April 28 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start to their 2026 season, the National League East franchise announced Tuesday.
Thomson, who led the Phillies to a World Series appearance in his first season, had a 355-270 record from 2022 through his final game with the franchise, Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Philadelphia lost 11 of its last 12 games under Thomson.
The Phillies named bench coach Don Mattingly as their interim manager for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
Mattingly had played 14 seasons for the New York Yankees, compiling a .307 lifetime batting average between 1982 and 1995. He previously managed the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
Thomson, who replaced fired manager Joe Girardi after 51 games in 2022, led the Phillies to the playoffs in each of his first four seasons. They advanced to the National League Championship Series in the first two of those postseason runs. The Phillies lost in the National League Division Series in 2024 and 2025.
The 2026 Phillies were 6-4 through their first 10 games. They then were 3-15 over their next 18, falling to the bottom of their division.
The Phillies have the second-worst batting average (.219) in baseball. They also totaled the third-fewest hits, runs and RBIs and own the league's second-worst on-base percentage (.294).
Philadelphia pitchers logged MLB's third-worst ERA (5.13). They allowed a league-high 286 hits and .286 batting average to opposing hitters.
The Phillies promoted third base coach Dusty Wathan to bench coach to replace Mattingly. They hired Anthony Contreras as their third base coach. Contreras served as manager of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs since 2022. Former IronPigs bench coach Chris Adamson was named Contreras' replacement.
The Phillies will host the San Francisco Giants (13-15) in the first of a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Philadelphia.