Washington Nationals.

The Phillies now sit in third place in the NL East with a 43-38 record. They have a 71.3% chance to make the postseason.

Philadelphia sports fans are passionate. Alec Bohm found that out the hard way Monday evening.

The Phillies third baseman made three errors in the first three innings against the Mets, which understandably got the Philly faithful on his case.

However, his frustration spilled over as he could be seen saying “I f***ing hate this place” to a teammate while walking off the field between innings:

“I said it. Do I mean it? No,” Bohm said. “It’s a frustrating night for me, obviously. Made a few mistakes in the field. Look, these people, these fans, they just want to win. You heard it, we come back, they’re great. I’m just sorry to them. I don’t mean that.”

Perhaps all is forgiven, as the Phils rallied for five runs in the eighth to win 5-4. It should be noted that the Mets failed to score an unearned run off any of Bohm’s errors.

J.T. Realmuto had a two-run homer, while Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius added run-scoring doubles. But, of course, the story of the evening was Bohm’s f-bomb.

“I think it’s a kid that was frustrated,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “I don’t think that kid was referring to, you know, the city of Philadelphia, the fans. I think he was referring to the situation he was in. Put yourself in his shoes.”