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Don Mattingly To Manage Phillies For Two More Years
The Philadelphia Phillies have announced a new two-year deal for former interim manager Don Mattingly to manage the team in 2027 and 2028, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Phillies bowed out of the playoffs this year in the National League wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves, although they did come back to force a decisive Game 3. The Phillies will look to Mattingly to help them break through in the playoffs, as the team is largely talented both hitting-wise and on the mound.
Source: Mark Feinsand, MLB.com
Source: Mark Feinsand, MLB.com
Luis Arraez Won't be on Wild-Card Series Roster
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (ankle) will not be on the team's playoff roster for the Wild-Card Series this week against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Otto Kemp will take Arraez's spot on the roster for the three-game series in Atlanta at Truist Park. Arraez has not resumed baseball activities since spraining his left ankle in a game last Thursday. If the Phillies advance to the National League Division Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, it is unclear if Arraez would be ready to go. Not having the three-time batting champion available against the Braves is a significant blow to a Phillies lineup that limped to the finish line to barely claim the final Wild-Card spot in the NL. Arraez made his fourth All-Star team in 2026 and also successfully moved back to second base with the San Francisco Giants and Phillies. He finished the regular season with a .310 batting average (185-for-596) with six home runs, 64 RBI, 67 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 151 games and 655 plate appearances. Bryson Stott will likely start at second base for the Phillies against Atlanta, with Edmundo Sosa being the top candidate to start at the hot corner.
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Luis Arraez Out on Friday, Report "Not a Great One"
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (ankle) is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, and the report on his ankle injury from Thursday night is "not a great one," interim manager Don Mattingly told Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Mattingly did not give a grade on the sprain, and the Phillies have not decided on an injured-list placement, which would take Arraez out until at least Oct. 5, or around Game 3 of the divisional round. X-rays on Arraez's left ankle came back negative on Thursday night, but his sprained ankle is still stiff and sore, which is why he will not play on Friday. Bryson Stott is at second base and batting fifth on Friday, with Edmundo Sosa at third base and hitting ninth against Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta. The Phillies would obviously love to avoid putting the 29-year-old All-Star on the IL, but if he cannot play at all this weekend, they might have no choice. The four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion has hit only .278 (49-for-176) in his 46 games with the Phillies this year after being traded from the San Francisco Giants in early August, but he is still the league's leading hitter at .310 overall. Not having Arraez available next week for the start of the playoffs (if the Phillies qualify) would be a big loss for Philadelphia.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
Luis Arraez Suffers Ankle Sprain on Thursday
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (ankle) suffered a sprained left ankle in Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Phillies say that he will be evaluated further, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Arraez tried to avoid being tagged on a ground ball in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park and should now be considered day-to-day until we have more details. Before leaving, Arraez went 0-for-3 at the plate. Bryson Stott moved from third base to second, with Edmundo Sosa entering the contest to take over at the hot corner in Philly. If Arraez misses time going into the final weekend of the regular season, Sosa would likely continue to start at third for the Phillies, with Stott sticking at the keystone. The 29-year-old Arraez came into Thursday's action hitting .283/.314/.376 with two homers and 21 RBI in 45 games since the Phils acquired him in a deadline deal with the San Francisco Giants. The four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion would be a big loss for the Phillies if they advance to the postseason and he cannot make it back for the start of the wild-card series next week. Overall, Arraez came into Thursday with a league-high .312 batting average, looking to win his fourth batting title.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
Alec Bohm a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amidst August Hot Streak
Across 513 plate appearances this season entering play on Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm was hitting .246/.302/.387 with 14 home runs, 76 RBI, 49 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 30-year-old got off to a rough start to the season, hitting .151 with one home run across 119 plate appearances through the end of April. However, Bohm has rebounded and largely produced at his established levels since the start of May. Bohm has been particularly hot in August, hitting .359 with 17 RBI across 85 trips to the plate this month. With just a 13.6% strikeout rate, Bohm's ability to put the ball in play keeps his batting average floor high and helps him rack up run production while playing an everyday role in the heart of the Phillies lineup. As long as he stays healthy the rest of the way, Bohm has a chance to top 90 RBI for the third time in the last four seasons. Especially amidst his current hot streak, Bohm is a worthy waiver wire target in leagues where he is not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alec Bohm Back From Hamstring Injury to Face Mariners
Philadelphia Phillies corner infielder Alec Bohm (hamstring) is starting at first base and will bat fifth for the Phils in Monday's series opener on the road in Seattle against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert, according to MLB.com. Bohm is returning to action to begin the new week after he was rested in Sunday's series finale versus the St. Louis Cardinals due to tightness in his hamstring/groin. Given how hot the right-handed slugger has been at the dish lately, fantasy managers who have Bohm rostered will want to get him back into their starting lineups on Monday. The 30-year-old veteran is currently hitting .378 (28-for-74) with a .947 OPS, a homer, six doubles, one triple, 16 RBI, 13 runs scored, and a stolen base in 20 games across 81 plate appearances in the month of August. The strong last few weeks have boosted the former first-rounder's season slash line to .248/.305/.390 with 14 home runs, 75 RBI, and 49 runs scored in 464 at-bats. In 10 career at-bats against Gilbert, Bohm has picked up three hits and has a .600 OPS.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Luis Arraez Returns to Phillies' Lineup on Monday
