Philadelphia Phillies News

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who has not started a game in three weeks after being placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left shoulder, will serve as an opener for the Phillies in Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series on Tuesday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Right-hander Andrew Painter will be in the bullpen for the Phillies for the series. The Phillies activated Luzardo from the IL on Sunday, and he threw a perfect inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, so they feel comfortable having him pitch on back-to-back days in what will be an abbreviated outing. Philadelphia hopes Luzardo can set the tone in the series in Atlanta after he was excellent for them during the regular season, going 14-5 with a 2.86 ERA (2.78 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with a career-high 221 strikeouts and 52 walks in 179 2/3 innings across his 30 outings (29 starts). Luzardo only faced the Braves once in 2026 on Sept. 7, and he dazzled with a nine-inning, complete-game shutout that saw him strike out 12 and walk just one for his 14th win of the season.

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (ankle) will not be on the team's playoff roster for the Wild-Card Series this week against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Otto Kemp will take Arraez's spot on the roster for the three-game series in Atlanta at Truist Park. Arraez has not resumed baseball activities since spraining his left ankle in a game last Thursday. If the Phillies advance to the National League Division Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, it is unclear if Arraez would be ready to go. Not having the three-time batting champion available against the Braves is a significant blow to a Phillies lineup that limped to the finish line to barely claim the final Wild-Card spot in the NL. Arraez made his fourth All-Star team in 2026 and also successfully moved back to second base with the San Francisco Giants and Phillies. He finished the regular season with a .310 batting average (185-for-596) with six home runs, 64 RBI, 67 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 151 games and 655 plate appearances. Bryson Stott will likely start at second base for the Phillies against Atlanta, with Edmundo Sosa being the top candidate to start at the hot corner.

The Philadelphia Phillies will activate left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Sunday for the regular-season finale in a must-win game, interim manager Don Mattingly told Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Luzardo will be available out of the bullpen. The Phillies will have all hands on deck as they try to beat the Tampa Bay Rays to punch their ticket to the postseason as the final Wild-Card team in the National League. The 28-year-old Luzardo had been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year before landing on the IL with inflammation in his left shoulder back on Sept. 12. The native of Peru is returning to a 14-5 record, 2.87 ERA (2.78 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, and a 221:52 K:BB in 178 2/3 innings pitched and 29 starts in his second season with the Phillies. Luzardo's strong 2026 campaign on the mound earned him his first career trip to the All-Star Game. If he is used in Sunday's game against Tampa, it could rule Luzardo out of starting a game in the Wild-Card series next week if the Phillies advance.

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (ankle) is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, and the report on his ankle injury from Thursday night is "not a great one," interim manager Don Mattingly told Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Mattingly did not give a grade on the sprain, and the Phillies have not decided on an injured-list placement, which would take Arraez out until at least Oct. 5, or around Game 3 of the divisional round. X-rays on Arraez's left ankle came back negative on Thursday night, but his sprained ankle is still stiff and sore, which is why he will not play on Friday. Bryson Stott is at second base and batting fifth on Friday, with Edmundo Sosa at third base and hitting ninth against Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta. The Phillies would obviously love to avoid putting the 29-year-old All-Star on the IL, but if he cannot play at all this weekend, they might have no choice. The four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion has hit only .278 (49-for-176) in his 46 games with the Phillies this year after being traded from the San Francisco Giants in early August, but he is still the league's leading hitter at .310 overall. Not having Arraez available next week for the start of the playoffs (if the Phillies qualify) would be a big loss for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez (ankle) suffered a sprained left ankle in Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Phillies say that he will be evaluated further, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Arraez tried to avoid being tagged on a ground ball in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park and should now be considered day-to-day until we have more details. Before leaving, Arraez went 0-for-3 at the plate. Bryson Stott moved from third base to second, with Edmundo Sosa entering the contest to take over at the hot corner in Philly. If Arraez misses time going into the final weekend of the regular season, Sosa would likely continue to start at third for the Phillies, with Stott sticking at the keystone. The 29-year-old Arraez came into Thursday's action hitting .283/.314/.376 with two homers and 21 RBI in 45 games since the Phils acquired him in a deadline deal with the San Francisco Giants. The four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion would be a big loss for the Phillies if they advance to the postseason and he cannot make it back for the start of the wild-card series next week. Overall, Arraez came into Thursday with a league-high .312 batting average, looking to win his fourth batting title.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) threw a bullpen session that consisted of around 30 pitches on Thursday, as expected, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Luzardo said the session went well. The Phillies could look to have Luzardo throw a simulated game this weekend to face live hitters, and he remains very much in play to return to the starting rotation for the start of the postseason next week in the wild-card series. The Phillies must first get into the postseason, as they entered Thursday tied with the Chicago Cubs for the final wild-card spot in the National League, with the Arizona Diamondbacks on their tails at three games behind with four left to play. Luzardo will be eligible to come off the 15-day injured list for the regular-season finale on Sunday, but he almost certainly won't be an option to pitch in that game as the Phillies look to save him for the playoffs. Getting the 28-year-old southpaw back for next week is the team's top priority after he went 14-5 with a career-best 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 221:52 K:BB in 178 2/3 innings across 29 starts in his second year with the organization.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) played catch for a fourth straight day on Wednesday and is expected to progress to mound work "very soon," per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Luzardo has been sidelined since early September by shoulder inflammation, but it appears he has a chance to work out of the bullpen for the Phillies in the National League Wild Card Series. Across 178 2/3 innings (29 starts) before the injury, the 28-year-old recorded a 14-5 record with a 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 221 strikeouts. Luzardo posted a career-best 30.4% strikeout rate and an elite 23.2% K-BB rate. While the talented left-hander is unlikely to be fully built up as a starter, getting Luzardo back in any capacity would still be a major boost for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) was cleared to begin a throwing program on Sunday, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Luzardo played catch with bullpen catcher Hector Rabago for around 10 minutes, which was the first time he had a full catch session in nine days. "Ready to go," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. Luzardo has not pitched in a game since Sept. 7 due to inflammation in his left shoulder, and with the regular season coming to an end this weekend, he might not have enough time to get fully ramped up to rejoin the Phillies in a starting role if they make the postseason. Luzardo's next big test will be when he throws a bullpen session off a mound. He is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list for the final regular-season game, but the Phillies do not expect him to pitch in that game. Gelb writes that "all signs point" to the Phillies treating Luzardo as a reliever to begin the postseason. Getting Luzardo back at all next month would be a big boost to the Phillies' pitching staff, as the 28-year-old was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2026, going 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 221 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings across his 29 starts.

