August 09, 2026
Bill Streicher/Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) tags out Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jesus Sanchez (12) on a rundown during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park.
The new additions who came to the Phillies at the trade deadline were supposed to lift the team from a flawed playoff contender that overcame a troublesome April into a powerhouse more equipped to make a serious title run.
But those additions, especially to the bullpen, have yet to transform the Phillies, while some of the season-long under-performers continue to hurt them in critical moments.
That's exactly how the Phillies lost two of three over the weekend to the middling Blue Jays, who were sellers at the deadline after laboring well under .500 for most of the year.
But the Blue Jays escaped with a 5-4 win Friday because the Phillies couldn't plate the tying run with the bases loaded and one out, then pulled out Saturday's game thanks to a late rally against José Alvarado to secure the series win. The Phils got a 12-strikeout masterpiece from Jesus Luzardo and two homers from Kyle Schwarber on Sunday but still blew a lead and needed a Bryson Stott game-tying single in the 12th followed by Derek Hill's game-winning single past a drawn-in infield to leave South Philly on Alumni Weekend with at least one win, a 7-6 nailbiter.
The Phils had their two-series win streak snapped and continue to cling for dear life to a National League Wild Card spot despite entering the All-Star break last month pushing the Braves for first place in the NL.
They start a six-game road trip on Monday against the Cardinals before finishing against the Twins, a three-game series that includes the "Field of Dreams" game in Iowa on Thursday.
Here are the main takeaways from the series:
Many of the Phillies' worst moments can be attributed to poor performances or decisions from some who have struggled for all or most of the season:
• On Friday, the Phillies rallied for two runs in the ninth off an erratic Tyler Rogers to come within 5-4 with one out and the bases loaded. Alec Bohm decided to swing at the first pitch, weakly grounding into a fielder's choice that got Trea Turner throw out at home, followed by a game-ending groundout from Brandon Marsh, who has struggled since the All-Star game.
Bohm earned a seat on the bench Saturday after his 0-for-4 effort. On Sunday, with runners on second and third and one out in the 10th, needing just a fly ball or weak grounder the opposite way to plate the game-winner, Bohm popped out to third base.
• On Saturday, the Phils led 4-2 going into the eighth when José Alvarado issued back-to-back one-out walks to Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk before surrendering a two-out double to Andrés Giménez that tied the game, inflating his ERA to 5.77. The game went to 11 innings, where the Phillies were down to their sixth pitcher, struggling Chase Shugart, who surrendered a two-run shot to Nathan Lukes. Shugart was optioned to Triple-A Sunday, replaced by call-up Alan Rangel.
• On Sunday, the Phils had two on and one out in the seventh, leading 5-2, but Luis Arraez and J.T. Realmuto each struck out, wasting an opportunity to break open the game. That came back to haunt them when the streaky Orion Kerkering gave up four straight two-out hits as the Blue Jays tied the game and Kerkering wasted a brilliant outing from Jesús Luzardo.
• Trea Turner has been hitting better lately but went 2-for-15 in the series – 0-for-6 on Sunday – and left 13 on base by himself, including a strikeout in the fifth Friday with the tying and go-ahead runs both in scoring position and one out. On Sunday, he popped out with the bases loaded in the eighth with the game tied at 5-5 and in the 11th, with runners on first and second and nobody out, his poor sac bunt led to Derek Hill getting thrown out at third.
• Don Mattingly has generally managed well since taking over in April as interim manger, but he let Garrett Stubbs bat in the bottom of the ninth Saturday with the game tied despite having both Edmundo Sosa and Derek Hill on the bench. Realmuto was getting the day off, but Mattingly did go with Sosa in the 11th when the Phillies were down 7-5.
Along with being less than his sharpest for the second time in his last three starts, Zack Wheeler is apparently being monitored by MLB for not always stepping on the rubber before pitching.
The reputation caused some friction Friday between Wheeler and Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins, who got ejected after the chirping.
— Foul Territory (@bsbls885) August 8, 2026
After the game, Wheeler told reporters that MLB officials put him on some kind of watch list after one of his prime time games in which league officials suspected Wheeler wasn't always stepping on the rubber. Wheeler said the Phillies "had the data" that proved otherwise.
Still, Wheeler said he observed Blue Jays manager John Schneider talking to the home plate umpire early in the game about Wheeler's positioning on the mound, and he heard Popkins later yell, "get him on the rubber," which led to Popkins' ejection.
Here's the entire Wheeler summary of the situation (h/t NBC Sports Philly):
"They've lost a lot of games over there so they're probably trying to pick some things up to complain about."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 8, 2026
Zack Wheeler didn't mince any words 👀 | @WapnerNewman pic.twitter.com/P0LMMhGTOP
"You know, they've lost a lot of games over there so they're probably trying to pick some things up to complain about," Wheeler said.
An angry Wheeler who felt snubbed by the All-Star selection process was almost untouchable in his starts before the break. Maybe this latest incident will give him some motivation to bounce back from allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings.
Despite being an excellent addition at the trade deadline, new cleanup hitter Luis Arraez was generally held in check by the Blue Jays and even struck out twice, something he rarely does.
On Sunday, he had a chance to plate the game-winning run in the 11th with the bases loaded and one out but his weak fly ball to right allowed Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukas to throw out pinch-runner Garrett Stubbs at home, completing the inning-ending double play. He also left five men on base Friday night.
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