The Phillies are entering the final stretch of the regular season, and suddenly, the margin for error is getting very thin.

Austin Myers breaks down a pivotal stretch for Philadelphia, beginning with the news that Jesús Luzardo has been placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. Luzardo has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since June, making his absence potentially massive as the Phillies prepare for October.

Austin discusses how Philadelphia can navigate the final two weeks without Luzardo, what his injury means for the rotation, and whether Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter could take on expanded roles heading into the postseason.

With a four-game series against the Mets looming and the Brewers and Rays waiting at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies' path to October is becoming increasingly important.

Are the Phillies still chasing the NL East, or should their primary focus be protecting their Wild Card position? And how will the loss of Luzardo impact their postseason plans?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠.

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Episode timestamps: 

00:20 Introduction and Current State of the Phillies

04:11 Injury Concerns: Jesus Luzardo's Impact

12:22 Phillies' Performance Against the Braves and Playoff Prospects

20:10 Offensive Struggles and Key Player Performances

24:26 Looking Ahead: Final Games and Playoff Strategy

The Phillies stumbled through a mediocre homestand, and now their margin for error in the NL East is getting dangerously thin.

Josh Liddick breaks down the Phillies' 3-4 homestand, including a frustrating series loss to the Astros and the continued problems with baserunning that have cost the team opportunities — and potentially games. Josh digs into the mistakes from Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa and why the Phillies have to clean things up before October.

He also covers the team's remarkable comeback mentality, highlighted by an 11-7 win over Houston that saw the Phillies overcome multiple deficits and Kyle Schwarber's grand slam. Josh discusses Schwarber's emergence as the Phillies' biggest clutch threat, his MLB-leading 44 home runs and whether he has a legitimate case to finish as an NL MVP finalist.

Plus, a look at Trea Turner's recent offensive resurgence after a brutal August, including his six-game hitting streak and two home runs against Houston, before Josh previews a massive three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta. Aaron Nola takes on Chris Sale on Friday, Jesús Luzardo gets the ball Saturday after his dominant complete-game shutout last week against the Braves, and Andrew Painter looks to bounce back Sunday.

With the Braves four games ahead in the division and the Phillies running out of time, can they make a statement in Atlanta — or is the NL East race essentially over?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠.

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps:

00:00 — Intro & remembering 9/11

04:00 — Phillies end disappointing homestand with series loss to Astros

06:00 — Four Bagger: Baserunning continues to hurt

18:00 — The Phillies’ comeback mentality

25:00 — Kyle Schwarber’s clutch gene

32:00 — Trea Turner’s resurgence

39:30 — Previewing Phillies-Braves for the final time

43:00 — Aaron Nola vs. Chris Sale

46:00 — Jesús Luzardo’s dominant stretch

48:45 — Andrew Painter’s bounce-back opportunity

50:00 — Braves hitters to watch

52:00 — Looking ahead & YouTube is back!

The Phillies survived a playoff-like atmosphere this weekend against the Braves, but they left a lot on the table.

Josh Liddick breaks down a series split that saw the Phillies drop Friday and Sunday before bouncing back to win Saturday and Monday, highlighted by Jesús Luzardo's complete-game shutout — the best start of his career and a statement performance that pulled his ERA under 3.00. Josh also digs into Sunday's brutal bullpen collapse, where a three-run lead slipped away against Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Braves, and why the Phillies' inconsistent offense keeps undercutting a rotation that's pitching well enough to win a championship.

He also covers Kyle Schwarber's three-homer weekend, including a second-deck game-winning shot on Monday, Bryce Harper's on-base streak coming to an end at 35 games, and why the top of the lineup needs to be better with the toughest stretch of the schedule still ahead.

Plus, a preview of a big home series against the AL West-leading Houston Astros before the Phillies head back to Atlanta for a crucial three-game set against the Braves.

Can the Phillies find their offensive consistency before it's too late?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. 

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Episode timestamps:

0:00 – Intro: Phillies-Braves rivalry renewed

2:22 – Recap: Phillies split with the Braves

4:41 – The offense's inconsistency problem

7:08 – Luzardo's statement game against the Braves

11:53 – Luzardo's Cy Young case & contract validation

16:18 – How deep is this Phillies rotation?

20:52 – Andrew Painter's continued growth

23:15 – Harper's on-base streak ends, offense struggles

25:34 – Schwarber's three-homer weekend

28:01 – Turner, Harper & the top of the order

30:21 – Sunday's bullpen meltdown vs. Atlanta

33:37 – This Week: Astros at home, Braves in Atlanta

August is officially behind us, though the month treated the Phillies very nicely.

Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down a wild sweep of the Angels that felt more improbable than the results suggest — including Edmundo Sosa's pinch-hit grand slam that erased a three-run deficit on Friday and a gritty extra-innings win on Saturday. They discuss Zack Wheeler's bounce-back start on Sunday, another dominant outing from Cristopher Sánchez, and why this offense finally looks built for more than just the long ball.