The Philadelphia Phillies are placing left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with inflammation in his left shoulder, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Luzardo will not be eligible to return from the IL until the last game of the 2026 regular season. The Phillies were hoping that the inflammation would leave Luzardo's shoulder after he did not throw for two days, but that did not end up being the case. Interim manager Don Mattingly did not rule out Luzardo making a start in the playoffs (if the Phillies qualify) in October. It is a premature ending to what has been a great season for the 28-year-old southpaw, who has gone 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA (2.78 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with a career-high 221 strikeouts and 52 walks in 178 2/3 innings across his 29 starts as a first-time All-Star in his second year in Philly. The move to put Luzardo on the IL comes after the Phillies scratched him from his most recent start on Saturday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves due to shoulder stiffness and inflammation.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. An MRI came back negative for any structural damage, and Luzardo is hopeful to get back on the mound next week, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. The southpaw is dealing with some shoulder stiffness after throwing a complete game during Monday's outing. The Phillies will give him rest and hope that Luzardo can return to the mound at some point next week. The expectation is that Luzardo will return at some point during the four-game series against the New York Mets next weekend. Fantasy managers will need to continue checking back for updates throughout the week.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves due to stiffness in his left shoulder, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Luzardo will avoid the injured list for now, and the Phillies are hoping to give him extra rest by pushing him back to next week. It does not appear to be a serious injury for the 28-year-old southpaw, but it is worth watching going into his next start, which is to be determined for now. Luzardo dealt with some stiffness in his shoulder in his last outing on Monday, which was a gem when he tossed a complete-game shutout with only two hits allowed, one walk, and 12 strikeouts against the Braves in a 1-0 win. If he is able to make his start next week, it will likely come against the division-rival Mets. Despite coming off an injury, Luzardo will be a must-start in fantasy leagues in that matchup in the fantasy postseason. Luzardo has been excellent in 2026 in his second year in Philly, going 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA (2.78 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with a career-high 221 strikeouts and 52 walks in 29 starts.

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has been one of the best power hitters in all of baseball once again in 2026, hitting .241/.355/.527 with 44 home runs, 92 RBI, 88 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 632 plate appearances. The 33-year-old battled through a moderate power swoon at the end of August, but he's been red-hot to start September. Across his last 27 trips to the plate, Schwarber has logged seven hits, four home runs, nine RBI, and seven runs scored. The 33-year-old's underlying batted-ball metrics are indicative of his massive power, as he's posted a 17% barrel rate and a 49.5% hard-hit rate on the year. Heading into the final few weeks of the regular season, Schwarber remains an elite source of power for fantasy managers.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez picked up his 17th win of the season on Wednesday despite not having his best stuff, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out just three across six innings in his team's 11-7 win over the Houston Astros. Sanchez has been one of the better pitchers in baseball for the majority of 2026, recording a 17-5 record with a 2.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 210 strikeouts across 187 1/3 innings (30 starts). However, the 29-year-old has hit a bit of a rough patch of late, relative to his lofty standards. Across his last 25 2/3 innings (four starts), Sanchez has allowed 26 hits and 13 earned runs. He's been less dominant in the second half of the season than he was in the first, as his K-BB rate has dropped from 22.7% to 19.4% and his WHIP has increased from 1.19 to 1.27. Sanchez remains a must-start pitcher, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations slightly down the stretch.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo was dominant on the mound on Monday in the team's 1-0 shutout victory over the division-rival Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Luzardo was at his best, tossing a complete-game shutout with only two hits allowed, one walk, and 12 strikeouts to win his 14th game of the season. It was the 28-year-old's first career shutout and complete game, so it was a special day as he continues to roll late in the 2026 season. In his last seven starts, Luzardo has gone at least 5 2/3 innings with two runs or fewer to lower his season ERA to 2.87 while also sporting a nice 1.08 WHIP and 221:52 K:BB in his 178 2/3 innings pitched on the season in his first year in Philadelphia. Luzardo has now reached the 200-strikeout mark in back-to-back seasons and three of his last four campaigns. He is a first-time All-Star this year and could be a difference-maker down the stretch as fantasy managers seek championships.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter has turned things around lately, and he's back on the fantasy radar as an appealing waiver wire target for the month of September. Painter owns a 5.55 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP over 21 outings this year. However, over just his last seven starts, he has a 3.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and just 2.9 BB/9. Two of his last three outings have gone seven innings with one or fewer runs. In his most recent start on Wednesday, he went seven shutout innings with six strikeouts, two hits, and no walks. Painter isn't currently a top-85 starter in RotoBaller's rest-of-season fantasy baseball rankings, but that will change if he continues to pitch at such a high level. There's a real opportunity for fantasy managers to pick up Painter off the waiver wire and reap the rewards going forward. As it stands, he's rostered in just 24% of leagues.

