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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
Andrew Painter Steps Up in Key Relief Appearance on Wednesday
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter helped save his team's season on Wednesday, shutting the door out of the bullpen in Philadelphia's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. Painter entered the game in the eighth inning and pitched three scoreless frames, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three. The 23-year-old had an up-and-down season as a member of the Phillies rotation in 2026, recording a 3-10 record with a 5.40 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts across 126 2/3 innings. However, the hard-throwing right-hander was better in the second half of the year, pitching to a 3.65 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a 24.5% strikeout rate across 61 2/3 innings after the All-Star break. If Painter can emerge as a reliable relief option for the Phillies in October, he could help spark a postseason run.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Jhoan Duran a High-End Fantasy Closer as Phillies Push for Playoffs
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed closer Jhoan Duran continues to be a high-end fantasy closer for a team that is currently locked into the second National League wild-card position. Since Duran's last blown save on July 27 against the division-rival Miami Marlins, he has gone 4-for-4 in save opportunities, including three saves in a row from Aug. 16 through Aug. 19. In 12 appearances (12 innings pitched) in the month of August, Duran has allowed just one earned run on 11 hits while walking two and striking out 14 batters. The 28-year-old Dominican hurler is 1-4 in his first full season in the City of Brotherly Love with a sparkling 1.71 ERA (1.22 FIP) and a 1.03 WHIP with 67 strikeouts and only eight walks all year in 47 1/3 innings out of the Phillies' bullpen. Duran's 28 saves are only four off his career high, set last year with the Phillies and Minnesota Twins. His 28 saves are tied with Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias for the eighth-most in the league. Duran has blown only two of his 30 save opportunities in 2026 and should have many more chances to set a new career high in saves over the final month of the regular season.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Luis Arraez Shipped to Phillies in Major Trade
The San Francisco Giants are trading infielder Luis Arraez to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to The Athletic's Jason Stark. In this deal, the Phillies are also receiving bullpen arm Caleb Kilian and sending No. 9-ranked prospect Ramon Marquez and pitching prospect Marty Gair. Arraez was viewed as one of the top remaining hitters on the market and will bolster one of the most potent lineups in the National League. With the Giants this season, the infielder has posted a dominant .324 AVG with a .360 OBP and .440 SLG. He is in the 92nd percentile in xBA but has generated very soft contact, with a first percentile hard-hit rate and barrel rate. However, Arraez possesses elite eye at the dish, holding a low 4.5% K% and 7.9% whiff rate, both of which place him in the top percentile among qualified hitters. While managers should not expect his power totals to increase going forward, he should be put in prime scoring positions, batting in a lineup alongside Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. He is expected to have an everyday role at the keystone, which would push Bryson Stott to a utility role. Kilian should compete for low-leverage opportunities and is not expected to hold much fantasy value outside of deep 15+ team formats that reward holds. UPDATE: Francys Romero reports that Arraez is unlikely to debut with the Phillies until Tuesday's game against the division-rival Washington Nationals.
Source: Jayson Stark
Source: Jayson Stark
Phillies Promoting No. 17 Prospect Alex McFarlane to Big Leagues
The Philadelphia Phillies are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Alex McFarlane from Double-A Reading on Monday, according to Milb Central. McFarlane, who is considered the team's No. 17 prospect at MLB Pipeline, will get his second call to the majors after posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 12 saves, 47 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 35 innings pitched out of the bullpen. McFarlane was up briefly with the Phillies back in April, but he never appeared in a game. The 25-year-old stands at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and should operate in more of a low-leverage role when he makes his MLB debut after making the full-time transition to a relief role in 2026. McFarlane can reach the upper-90s with his fastball, and he's a fastball-slider pitcher with ground-ball tendencies. He also has toyed with a split-change, but now that McFarlane is a full-time reliever, he'll most likely stick to his fastball-slider combo with plenty of swing and miss. For now, fantasy managers in single-year leagues can avoid the young reliever.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Will Jhoan Duran Face Regression in the Second Half?
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed closer Jhoan Duran heads into this week's All-Star break with eight straight successful save conversions and a 1.38 ERA (1.08 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, 24 saves, 50 strikeouts, and six walks in 32 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in his first full season with the Phillies. The 28-year-old Dominican hurler also was rewarded with his first All-Star appearance as one of the most dominant closers in the game in the first half. But should fantasy managers be worried about regression in the second half? The answer is no. Duran sports a 39.7% strikeout rate (100th percentile) and a career-best 4.8% walk rate. Although he's in just the sixth percentile in hard-hit rate, he sits in the 88th percentile in barrel rate, the 100th percentile in whiff rate, the 90th percentile in chase rate, and the 99th percentile in xwOBA, which proves he's still one of the most dominant relief arms in baseball on one of the better teams in the league. And if Duran can stay healthy in the second half, he should easily set a new career high in saves after reaching 32 saves with the Phils and the Minnesota Twins last year. Since his last blown save on June 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Duran hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings while picking up eight saves, striking out 17, and walking only one.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Phillies Place Brad Keller on Injured List With Forearm Tendinitis
The Philadelphia Phillies announced before Tuesday's game against the division-rival Miami Marlins that they placed right-handed reliever Brad Keller (forearm) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 14) with right-forearm tendinitis and recalled right-hander Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. Keller had one of his worst outings of the year for the Phillies in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing three earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out one in just one inning of work. The 30-year-old veteran has gone 2-1 on the year with a 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, 12 walks, three saves, and 13 holds in 30 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in his first year with the team. Keller will be forced to sit out the next couple of weeks, but he could be back as a valuable late-inning setup man for Philly before the All-Star break in mid-July. Keller only has eight saves in his eight-plus MLB seasons, but six of them have come in the last two years with the Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
Source: Philadelphia Phillies
Source: Philadelphia Phillies
