The Phillies head to Toronto on Tuesday for a brief two-game set, riding the momentum of a strong weekend where they took three of four from the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. With a seven-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East, the Phillies hold firm as the National League’s No. 2 seed, a position that would secure them a first-round bye in the postseason.
Where: Rogers Center, Tuesday & Wednesday.
Pitching Matchups: RHP Chris Bassitt (9-13, 4.27) vs. RHP Tyler Phillips (4-1, 5.50) on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. RHP Bowden Francis (8-3, 3.66) vs. LHP Cristopher Sanchez (9-9, 3.49) on Wednesday at 3:07 p.m.
Series: The two teams split a two-game series at Citizens Bank Park earlier this year. The Blue Jays lead the all-time regular season series, 44-32.
Phillies Update (81-56): The Phillies will spend the final month of the regular season sorting out their outfield situation ahead of the postseason. Austin Hays, acquired from Baltimore at the trade deadline, has hit just .196 against right-handed pitching—a troubling stat given that manager Rob Thomson initially penciled him in as the everyday left fielder. Brandon Marsh, meanwhile, has struggled against left-handed pitching, often appearing lost at the plate. Then there’s Johan Rojas, whose defense has been stellar, but his struggles at the plate have persisted throughout the year.
Speaking of lost at the plate, Kyle Schwarber is hitting just .135 over the past two weeks with a 40.7% whiff rate.
Blue Jays Update (67-72): The Blue Jays pummeled the Twins 15-0 on Saturday, only to stumble in the series finale with a 4-3 loss on Sunday. It’s been a trying season in Toronto, with the team sitting eight games out of the final wild card spot at 67-72. The Jays have struggled mightily against winning teams, going 37-55 in those matchups. As they navigate a shift toward a rebuild—or at least a retool—they’ve been forced to reach deeper into their roster than anticipated, relying on inexperienced position players and pitchers to step up.
Notable Injuries: Phillies -- RHP Spencer Turnbull (shoulder) is on the injured list.
Blue Jays -- SS Bo Bichette (calf), RP Jordan Romero (elbow), and SP Alek Manoah (elbow) are on the injured list.
What's Next: The Phillies will head to Miami for a four-game set with the Marlins.
