Austin Wells homers as Yankees beat Phillies Catchers are taught that their most important work appears outside the box score, responsible for guiding pitchers and controlling the running game. Austin Wells found some comfort there, but he has never stopped believing in his bat. Wells launched the longest home run of his career, an opposite-field blast that traveled a Statcast-projected 430 feet, and Jasson Domínguez also went deep in the Yankees’ 3-1 victory over the Phillies on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. The Yankees’ third consecutive win was tinged by concern for All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger, who stroked a tiebreaking hit in the sixth inning but injured his left hamstring on an eighth-inning double. With the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline approaching, the Yankees are said to be in the market for an upgrade at catcher, plus bullpen help. General manager Brian Cashman recently said that he considered the team’s catching to be “an issue, clearly,” and multiple reports have identified the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers, the Reds’ Tyler Stephenson and the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman among their potential targets. Manager Aaron Boone said he believes Wells has done a nice job of handling the noise. “He knows he can hit, and he believes he’s a better hitter than he’s shown this year,” Boone said. “That’s tough to deal with. But he’s also mature enough and advanced enough in his career that he understands the importance of being behind that plate every single day, and your role in limiting runs.” Boone also noted encouraging signs from Wells at the plate, beyond just his third-inning blast off Brian Keller. “The last couple of weeks – obviously, the homer is great. That’s an on-time, aggressive swing. You see the power the other way. … Hopefully, this is him inching closer to being who he knows he can be.#austin_wells #yankees #phillies #citizens_bank_park #brian_cashman
Phillies Option Andrew Painter to Triple-A After Struggles in Major League Debut Andrew Painter’s brief Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies ended in disappointment, prompting the team to send the 23-year-old pitcher to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The decision came shortly after Painter’s latest setback in a Wednesday afternoon loss to the Miami Marlins, marking a significant step back for the former top prospect. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged the move, emphasizing the team’s belief in Painter’s potential to rebound. “It’s difficult,” Dombrowski said, “but we’ve sent many good pitchers down, and they go down, get reset, and come back to do well. That’s what our goals are, and what we think will happen with him.” Painter, who had struggled to command his pitches throughout his first 65 big league innings, now faces a seven-to-10-day layoff before returning to the mound. During this period, he will focus on extra bullpen sessions rather than game action, a strategy the Phillies hope will help him regain his form. Despite some progress in recent bullpen sessions, Dombrowski noted the challenge of translating that improvement into consistent performance in games. “You have to carry it over to the game,” he admitted. Painter himself has taken the struggles in stride, expressing a willingness to work through his issues. “I have to get better, I have to do better,” he said, reflecting on his determination to improve. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of his current situation, calling his recent performance “about as good as it can right now under the circumstances.” The Phillies remain confident in his ability to return to form, with interim manager Don Mattingly stating, “I think it was the best thing for him. He’s not the first guy this has happened to.#phillies #dave_dombrowski #andrew_painter #don_mattingly #triple_a_lehigh_valley
Phillies' Brandon Marsh Suffers Finger Injury, Outfield Depth Concerns Loom Brandon Marsh exited Tuesday night’s game against the Padres with a right middle finger sprain after diving back to first base on a pickoff play to end the first inning. The injury occurred while Marsh was wearing a sliding mitt only on his left hand, which is not typically the lead hand for sliding into a base. Despite the injury, Marsh initially stayed in the game, collecting his second hit of the night in the top of the third before exiting in the middle of the fourth. The Phillies secured a 4-3 victory at Petco Park, with interim manager Don Mattingly describing the injury as day-to-day. “It’s kind of going to be day to day,” Mattingly said after the game. “Sounded like they thought he was going to be sore [Wednesday]. We’ll see what happens. He may come in here great.” Marsh plans to adjust his approach moving forward, stating he will use a double in future games to avoid similar situations. “I’m gonna go double now,” Marsh said. “That’s the plan. … Probably ride with double until the end of the season.” Adolis García, who had a day off due to a recent offensive slump, replaced Marsh in right field. While the Phillies are optimistic Marsh will be ready for Wednesday’s series finale, the team may give him the day off to ensure full recovery, especially with a Thursday off-day providing extra time for recovery ahead of the weekend’s showdown with the Dodgers. The Phillies’ outfield depth is severely limited, with only García in right field and Justin Crawford in center field as viable options. If Marsh is unavailable, left field will likely be managed by a combination of Edmundo Sosa, Felix Reyes, Otto Kemp, and Garrett Stubbs. The offensive production from these players has been minimal, with combined slash lines of .205/.271/.305 (.#phillies #petco_park #adolis_garcia #brandon_marsh #don_mattingly
Phillies' Johan Rojas suspended 80 games for failed drug test The Philadelphia Phillies' Johan Rojas has been suspended for 80 games after failing a drug test. The suspension was announced on March 16, 2026, at 06:24 PM ET. Rojas, a reliever for the Phillies, tested positive for a prohibited substance, prompting the league to impose the penalty. The decision follows standard procedures for handling such violations, which typically involve a review of the testing process and confirmation of the results. The suspension will begin with the 2026 season, impacting Rojas' availability for the majority of the campaign. The Phillies have not yet commented on the specifics of the case or the potential implications for the team's roster. This marks the latest in a series of disciplinary actions taken by Major League Baseball to address performance-enhancing drug use.#2026_season #phillies #johan_rojas #major_league_baseball #drug_test
