Phillies Therapy

The Phillies, powered by the collective of Weston Wilson, Buddy Kennedy, Cal Stevenson, and Kody Clemens, are mere games away from clinching their first division title in 14 years. Paul and Matt discuss playoff roster implications for the bench and rotation as the team zeroes in on the NL East crown.

After a flat end to an otherwise solid road trip, the Phillies are singing the 5th starter blues. But does that really matter in the bigger picture? Paul and Matt review the growing challenges to position player depth and the start of a key stretch that includes a big Milwaukee series next week.

The Phillies took three of four from the Braves. Sounds familiar! Paul and Matt revisit the weekend's heroics, celebrate the pitching staff's return to form, highlight some offensive concerns (and their positive offsets), and look ahead to final 25 games of the regular season.

Paul and Matt revisit the offense's rediscovered success in the Royals series, wonder what the heck to do about Taijuan Walker, and ponder if the Phillies can finally take care of business against the Braves.

After a flat start to the homestand, the Phillies have swung back to looking like their old selves this week. Powered by a tide-turning Kyle Schwarber grand slam and an unlikely cycle from unsung hero Weston Wilson, the Phils have rebuilt their division lead to 8 games ahead of Sunday's series finale with Washington. A tough road test lies ahead, so just how back do we think the Phils really are? Paul and Matt break it down.

Rare is the team that can make "20 games over .500 and 7.5 games up in the division" feel so...bad? Recency bias is a hell of a drug. But the Phillies have some issues that are beginning to crystalize into concerns; how much longer do we need to wait for them to right the ship? And will they be able to sail like they were earlier in the year? Paul and Matt dig in.

A week of uninspiring baseball draws to a close with a 6-0 win in Seattle, thanks in no small part to divine baseball god intervention. Is this what finally gets the Phillies back on track? Paul and Matt (briefly) peek back at the glum week that was, brace for the remainder of the west coast trip, and check in on the mood of the team amidst these struggles.

The Phillies made two moves ahead of Tuesday's deadline, for a reliever (expected) and an outfielder (also expected, but maybe not WHO was expected). And they may be done! Paul and Matt recap the moves, take stock of the new lineup and bullpen configuration options, and echo Bryce Harper's sentiment that it's time for the stars to step up.

With only a little over a week to go before next Tuesday's trade deadline, Paul and Matt take an updated look at the deal landscape (spoiler: Not a ton has changed), welcome back J.T., wonder if the division is all but over in light of the Braves' latest injuries (Whit Merrifield notwithstanding), and look ahead to the forthcoming six-man rotation.

The Phillies dropped their final series of the first half (whatever), and now get to send nearly a third of their roster to Texas for All-Star festivities. With the break upon us, eyes begin to turn even more toward the trade deadline later this month. Paul and Matt talk about a surging Gregory Soto, the lack of a fit for Brent Rooker (and a better fit for others), and how the Phillies view the upcoming second half.