Phillies stuck in purgatory with NL East rival Mets at 8-16, own MLB's worst mark in key stat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets finally got over the hump on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins after nearly two weeks without a win. In what was a strong night marking Juan Soto’s return, Francisco Lindor exited the game due to injury. While the losing streak came to an end, another setback quickly followed in New York.
“The losing streak is over. The Mets win their first game since April 7, snapping their skid after 12 games in Juan Soto's return from the injured list. The bad news for the Mets: Francisco Lindor exited the game with left calf tightness,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
With the Mets finally winning, attention shifted to the Philadelphia Phillies, who are also mired in a lengthy losing streak. Despite their slow start, there remains confidence in manager Rob Thomson.
“Dave Dombrowski is concerned about what is going on with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he said manager Rob Thomson is not on the hot seat despite the team's seven-game losing streak. Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, instead is focused on the team's overall play during an 8-15 start this season,” ESPN wrote.
The Phillies lost again on Wednesday night, extending their skid and further cementing their struggles as one of the worst stretches in baseball. Their run production issues have also become a major concern.
“The longest losing streak in baseball now belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight and are tied with the Mets for the worst record in the National League at 8-16. At -50, the Phillies also have the worst run differential in baseball by 15 runs,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.
The Phillies and Mets are typically competing for control of the NL East, but at the moment, both are fighting to avoid being among the worst teams in baseball. Philadelphia’s inability to score runs has been especially uncharacteristic.
While no division is won in April, seasons can certainly be lost early if trends continue. The Phillies understand that something must change quickly, and now the entire league is watching. If the offense does not improve, this troubling stretch could continue for quite some time.