Things have not been going well for the Philadelphia Phillies. While there is still a good remainder of the season left, if the series against San Francisco, Miami, and now the series against the Mets are any indication of what’s to come in the next few months of baseball, the team and fans alike are starting to worry about the remainder of the 2025 season. Yes, it’s only about a month into the season; yes, they are only four games out of first, right behind the Mets, who have shown in this current series that they are contenders this year; and yes, they are still objectively one of the best teams in baseball; however, with all that being said, the Phillies do not seem to be “in it” as much as the Philly Faithful would like them to be. The overall atmosphere in the clubhouse has seemed to change, and not for the better. While some people think it’s due to the younger “daycare” bunch wanting to grow and settle into their veteran status; however, it just seems as though there has been a definitive shift in tone between these players, one that looks as though they are tired; tired of their teammates and tired of playing this game for a team that very well might have missed its chance at a championship.

In 2022, the Phillies stared in the face of adversity against one of the titans of postseason baseball, the Houston Astros. After eventually losing in game six, everyone assumed that 2023 would be their time to shine; however, they fell short yet again after losing in game seven to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Championship Series. In 2024, they made it to the Divisional Series once again, but they seemed like a jeep stuck in the mud, their wheels just spinning but with no results to get out. They ultimately lost the series to the Mets and are now sitting behind them in the standings after a sweep in Queens. With the current morale low and the looming pressure of finally winning the Fall Classic, the 2025 season is turning into a make-or-break one for the Phils. Again, despite it being so early, you can feel a sense of existential dread with these guys, as the mentality of just playing and enjoying one another’s company has fallen to the wayside.

With Zack Wheeler on the mound today, the Phillies’ “stopper” was trying to end a three-game skid; however, the Mets just couldn’t be held down, winning their seventh game in a row today in extras, bringing our losses now to four in a row. Wheeler pitched an absolute gem of a game today, throwing six innings and only allowing a two-run shot in the second inning to Brett Baty. The Phils’ latter half of the lineup locked in and were yet again the main reason our team even had runs on the board. After two stunning innings from Alvarado, Jordan Romano was called on in the tenth. As soon as he was called in, it should’ve been known that the Phillies would blow it again in extras, making this his fifth blown save of the season. A plus side is that some guys are finally starting to get hot offensively, like third baseman Alec Bohm, working on a nine-game hitting streak, while some of the vets are still stalling at the plate, such as J.T. Realmuto.

There were moments of sheer perfection, like the 11-10 win over the Miami Marlins (the only reason the game was so close was yet again because of Romano’s hack job on the mound). Genuinely, due to Romano’s failures, there is no piece of this team worse than the bullpen right now. With some relievers still pulling their weight, like Alvarado and Matt Strahm, it’s nice to have a few reliable arms ready to go, but obviously, these relievers can’t be throwing every night; there’s just no way. Earlier today, during this afternoon’s broadcast, a rumor started swirling that southpaw Ranger Suárez, who is in the midst of a rehab stint, could be back with the team as early as the next homestand, and that after a start or two he could move to the bullpen, if needed; however, that is a very dangerous double edge sword with the always struggling Taijuan Walker still slotted to be in the starting lineup, if Topper and the coaching staff agrees to put Ranger in the pen.

With Kody Clements, son of Roger Clements, now being DFA’d, it’s clear that they’re trying to “cut fat” and work with what they have to ensure the majority of the core that was established in 2022 can win a championship together. However, the definition of baseball insanity is using the same players year after year and expecting a different result. While offensively, at least on paper, we have what it takes to go the distance this year, how much longer can this team suffer at the hands of their back-end pitchers? The only thing needed right now is a win; this team is in desperate need of one, but it might be a minute before they find it as they head out from New York tonight and fly out to Chicago for a three-game set at Wrigley starting Friday night. The Cubs have been hot, but if our starters can continue to hold them down as much as they have, we could potentially take the series against the number one team in the NL Central.