For the first time in franchise history, the Philadelphia Phillies have swept the Texas Rangers in Texas, improving to 68-49 on the year. In tandem with a seven-game losing streak from the New York Mets, the Phillies now own a 5.5-game lead for the National League East with 45 games remaining.
Outscoring the Rangers 16-5, the Phillies put together the best road series of the 2025 season, with a combination of strong hitting and pitching leading the way.
Bottom of the Order Shines
The Phillies’ success down in Texas began down in the lineup. The bottom of the order (7-8-9 batters) combined to bat .323 on the weekend, scoring eight runs and eight RBI while walking five times.
Though much of the weekend’s attention has been placed on the ever-evolving outfield situation, Bryson Stott quietly put together one of the best weekends for the Phillies. Stott went 5-for-10 over the weekend, scoring three runs and bagging three RBI. Since ending a difficult July that found Stott batting under the Mendoza line, the second baseman has turned it on in August with a .421 average.
Fellow infielder Edmundo Sosa has been filling in at third base and occasionally at second in recent weeks. He continued to make his pitch for more playing time this weekend, hitting a solo home run on Sunday.
A lot has been made this season about Max Kepler. Signed with hopes of being the Phillies’ everyday left fielder, the lefty has had a rough go of it. In the days leading up to and since the Trade Deadline, speculation has run rampant that the Phillies would be parting with Kepler. Kepler, however, remains on the roster and has begun a rebound tour with hopes of prolonging his time in Philadelphia. Kepler’s two-RBI double in the seventh inning on Saturday sparked the Phillies to a 3-2 victory. Taking a seat on Sunday against left-hander Patrick Corbin, Kepler went 2-for-8 on the weekend with two runs and two RBI.
Though he has risen into the middle of the order, Brandon Marsh’s four-hit performance on Friday lifted him to a 5-for-10 weekend in Texas. Marsh has rebounded from his early-season struggles and has batted .324 with a .944 OPS over the last 30 days.
Sánchez Shines, Luzardo and Wheeler Rebound
Despite a lop-sided 9-1 final score on Friday, starter Cristopher Sánchez pitched half of his six innings in a close 1-1 ballgame. Holding strong until the offense put up three runs in the top of the fourth, Sánchez pitched six innings overall on the night, allowing one run on six hits, striking out six.
With the recent struggles of Zack Wheeler, Sánchez has been serving as the de facto ace of the Phillies. His 151 strikeouts on the season have him tied with Jesús Luzardo for 10th-most in baseball, complementing Wheeler at No. 1 very well.
Speaking of Sánchez’s two rotation mates, Luzardo and Wheeler have both dealt with issues as of late. Luzardo has seemingly been tipping pitches while Wheeler has experienced a decline in pitch speed, likely a case of dead arm.
Luzardo navigated Saturday’s start well to earn his 11th win of the season. He pitched six innings on 82 pitches, allowing one run on seven hits. His four strikeouts were enough to tie him with Sánchez on the aforementioned top strikeout list. Saturday was Luzardo’s third-straight quality start.
18 games into the season, Zack Wheeler possessed an elite 2.17 ERA, allowing just 28 earned runs. Over his next four starts, Wheeler allowed 13 earned runs. Given a couple of extra days of rest before his start on Sunday, concerns were rampant as to whether Wheeler might be pitching through an injury.
Though he continued to notice a decline in pitch speed on Sunday, Wheeler battled through five innings of work. The veteran pitcher allowed two runs in the top of the first but then shut down the Rangers’ offense for the remainder of his outing, striking out seven while allowing six baserunners overall.
The Phillies have needed to rely on their starting pitchers immensely thus far in the season, knowing that there have been some issues in the bullpen. That has put some additional stress on Wheeler, Luzardo, and Ranger Suárez, especially factoring in the injury to Aaron Nola. Luckily, with a refreshed bullpen and a rehabbing Nola due back any week now, some of the pressure can come off the Phillies’ starters in preparation for the postseason.
Speaking of the bullpen
Of the five runs the Phillies allowed this weekend against the Rangers, only one knock came against the bullpen: a solo home run from Corey Seager off Matt Strahm to lead off the eighth inning Saturday. Overall, the Phillies relied on their bullpen for 10 innings on the weekend. Strahm, Orion Kerkering, Max Lazar, Tanner Banks, and Jhoan Duran combined to strike out nine batters.
In his first four appearances with the Phillies, Duran has earned four saves, improving to 20 overall on the season. Duran’s acquisition has brought stability to an ever-rotating bullpen, allowing Rob Thomson to plan his matchups accordingly, knowing exactly who will be getting the ball in the ninth inning.
Though he did not make an appearance, David Robertson officially rejoined the Phillies on Sunday to begin his third stint as a member of the Phillies’ bullpen. If you factor in Robertson and Jose Alvarado, who will soon return from serving his suspension, the Phillies’ bullpen has drastically transformed in recent weeks.
Seeing Red in Cincinnati
Next up for the Phillies is a three-game stint one state over in Ohio. Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suárez, and Sánchez are scheduled to start for the Phillies as they face the Cincinnati Reds.
First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