They also dig into some costly baserunning mistakes that could bite the Phillies come October, Bryce Harper's on-base streak stretching to 32 games, and Jhoan Duran's growing case for a contract extension after another lockdown outing.

Plus, the guys preview a massive series in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks, look ahead to a critical head-to-head weekend with the Braves, and talk playoff positioning as the magic number officially starts to count down.

Can the Phillies carry this momentum into the toughest stretch of their schedule?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. 

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Episode timestamps:

0:00 – Intro: Phillies cap dominant August
1:34 – How the Phillies keep winning games they shouldn't
6:49 – Edmundo Sosa's pinch-hit grand slam saves Friday's game
9:03 – Sosa, Derek Hill & the bench's turnaround
15:32 – Saturday's extra-innings win & Cristopher Sánchez's 200th strikeout
17:00 – Baserunning mistakes that could haunt them in October
22:48 – Jhoan Duran's case for an extension
26:50 – Zack Wheeler snaps his winless streak
33:28 – Is this offense finally more than just home runs?
38:58 – Playoff positioning & the magic number
43:27 – Up next: Phillies at D-Backs
48:10 – Wrap-up & where to follow

The Phillies' nine-game winning streak is over.

Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down a tough start to the week in Seattle, where the Phillies dropped the first two games of the series before salvaging the finale on Wednesday. They discuss Zack Wheeler's rough stretch and whether there's real cause for concern, plus Cal Raleigh's historic three-home-run night that helped fuel the Mariners' series win.

They also dig into Jesús Luzardo's continued dominance on the road as he pushes into the NL Cy Young conversation, huge months from Kyle Schwarber, who's now the first player in baseball to reach 40 home runs this season, and Bryce Harper, who's riding a career-best 29-game on-base streak.

Plus, a look at whether it's time for the Phillies to shake up the lineup around a struggling Trea Turner and a preview of the weekend series against the last-place Angels in Anaheim.

Can the Phillies use this softer stretch of the schedule to ready themselves for a much-anticipated series against the Braves next weekend?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin' Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox.
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Episode timestamps:

0:00 – Intro & Mariners series overview
3:14 – Cal Raleigh's historic series
8:21 – Way-too-early AL pennant predictions
11:49 – Is Zack Wheeler a cause for concern?
18:03 – Rotation turnaround: Nola, Painter & co.
26:33 – Luzardo's road dominance & NLDS rotation talk
33:24 – Schwarber chases 40 (and Babe Ruth)
38:23 – Bryce Harper's quiet MVP case
44:44 – Harper's grind playing two positions
51:11 – Should Trea Turner move in the lineup?
57:57 – Weekend preview: Phillies at Angels
1:01:00 – Wrap-up & where to follow

The Phillies are officially the hottest team in baseball. After winning nine straight games, Philadelphia has gone from 9½ games out of the NL East to right back in the division race.

Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down an incredible weekend, including Alec Bohm’s walk-off triple, Kyle Schwarber’s massive ninth-inning home run and one of the most improbable comeback wins in recent Phillies history. They also discuss Andrew Painter’s best start of his young MLB career, the offense’s dramatic August turnaround and why the Phillies are suddenly showing they can win games in multiple ways.

Plus, the guys look ahead to a crucial nine-game West Coast road trip against the Mariners, Angels and Diamondbacks, debate where the Phillies and Braves could stand when they meet in September, and answer questions from the live Twitch audience.

Are the Phillies finally putting it all together at the right time? 

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. 

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps: 

00:20 Phillies' Winning Streak and Upcoming Challenges

03:26 Key Performances and Individual Contributions

06:28 Alec Bohm's Walk-Off and Team Dynamics

09:18 Andrew Painter's Breakout Performance

12:30 Offensive Shifts and Mindset Changes

15:25 Sunday's Remarkable Comeback Victory

27:04 The Thrill of the Call

29:46 Maintaining Momentum for the Playoffs

32:57 Chasing the Division Title

36:32 The Importance of Consistency

40:03 Historical Comparisons and Future Prospects

43:40 The Field of Dreams Impact

49:47 Rookie Performances and Future Outlook

51:27 Fan Interactions and Predictions

The Phillies are HOT, and there’s no cooling them off at the moment. 🔥

Josh Liddick discusses the Phillies’ season-best six-game winning streak, their sweep of the Marlins, and a division race that has gone from seemingly out of reach to very much alive. Just eight days after sitting tied for the final Wild Card spot, the Phillies now find themselves three games clear of the Diamondbacks and only 4.5 games behind the Braves for the NL East crown.

Josh breaks down the latest edition of the Catchin’ Phils Four-Bagger, including the Phillies’ dominant stretch, the sweep of Miami, and the individual standouts who have helped fuel the turnaround — including Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Luis Arraez, and Aaron Nola.

Then, Josh looks ahead to this weekend’s series against the Cardinals, another Wild Card contender coming to Citizens Bank Park, before diving into some  Phillies news and notes: the signing of left-hander Nestor Cortes and Awful Announcing’s annual local broadcaster rankings, which placed the Phillies’ broadcast crew sixth among all 30 MLB teams.

