The Philadelphia Phillies are enjoying a dramatic turnaround after a change at the helm, but it is being powered by a group of familiar faces.
Since the Phillies replaced long-time manager Rob Thomson with new bench coach Don Mattingly, they have rattled off the best record in the National League. But on the surface, at least, Mattingly hasn’t made many big changes and the roster has stayed largely the same in recent years.
Even during this latest surge, the team’s offense is still being powered by Kyle Schwarber, who was the team’s MVP Award candidate last year before signing a new contract to return.
“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
One key to Schwarber’s production over the last few seasons has been his consistency in the lineup. Going into this week, he had an impressive streak of 225 consecutive games played.
But then, due to an illness, Mattingly kept him out of the lineup as the Phillies faced his hometown Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
“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.”
Schwarber was out of the Phillies’ lineup on Tuesday as well.
Philadelphia Phillies Skipper Don Mattingly Sends Kyle Schwarber Strikeout Message
And with Schwarber taking a rare day out of the Phillies’ lineup, Mattingly, who was known as “the hitman” during his stint with the New York Yankees, underscored a strange aspect about his production at the plate.
“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.”
Indeed, as Schwarber leads all of the majors in total home runs so far this season at 20, he is also second in the National League for total strikeouts at 70. His batting average stands at just .230, which would be one of the worst marks of his career.
But as long as Schwarber can still earn walks and hit the ball out of the park at his current clip, the Phillies are probably content to live with all of those punchouts as well.
