On September 2, the Philadelphia Phillies were all but assured a playoff spot. They rested at 79-60, sitting one game above the Chicago Cubs for the top wild card spot and 6.5 games clear of the playoffs. Now, following a 4-8 stretch and a potential season-ending injury to Jesus Luzardo, nothing is certain.
The Phillies are still only half a game behind the Cubs and 3.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks to late-night collapses from both teams, but they hold neither tiebreaker, and another 4-8 stretch could see them slip below the playoff line.
With the team’s biggest strength, their starting pitching, neutered thanks to Cris Sanchez’s regression and Luzardo’s shoulder, the Phillies need to find production from elsewhere on the roster.
No outside help is coming this late in the season, except maybe Nestor Cortes, who could fill a limited role. It feels like we know what to expect from the Phillies' major contributors. But to keep the city’s playoff hopes from fading, these four players must contribute to stave off a September collapse.
4 Phillies players who must change the narrative this September
Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola has been the Phillies' biggest second-half surprise. Since the All-Star break, he’s pitched to a 3.08 ERA over 11 starts, averaging nearly six innings per game and spelling a thin bullpen. Since August 13, he has allowed no more than two runs in any appearance.
Aaron Nola now has a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star Break. He had a 5.75 ERA in 19 first-half starts.
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) September 12, 2026
He's absolutely revived his career.
With Luzardo out of the rotation, Nola’s success goes from a welcome revelation to a vital piece of the engine powering the Phillies. Most importantly, Nola needs to keep pitching deep into games. With Johnathan Bowlan and Brooks Raley becoming serious liabilities, the fewer innings the bullpen gets, the better.
Andrew Painter
Though some fans had given up hope, it’s always been evident there was talent lying dormant inside Andrew Painter. Since he was recalled from the minor leagues on July 31, he’s posted a 3.58 ERA and twice completed seven innings, breaking the 100-pitch mark for the first time in his career on August 22 against St. Louis.
Like Nola, more will be asked of Painter as he moves from the five- to the four-spot in the rotation with Luzardo out for the time being. This could be a good test of how he handles pressure in October. After all, he might now be asked to start a game in the postseason.
Jonathan Bowlan
The Phillies need Jonathan Bowlan. No bullpen can survive on just two relievers (read: Alex MacFarlane and Jhoan Duran). Dave Dombrowski’s biggest miss of the deadline was failing to acquire more help for the back end of the ‘pen, and now it has bitten the Phillies where it hurts.
Bowlan has surrendered a run in all five of his last appearances, but has nevertheless not walked a batter since August 25. On that date, his ERA was 2.83, and he had pitched to a 1.62 ERA going back to May 7. Even now, his xERA is still 2.84.
"You can only do so much searching."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) September 16, 2026
Jonathan Bowlan says you live and you learn after he gave up the 3-run home run that put the Phillies behind the Nationals Tuesday night. @WapnerNewman pic.twitter.com/ec922GdzOZ
Bowlan has the peripherals and the makeup to be a great pitcher. He's shown that he’s capable of being that this year, even over long stretches. He’s now more crucial to the Phillies' plans than ever. If the team makes a run in October, Bowlan will be an instrument in that success.
Luis Arraez
Few hitters since the dead-ball era have relied on luck as heavily as Luis Arraez. But that’s what happens when you put the ball in play more than anyone else with softer contact than anyone else. Arraez is sporting a .285 BABIP with the Phillies, well below his .327 career mark, and it’s killing the team.
He has driven in far fewer runs from the cleanup than anyone expected, and though he’s still batting .291, it’s not enough. The Phillies need Arraez to make up for the deficits at the bottom of their order. He needs to be their third-best hitter, and he hasn’t been.
The good thing is Arraez doesn’t need to change his approach for that to happen. For most of his eight-year career, things have gone his way. But the hits need to start falling for Arraez because, right now, no one else is driving in runs.
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