The Phillies are rolling. The division race is heating up. And there’s plenty to talk about.

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. 

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps: 

01:15 — The Division Race Is Back On

11:30 — The Fish Get Swept

40:30 — The Phillies’ Recent Standouts

47:45 — Another Wild Card Battle

52:00 — Adding Nestor Cortes

54:20 — The Phillies’ Broadcast Crew Gets Its Flowers

The Phillies are rolling — and for the first time in a while, it feels like the pieces are starting to come together. 

After a frustrating stretch that left plenty of questions surrounding this team, the Phillies responded in a big way with a sweep of the Minnesota Twins on the road. Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down what made this weekend so encouraging, from an offense that finally saw contributions throughout the lineup to a pitching staff that continues to give the Phillies a chance every night. With the postseason chase heating up and the Phillies back in the thick of the Wild Card race, is this the beginning of a late-season turnaround?

Josh and Austin dive into Alec Bohm’s monster weekend, Bryson Stott’s continued resurgence, and Jesus Luzardo’s emergence as one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. The guys also discuss Andrew Painter’s encouraging stretch despite another rocky first inning and whether his electric stuff could make him a weapon down the stretch.

Plus, a look at the potential impact Luis Arraez can have on the Phillies’ young hitters, the rise of top prospect Francisco Renteria, the latest buzz surrounding Alex Cora and the Phillies’ managerial future, and a huge week ahead at Citizens Bank Park against the Marlins and Cardinals.

The postseason push is officially heating up. Can the Phillies keep the momentum going?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. 

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps: 

00:00 — The Phillies Are Finding Their Footing

03:35 — A Sweep in the Twin Cities

09:23 — Jesús Luzardo Is Pitching Like an Ace

13:23 — Is Luis Arraez Changing the Phillies' Hitters?

17:00 — Andrew Painter Survives a Rough Start

23:24 — Alec Bohm’s Monster Weekend

28:48 — Bohm & Stott Are Changing the Offense

37:49 — Is Luzardo a Cy Young Contender?

43:19 — Meet the Phillies’ Next Top Prospect

51:00 — Will Alex Cora be the Phillies’ Next Manager?

57:08 — A Huge Week Against the Marlins

1:00:44 — Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

The Phillies endured a frustrating (and hot) midweek series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals before quickly traveling to Dyersville, Iowa for the MLB Field of Dreams game on Thursday night. 

The dominant 7-1 win over the Minnesota Twins cast a more favorable light on a team that has lost six of eight series since the All-Star break. 

Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down a temperamental week of Phillies baseball, including one of Andrew Painter’s best outings of the season, Zack Wheeler’s continued struggles, and a star-filled offense that has struggled to consistently produce.

The guys also discuss Kyle Schwarber’s recent power surge, including two home runs into the corn at the Field of Dreams; in addition to Aaron Nola’s encouraging run of late and whether the veteran right-hander is starting to look like himself again. 

With just 41 games remaining and the Phillies on the edge of a playoff bid, Josh and Austin look ahead to the remainder of the weekend series in Minnesota and talk about what the Phillies need to accomplish down the stretch to qualify for an October run.

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. 

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Phillies' Recent Performance

00:58 Field of Dreams Game: A Historic Night for the Phillies

14:04 Frustrations from the Series Against the Cardinals

24:15 Looking Ahead: The Importance of Upcoming Games

28:53 Conspiracy Theories and Sports Beliefs

35:48 Kyle Schwarber's Home Run Chase

44:02 Aaron Nola's Comeback Performance

56:33 Phillies' Playoff Push and Series Strategy

The Phillies barely survived a brutal weekend at home against the Blue Jays, but there are plenty of reasons for concern.

Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down the Phillies’ frustrating series, from missed opportunities with runners in scoring position and an overworked bullpen to some questionable decisions from Don Mattingly. With the Wild Card race tightening, the Phillies are officially in a fight just to make the postseason.

The guys also discuss Chase Utley’s emotional Wall of Fame induction and the growing pressure on the current Phillies core to deliver the franchise’s first championship in 18 years. Plus, Bryson Stott is emerging as one of the team’s most important players, Jesús Luzardo continues to dominate, Aaron Nola reaches 2,000 career strikeouts, and the bullpen situation gets even more concerning.

Can the Phillies turn things around before it’s too late? Josh and Austin break it all down ahead of a massive series against the Cardinals and Thursday’s Field of Dreams matchup with the Twins.

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps: 

00:00 — Phillies Survive a Brutal Weekend

03:20 — Are the Phillies Actually in Trouble?

10:10 — Don Mattingly Under the Microscope

18:40 — Bryson Stott Is Breaking Out

26:45 — Jesús Luzardo Is Pitching Like an Ace

30:00 — The Bullpen Is Running on Empty

34:10 — When Will We See Alex McFarlane?

37:10 — Aaron Nola Hits 2,000 Strikeouts

41:00 — Chase Utley’s Wall of Fame Legacy

43:55 — What’s Next for the Phillies?

45:00 — Can the Offense Finally Wake Up?