The Phillies looked dead in the water under former manager Rob Thomson, stumbling out to a brutal 9-19 start that had fans openly questioning whether the season was already slipping away before Memorial Day. The offense was flat. The pitching staff was inconsistent. Even a roster loaded with star power looked lifeless on a nightly basis.
Since taking over as interim manager, Mattingly has guided Philadelphia to a stunning 10-3 run, and the turnaround has been dramatic on both sides of the ball. According to Jeff Kerr of 97.3 ESPN, the Phillies’ offense under Mattingly has been the best in baseball during that stretch.
Philadelphia ranks first in Major League Baseball in batting average at .275, first in home runs with 19, and first in slugging percentage at .470. The club also ranks third in on-base percentage during the surge. Suddenly, the same lineup that looked completely overmatched under Thomson is driving the baseball with authority and producing runs consistently.
The pitching staff has stabilized as well. The Phillies own a respectable 3.40 ERA under Mattingly while ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings at 10.36. Their 2.96 FIP ranks third in baseball, suggesting the underlying performance may be stronger than the ERA indicates.
Harper, Sanchez Leading the Phillies Charge
Still, the managerial change is only part of the story.
Philadelphia’s turnaround has coincided with several key players improving their performance.
Bryce Harper continues to silence critics who questioned whether he still belonged among baseball’s elite players. The two-time MVP has quietly put together another dominant season, hitting .281 with a .938 OPS and 10 home runs. Harper has remained the heartbeat of the lineup even while the team struggled early.
On the mound, Cristopher Sanchez is pitching like a legitimate Cy Young contender. Through nine starts, the left-hander owns a sparkling 2.11 ERA with a 4-2 record. He has been nearly untouchable in May, throwing 15 scoreless innings while striking out 17 hitters. Sanchez has gone from dependable starter to potential ace in a matter of weeks.
Brandon Marsh Emerging as a Difference-Maker
One of the biggest surprises has been Brandon Marsh. Long viewed as a streaky hitter with limitations against left-handed pitching, Marsh has completely flipped the narrative.
He currently leads Major League Baseball with a .353 batting average and is riding a 12-game hitting streak. Perhaps most importantly, he has become far more productive against lefties, recording eight hits and five RBI in just 28 at-bats against southpaws this season.
The Phillies have also welcomed back Zack Wheeler, who is steadily regaining his All-Star form after returning from thoracic outlet surgery. In three starts since coming back, Wheeler has posted a 3.12 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP, giving the rotation another major boost.
Has Alec Bohm Finally Turned a Corner?
For much of the season, Bohm looked completely lost at the plate. Through 37 games, the third baseman was hitting just .180 with a miserable .526 OPS, making him one of the weakest bats in the lineup alongside Bryson Stott. His struggles became so severe that he was benched for two games in favor of utility man Edmundo Sosa.
That move may have sparked something.
Since returning to the lineup, Bohm has shown signs of life, highlighted by a two-home run performance against the Colorado Rockies on May 9. After posting a dreadful .157 batting average and .395 OPS in April, Bohm has rebounded to hit .296 with a .923 OPS in May.
The Phillies suddenly look like a completely different team than the one that stumbled through the first month of the season. Whether the turnaround is truly because of Don Mattingly or simply the roster finally playing to its potential remains up for debate.
What is undeniable is this: Philadelphia is winning again, and the season suddenly feels very alive.
