Philadelphia Phillies Fire Rob Thomson, Appoint Don Mattingly as Interim Manager The Philadelphia Phillies, struggling with their worst start to a season in over two decades, announced the firing of manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday. Thomson, who led the team to four consecutive playoff appearances—including the 2022 World Series—will be replaced by Don Mattingly, who will serve as the club’s interim manager for the remainder of the 2025 season. Mattingly’s appointment marks a historic father-son managerial-GM combination, as his son Preston Mattingly is the Phillies’ general manager. The Phillies, the preseason favorites in the NL East, entered Tuesday with a 9-19 record, tied with the New York Mets for the worst mark in Major League Baseball. Their 28-game start has been their worst since 2002, when they also began 9-19. Despite a projected 2026 payroll of just over $315 million, the team has failed to live up to expectations, losing 11 of their past 12 games. The collapse has been particularly stark for a franchise set to host the All-Star Game and its surrounding festivities, with regulars Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber both hitting under .200 and starters Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter posting 5.00-plus ERAs. Thomson, a 62-year-old baseball veteran, was promoted to his first managerial role in 2022 after a long career with the New York Yankees, where he served as a bench coach and third-base coach. He led the Phillies to consecutive NL East titles and the 2022 World Series, earning a contract extension through the 2027 season. However, the team has since regressed, failing to advance past the NL Division Series in 2024 and 2025 and losing in the NL Championship Series in 2023.#philadelphia_phillies #alex_cora #rob_thomson #dave_dombrowski #don_mattingly
Phillies' Losing Streak and Taijuan Walker's Release The Philadelphia Phillies are enduring a nine-game losing streak as they struggle through a challenging season, with star player Bryce Harper expressing frustration over the team's recent performance. The skid, now at nine games, was highlighted by a four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs, during which the Phillies were outscored 27-14. The loss came after an 8-7 defeat in 10 innings on Thursday, marking a significant low point for a team that had previously dominated the National League East. Harper, who has been a key figure for the Phillies, admitted to feeling the weight of the situation, stating, "I can't remember something like this in my career." He emphasized the need for the team to overcome the slump, saying, "We got to get through it. Obviously, we don't want to be where we are right now." Harper acknowledged the challenges of such a losing streak but remained hopeful, noting that teams have historically navigated similar situations. "I think you could probably tell me better if we have been through this, or other teams that I've played with have been through this," he said. "But I know teams that have been through this and been through the mud a little bit and still climbed out of it. Yeah, we got to do it." The Phillies' struggles were compounded by the decision to release veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker on Thursday. Walker, who had been with the team for four years under a $72 million contract, was let go after posting a dismal 9.13 ERA. His performance against the Cubs on Thursday, where he gave up four earned runs in four innings, sealed his fate.#chicago_cubs #taijuan_walker #philadelphia_phillies #rob_thomson #bryce_harper
Zack Wheeler makes second rehab start with Lehigh Valley Zack Wheeler faced challenges in his second rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, though his performance showed promise despite a costly error. The three-time All-Star was one out away from completing three scoreless innings against the Durham Bulls when a defensive miscue disrupted the momentum. With two runners on and two outs, Raynel Delgado hit a fly ball to left-center field that seemed destined to end the threat. However, the ball landed between left fielder Óscar Mercado and center fielder Pedro León, allowing both runners to score. Wheeler then struck out the next batter before falling behind 3-0 against Jacob Melton. Melton crushed a three-run homer to right field on a 3-0 pitch, extending the Phillies’ lead. Wheeler retired the final batter of the inning but was forced to exit after a 27-pitch frame. His outing resulted in five runs allowed, four hits, two walks, and just one strikeout over three innings. Phillies manager Rob Thomson praised Wheeler’s performance, noting he was “pretty sharp” for the first two innings. Thomson highlighted that Wheeler threw 22 pitches in the first two frames before losing command in the third, leading to several arm-side misses. Despite the struggles, the manager remained optimistic about Wheeler’s progress. “It’s still [like] Spring Training for him,” Thomson said, emphasizing that the dip in velocity was expected. Wheeler’s four-seam fastball averaged 92.7 mph, with a top speed of 93.9 mph, slightly below his first rehab start a week earlier, which saw a peak of 94.3 mph. Thomson downplayed concerns about the velocity drop, stating that additional innings and pitches would likely improve his effectiveness.#rob_thomson #zack_wheeler #lehigh_valley #raynel_delgado #oscar_mercado
Phillies have a PED problem after yet another suspension CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies face mounting scrutiny over a recurring issue involving performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), as the team has been hit with its eighth suspension this season, tying them with Seattle for the most in Major League Baseball history. Johan Rojas became the latest Phillie to be suspended after testing positive for boldenone, a banned substance, prompting an arbitrator to uphold an 80-game ban. This marks the third Phillies player linked to the team to receive a PED suspension within a single calendar year, a record that has never been matched by any other franchise. The Phillies’ struggles with PED violations date back to 2009, when J.C. Romero was suspended. Since then, the team has seen suspensions involving players like Freddy Galvis, Carlos Ruiz, Antonio Bastardo, Daniel Stumpf, Alec Asher, and J.C. Romero. Adding to the tally, Max Kepler, a free agent who played for the Phillies last season, was suspended for 80 games in January after testing positive for a PED. Including Kepler, the Phillies now have nine suspensions tied to the team in 2026, a number that underscores the league’s growing concern over the organization’s history. Manager Rob Thomson, who took over as manager in 2022, has dismissed the suspensions as isolated incidents, stating, “They are three totally different situations. So no, I do not think it’s an issue.” However, the team’s front office has remained silent on the matter, citing an MLB rule that prohibits commentaries on suspensions. The Phillies issued a statement expressing support for MLB’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program but stopped short of addressing the broader implications of the suspensions.#mlb #philadelphia_phillies #johan_rojas #jc_romero #rob_thomson