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller (back) made his season debut on a rehab assignment with Single-A Clearwater on Saturday. The 22-year-old was 1-for-2 at the plate in his debut with a run scored. Miller returned to action on a rehab assignment for his back injury. The right-handed hitter is the No. 2 prospect in the Phillies system and has a well-rounded game with a 55-grade hit tool, 60-grade power, and 50-grade speed. The Phillies first round pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of a Florida high school, Miller has good size at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds and made it all the way to Triple-A during the 2025 season. With a chance to get some games under his belt at the end of this season, Miller looks to be a solid dynasty league target. He promises to be one of the up-and-coming players at the shortstop position.

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott (personal) is starting at third base and will bat eighth on Saturday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves and veteran left-hander Martin Perez at Citizens Bank Park, per MLB.com. Stott was out of the starting nine for Friday's series opener against Atlanta due to personal reasons, but he is back now and looking to put a recent slump behind him. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should consider the 28-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder an easy fade near the bottom of the batting order, even though he has hit .276 (29-for-105) against left-handed pitchers on the season. Stott has gone 7-for-45 (.156) with one home run, two doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, one stolen base, three walks, and 10 strikeouts in his last 13 games, dating back to Aug. 19, to drop his season slash line to .255/.331/.403 in 526 total plate appearances. In a very small sample size, Stott is hitting 1.000 off Perez in just two at-bats.

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller (back), the team's second overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will play five innings at shortstop on Saturday for Low-A Clearwater, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. It is a notable benchmark for Miller after he had surgery on his troublesome back in early June. This will be the 22-year-old former first-rounder's first game action in the minors this year. The right-handed-hitting infielder batted .264/.392/.433 with an .825 OPS, 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 59 stolen bases, and 82 runs scored in 116 games and 526 plate appearances last year at Double-A Reading (108) games and Triple-A Lehigh Valley (eight games). With time running out in the minor-league season, it would be a surprise if Miller heads back to Lehigh Valley in September. Miller has intriguing raw power and excellent instincts on the basepaths to give him plus stolen-base upside. He is the heir apparent in Philly to Trea Turner, who has shown signs of decline in 2026. Barring another injury, Miller is expected to make his major-league debut with the Phillies in 2027.

The Philadelphia Phillies announced that infielder Bryson Stott (personal) has been scratched from Friday night's lineup against the division-rival Atlanta Braves due to a personal matter. Edmundo Sosa will now make the start at third base and will bat sixth versus Braves left-hander Chris Sale. Stott probably will not mind taking a seat against Sale, but it is unclear if he will be available as the series continues at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. The day off will also give Stott a chance to clear his head after a rough stretch at the plate recently. The 28-year-old former first-rounder has gone 7-for-45 (.156) with a homer, two doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, one stolen base, three walks, and 10 strikeouts in his last 13 games to drop his overall line for the season to .255/.331/.403 with a .734 OPS, 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 61 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases. Stott is mostly useful in fantasy leagues for his speed and his versatility at second base, third base, and shortstop. Since the Phillies acquired Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline, Stott has moved over to third base full-time in Philly.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh has had a solid season overall in 2026, hitting .271/.318/.426 with 17 home runs, 57 RBI, 67 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 511 plate appearances. However, the 28-year-old has run into a rough patch of late. After hitting .301 with 15 homers across 363 plate appearances in the first half of the season, Marsh has hit just .195 with two long balls across 148 trips to the plate since the All-Star break. The lefty-swinging Marsh has also been significantly worse against same-handed pitching this season, posting a .624 OPS with a 36.9% strikeout rate against southpaws. If his overall struggles persist, Marsh could continue to lose playing time against left-handed starting pitching. Fantasy managers should monitor Marsh closely as we hit the final month of the regular season.