When the Philadelphia Phillies stumbled out of the gate with a dismal 9-19 record, few could have predicted the turnaround that was coming. The front office made a tough call on April 28, parting ways with manager Rob Thomson and turning the reins over to bench coach Don Mattingly. Since then, it's been a different ballgame—the Phillies have gone 12-5 and look like a team reborn.
But the resurgence isn't just about a new voice in the dugout. The bats are finally waking up, and two of the biggest names in the lineup are leading the charge.
Kyle Schwarber has been doing what Kyle Schwarber does best: crushing baseballs. Over his last five games, he's launched five home runs, including a two-homer performance on Mother's Day against the Colorado Rockies. That hot stretch has earned him the No. 3 spot in MLB.com's latest power hitter rankings.
However, Schwarber isn't the only Phillies slugger making noise. Bryce Harper has quietly been putting together an impressive run of his own, and he's now cracked the top 10 at No. 8. Over the same 15-game span, Harper has four home runs, a .390 on-base percentage, and a .600 slugging percentage. While his hard-hit rate might be down slightly from years past, his strikeout rate has dropped to a career-low 16.1%, and his barrel rate remains a strong 14.6%. He's been especially effective against breaking pitches, a sign that the two-time MVP is seeing the ball as well as ever.
With 10 home runs already on the season, Harper is on pace to challenge his career-high of 42 set back in 2015. If he can stay healthy, this could be one of the most productive seasons we've seen from the veteran in recent years. For a team that was left for dead just a few weeks ago, the Harper-Schwarber duo is providing the kind of thunder that can power a playoff push.
Whether you're a Phillies fan or just love watching elite hitters do their thing, this is the kind of hot streak that makes baseball in May feel like October. And with both sluggers locked in, the lineup suddenly looks a whole lot scarier.