The Philadelphia Phillies are in the middle of a stunning turnaround following a managerial shakeup, but much of the resurgence has been fueled by the same core stars who have carried the club for years.
Since replacing longtime manager Rob Thomson with new bench boss Don Mattingly, Philadelphia has posted the best record in the National League. Despite the surge, Mattingly has not dramatically altered the roster or style of play.
The offense continues to revolve around Kyle Schwarber, who emerged as the team’s MVP candidate last season before earning a new contract to remain in Philadelphia.
“Schwarber, even in his early 30s, has taken his offensive game to a whole new level. In 2025, Schwarber exploded with 56 home runs, a new career high,” Ian Miller wrote for Fox News. “Through the first 46 games of the 2026 season, he might be on his way to an even more impressive and historic number. Remarkably, Schwarber’s already hit 20 home runs through his first 46 games. Through 162 games, that would put him on pace for 70 home runs in 2026.”
Philadelphia Phillies Superstar Slugger Kyle Schwarber Removed From Lineup
A major reason behind Schwarber’s production has been his durability. Entering the week, he had appeared in 225 consecutive games for the Phillies.
That streak paused Monday, however, when illness forced Mattingly to leave Schwarber out of the lineup against his hometown Cincinnati Reds.
“With Schwarber not feeling well, Mattingly seized the opportunity to give Bryce Harper a game in the DH spot,” Scott Lauber wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Alec Bohm moved across the diamond to first base, with utility infielder Edmundo Sosa starting at third base.”
Philadelphia Phillies Skipper Don Mattingly Sends Kyle Schwarber Strikeout Message
With Schwarber sidelined for a rare night, Mattingly — famously nicknamed “the hitman” during his playing days with the New York Yankees — highlighted the unusual nature of the slugger’s offensive approach.
“He’s interesting the way he does it,” Mattingly said of Schwarber, per Lauber. “It’s strikeouts and homers and walks, and you just never know when (the power) is coming, right? You see him hit a ball out of the ballpark in center field in Pittsburgh off a lefty, then he’ll maybe not look great in that next at-bat. And then there’s another homer. So, he’s interesting.”
Schwarber currently leads all of Major League Baseball with 20 home runs, though he also ranks second in the National League with 70 strikeouts. His batting average sits at just .230, which would be among the lowest marks of his career.
Still, as long as Schwarber continues drawing walks and launching home runs at an elite pace, the Phillies appear more than willing to live with the strikeouts that come along with it.