The Philadelphia Phillies did not play their best baseball at the beginning of the year. They roared back in May and June, but have now found a middle ground heading into the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. The Phillies need some obvious help, with some holes appearing larger than others. With less than a week to go and the current uncertainty surrounding the club's possible roster changes, first baseman Bryce Harper just wants a shot to get into the postseason, regardless of how it looks right now.
“Just get us in,” Harper said to Todd Zolecki of The Athletic, after the Phils' latest devastating loss to the Marlins. “I think that's a big deal, too. Hopefully, we have the pieces to do it.”
Harper has made the case repeatedly since he signed with the Phillies that he wants to win a World Series in Philadelphia. He wants the front office to remain aggressive and increase their chance to win with another big trade deadline. Phillies fans remember 2022 well. It wasn't the perfect roster, just the right guys playing well at the right times. He just wants the club to give them another chance for meaningful October baseball.
Of course, if Monday night's odd Zack Wheeler start is an example of something larger, Harper's positive vibes may not be enough.
The Phillies have some holes to fill, but need their stars (and Zack Wheeler's health) to make it worth it
Filling the holes the Phillies need will take some effort. The five-spot in the rotation has been a void, with a 5-21 record all year. They are also in desperate need of a back-end reliever and outfielder; both were impacted with season-ending injuries. They can find some help at the deadline, but also can't survive scares like what happened to Wheeler on Monday. He was hit hard and saw a velocity dip as his outing progressed.
Wheeler insists he's fine. He'd better be.
It looks like Zack Wheeler is going to be done after three innings. Something was affecting him all night. He threw a 91 mph sinker in the third. Phillies brass, after huddling in dugout, made the call.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) July 27, 2026
The Phillies have been fortunate that their starters have remained in the rotation with everything else seemingly going wrong (knock on wood). The Phillies lost Wheeler at the end of the season last year, but he has bounced back to his Cy Young-caliber self with a 2.53 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 17 starts. The positive news is, Phillies manager Don Mattingly expressed no concern about his diminished velocity after the game.
Harper wants Phillies fans to have that same feel once the postseason is here. The feeling of hope and the realistic chance that a World Series trophy is at the end of the season. He wants to know that the front office is giving him every opportunity to win while they still can. The Phillies went out and got an All-Star closer in Jhoan Duran last year. It could take a little more to get them closer to their goal this year, but you never know what can happen once you get to the dance of October baseball.
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