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (hamstring) is back at second base and is hitting cleanup for the Phillies in Monday's series opener against the hosting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert, per MLB.com. Arraez did not start Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals due to hamstring cramping, but he entered the contest late and is now back in the starting nine. The 29-year-old four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion is not a great source of power (he only has six home runs), but he continues to hit for average, entering the week with a .322 average (159-for-494) with 54 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases in his eighth year in the big leagues. Since being acquired at the trade deadline by the Phillies, Arraez has gone 23-for-74 (.311) with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 18 games played for his new club. Despite hitting just .167 with a homer and two RBI in 12 career at-bats against Gilbert, fantasy managers should be looking to get Arraez back into their starting lineups for the new week.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bryce Harper Playing Through Knee Soreness
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (knee) remains in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Harper continues to play despite dealing with knee soreness that has worsened since moving to the outfield, according to Charlotte Varnes. Harper fouled a ball off his knee before the All-Star break, and it hasn't stopped bothering him. He'll be at the designated hitter spot for the second time in three games on Monday. The Phillies will move things around and have Derek Hill in right field while Kyle Schwarber gets the start at first base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation closely. For now, Harper is playing, but he might need a stint on the Injured List.
Source: Charlotte Varnes
Source: Charlotte Varnes
Bryce Harper Expected to Move to the Outfield
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is expected to move back to the outfield to make room for recently acquired infielder Luis Arraez, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Alec Bohm is set to move to first base, with Bryson Stott moving from second to third. Harper will move back to right field, a position he hasn't played since 2022. For fantasy purposes, it will definitely put more strain on the 33-year-old veteran physically, but he will also be gaining outfield eligibility to close out the 2026 season and for next year. The two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star heads into the new week slashing .255/.360/.497 on the year with an .858 OPS, 23 home runs, 66 RBI, 67 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 112 games across 472 plate appearances in his eighth year with the Phillies. Fantasy managers are hoping the move to the outfield will help Harper get back on track offensively, as he hit just .172 (15-for-87) with a .625 OPS, two homers, six doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, nine runs, 14 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 24 games in July, easily his worst month of the season so far.
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Bryce Harper Could be a Prime Buy-Low Candidate for Second Half
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper came into this week's All-Star break in a cold spell at the plate, and he didn't make it past the first round in Monday night's Home Run Derby in his home digs at Citizens Bank Park. Harper's fantasy managers could be souring on him going into the second half, which could present the perfect buy-low opportunity. In his first 11 games in July, the 33-year-old former two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star went 6-for-40 (.150) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, eight walks, and 14 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances to drop his season line to .260/.365/.497. However, Harper still has an .862 OPS with 20 home runs, 57 RBI, 59 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 342 at-bats in 2026 in his 15th big-league season (eighth in Philly). He also has a .278 expected batting average and the eighth-best xwOBA (.391), suggesting we haven't seen the best of Harper yet this year. Harper currently is ranked in the 76th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 72nd percentile in barrel rate, the 93rd percentile in xSLG, and the 97th percentile in xwOBA, so we're not completely sold that his cold spell in July is a sign of an offensive decline to close out 2026.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Bryce Harper Hits for the Cycle for First Time in his Career
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper had a special day at the plate on Saturday in the team's 15-3 blowout win over the division-rival New York Mets. Harper finished 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two walks to produce the first cycle of his career. The 33-year-old two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star hit a solo home run in his first at-bat, and he finished off the cycle in the fifth inning in a game in which teammate Kyle Schwarber also hit three home runs. The Phillies' offense just could not be stopped at Citizens Bank Park. Harper's fantasy managers had to have been happy with what they saw on Saturday night, as he entered the game in a 1-for-22 slump in his last seven games. With the offensive outburst and first cycle of his career, Harper is now slashing .259/.367/.506 with 16 home runs, 43 RBI, 50 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 316 plate appearances. The Phillies and fantasy managers alike are hoping that his four-hit day against the Mets can get him going at the plate with the All-Star break quickly approaching next month.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bryce Harper Returns to Sunday's Lineup After Migraine Issues
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (head) is back in the starting lineup and is hitting third for Sunday's series finale against the visiting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, according to MLB.com. Harper was pulled from Saturday's win over Colorado before even making a plate appearance due to a migraine, but he's feeling much better on Sunday and will return to action. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups in traditional leagues. The 33-year-old two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star is hitless in three career at-bats against Sugano, but he's been hot so far in May with a .357 average (10-for-28) with three home runs, three doubles, four RBI, eight runs scored, and a stolen base in 34 plate appearances across nine games. Overall, it's been a productive season for Harper, as he's slashing .282/.380/.549 with a .929 OPS, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 142 at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
