The Philadelphia Phillies are quietly making their move. After a rocky start to the season, the team is stringing together series wins and inching closer to reclaiming a spot among baseball's elite. Currently sitting at No. 11 in ESPN's latest power rankings, the Phillies are just one step away from breaking back into the top 10.
The turning point came when the organization parted ways with former manager Rob Thomson, who started the season with a disappointing 9-19 record. Since then, interim manager Don Mattingly has sparked a dramatic turnaround, guiding the team to a 12-4 run. Under Mattingly, the Phillies have already produced two winning streaks of three or more games—something they managed only once under Thomson. Perhaps more importantly, Mattingly showed a willingness to bench struggling third baseman Alec Bohm to help him reset, a move Thomson had resisted.
According to ESPN's David Schoenfield, the Phillies' recent surge is powered by a balanced attack and improved pitching. In their first 14 games under Mattingly, the team posted a stellar 3.16 ERA while hitting .267 and averaging 5.0 runs per game. It's worth noting the schedule has been kinder—they've faced the Giants, Marlins, Athletics, Rockies, and Red Sox, a far cry from the brutal 13-game stretch against the Cubs and Braves that led to Thomson's firing.
Still, the real story is the resurgence of key bats. Alec Bohm, after his benching, has responded with authority: in his last seven games, he's hitting .391 with a 1.136 OPS. Over the 14-game hot streak, Bohm posted an .833 OPS with nine RBIs in 11 games. Second baseman Bryson Stott has also found his stroke, slugging .531 with 12 RBIs during that stretch. And left fielder Brandon Marsh? He's been on fire, hitting .457 to raise his season average to an MLB-leading .350.
While Bohm and Stott still have overall numbers that need work—Bohm is batting .194 with a .541 OPS, and Stott sits at .221 with a .632 OPS—their recent turnaround is a promising sign. Marsh, meanwhile, has been a consistent bright spot all year, hitting .340 with an .854 OPS across 40 games.
The Phillies are finding their rhythm at the perfect time. If their slow starters continue to heat up and the pitching holds, don't be surprised to see them climb into that top 10 very soon.