Slump underscores weaknesses, but Phillies confident in a turnaround

MINNEAPOLIS — There’s a certain level of panic a cold stretch can induce for a team that has the best record in baseball and a nine-game division lead, and it’s a lower level than for a club hovering around .500. No one — OK, no one outside the furthest reaches of X — is panicking about the Phillies, losers of six of nine games, three consecutive series, and 18 of 36.

But having the backing of a first half like theirs is a double-edged sword. Because when those cold stretches do happen, everything gets magnified. 

It’s been clear the Phillies needed another outfield bat. The offense’s recent slump makes it clearer. It was possible a couple weeks ago, that a bullpen addition could help. Now, it’s glaringly obvious.

If a spell must happen, now is a good time for it. The trade deadline is in six days, which is nothing in the grand scheme of the universe but an eternity in MLB front offices. 

In other words, there’s time for the Phillies to act upon what Minnesota showed they need to do. “Dave’s gonna get the job done,” Bryce Harper said after Wednesday’s loss, “if he wants to.”

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But the theme of the 2024 trade deadline will be similar to years past: Additions will help, and they will not fix everything. Brandon Marsh still needs to catch balls like the one he dropped on Wednesday. Gregory Soto still needs to throw strikes like he didn’t on Tuesday or Wednesday. Same with Orion Kerkering. The offense can’t go 0 for their first 9 with runners in scoring position and expect it not to come back to bite them.

“I think they’ll pull out of it ‘cause they’re great hitters,” Rob Thomson said Wednesday. “I think we’re just going through a down stretch right now with our offense a little bit. And certainly throwing strikes with our bullpen. But these guys are talented enough. I got no worries they’re gonna come out of it.”

The Phillies are eager to return to Citizens Bank Park on Friday for their first home game since a 15-run shellacking by the A’s on July 14, but the schedule doesn’t exactly lighten up. Their next five series are against the Cleveland Guardians, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, all of whom are in or competing for playoff spots. 

“We got some tough games ahead of us, and we’re gonna battle and compete,” Aaron Nola said. “[As] long as we stay healthy, we can definitely turn things around.”

“I can’t wait to get home, see my family, play in the Bank. But we can’t let two games get away from us in the last two series like that,” Harper said. “Just can’t happen if you’re gonna be a winning ballclub and be a winning team. 

“That just can’t happen.”

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