When the 2026 MLB season opened, the expectation was that the National League East would be a brutal, week-to-week battle. Instead, it has quickly become a worst-case scenario for the Philadelphia Phillies.
At the start of the season, it wouldn’t have been shocking to see Philadelphia and the New York Mets sitting near each other in the standings by late April. What no one anticipated was that they’d be locked together at the very bottom of the division.
That’s exactly where things stand now. Following Sunday’s games, both teams are 9–19, tied for last place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, and Washington Nationals. It’s the kind of standings check that makes you look twice.
There’s still a long way to go, and April never decides a division title or playoff berth. But it can absolutely dig a hole deep enough to make the climb back incredibly difficult. That concern was highlighted when Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller released his latest MLB power rankings on Monday—and the outlook for Philadelphia was grim.
Phillies Sink to the Bottom of Power Rankings
Over the past week, the Phillies were swept in a four-game series by the Chicago Cubs and then dropped two of three against the Braves. They did snap a 10-game losing streak with an extra-inning win in Atlanta, but the larger picture remains troubling.
Miller noted that the losing streak finally ended with a 10-inning victory that also marked Zack Wheeler’s return to the mound. Any momentum from that moment was short-lived, though, as Aaron Nola was hit hard again in a 6–2 loss the following day. While it’s still early on the calendar, Miller suggested it may already be time to start considering what the Phillies could potentially move at the trade deadline if things don’t turn around.
The deadline may still be more than three months away, but it’s never too early for speculation—especially when a team is spiraling. Philadelphia’s struggles were severe enough to drop them from No. 27 all the way to No. 30 in the power rankings, dead last in baseball. That spot had belonged to the Mets a week earlier, but the Phillies’ freefall allowed New York to escape the basement.
Big Decisions Could Be Coming in Philadelphia
Managerial changes in April are rare, but the Red Sox made headlines by parting ways with their skipper over the weekend, suddenly putting a proven manager on the open market. That kind of move can create a ripple effect across the league.
Philadelphia now returns home for a series against the San Francisco Giants, and the pressure is mounting. If the struggles continue, questions will only grow louder around the coaching staff and the front office’s next steps. Whether it leads to an early shakeup or a shift toward selling pieces later in the season, the coming days could be pivotal. A critical week awaits the Phillies—and the direction of their season may hinge on how they respond.