Rob Thomson says that the Philadelphia Phillies somehow must turn the season around, but how?
Nearly a month into the 2026 season, the Philadelphia Phillies aren’t in the position they wanted to be in for a team with World Series aspirations heading into the year; far from it, actually.
The Phillies have an 8-11 record and are fourth in the National League East. Yes, that’s below bow the rebuilding Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. To make matters even more dire, it’s not just one area giving the Phillies so many issues.
Looking at the overall stats, both pitching and hitting have been problems. Philadelphia's team .682 OPS ranks 20th in MLB, and their team 5.14 ERA is 28th in baseball.
Philly’s 9-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday evening was just the latest of
“We got to turn this thing around some way, somehow,” said manager Rob Thomson after the game. “It's frustrating. We're not used to doing that, especially in this ballpark.”
The big question on everyone's mind in the organization is: How?
On paper, the Phillies have a more than respectable lineup, especially at the top with Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber. The pitching staff has proven starters in it, too, such as Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo, and Jhoan Duran.
Apr 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson calls for a pitching change against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesPhilly’s skipper doesn’t think his team’s flaws have anything to do with the effort of the roster. “The players are giving effort to prepare. They're working hard,” Thomson said.
The answer could simply come down to consistency and have everything click at the same time.
“We just gotta put some things together,” explained Thomson. “Gotta pitch better. We gotta have better at-bats and play better defense.”
If the status quo stays the same, and the Phillies can’t get back over .500 over the next few weeks, it’ll be very interesting to see what the rest of the season could have in store for this group.
The Phillies have an aging core, and 2026 was already viewed as one last real opportunity to win a championship. Would Philly really become a seller at the deadline? What pieces do they have that the front office would be willing to trade away? Does Dave Dombrowski break up the core to try to add another star?
It could end up being an interesting summer if the slow start turns into a lost season.
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