The Philadelphia Phillies are beginning another year with high expectations at spring training. The club's first exhibition game will be on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays and Phillies core players know their championship window continues to get smaller with each passing year. Kyle Schwarber made it clear what the team's expectations are for the 2026 season with recent comments.
The Phillies still have a talented roster primarily comprised of veterans. However, one difference from previous seasons is that a few of their top prospects are expected to each make their MLB debuts in 2026. Still, despite their roster changes and concerns, the goal remains the same: win the World Series.
Kyle Schwarber makes Phillies' expectations clear for a World Series in 2026
Speaking to media earlier this week, Schwarber made the World Series expectations clear, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
"At the end of the day, we’ve just got to do it," Schwarber said, per Zolecki. "I think that’s the biggest thing, there’s no excuses. It doesn’t matter what year it is. 2022 hurts just as much as ’23, ’23 hurts just as much as ’24 and so on. We come into Spring Training every single year expecting -- and we have expectations of ourselves -- that that’s where we want to be."
The Phillies have come up short of winning a championship each of the last four seasons. After unexpectedly making the Fall Classic in 2022, they've been unable to return in the last three years despite having higher expectations.
The last two years included increased expectations as the Phillies won the NL East division. However, they regressed in the playoffs from previous seasons, losing in the NLDS each year. It's fair to question if the club's championship window has shut. It is closing gradually at the very least with each passing year due to a core whose collective age is increasing.
FanGraphs predicts Philadelphia to finish with an 86-76 record in 2026 and in third place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves (89-73) and New York Mets (88-74). The division is expected to be more competitive as all three clubs are capable of making the playoffs and winning the NL East.
Based on the predicted win totals for all three teams, the NL East will be tight at the top of the division all season long. If the Braves remain healthy and the new-look Mets meet expectations, the Phillies will have their work cut out for them.
Philadelphia has roster concerns as spring training is underway.
How will their rotation do, particularly at the start of the regular season? Ranger Suárez is now with the Boston Red Sox, and Zack Wheeler is expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the season as he's working his way back from surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome. How will starters Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, and prospect Andrew Painter all fare? Some inconsistencies are anticipated from the trio at the beginning of the regular season.
The Phillies also have questions with their outfield yet again. There's a lack of depth at the position. Justin Crawford is on track to emerge as their center fielder despite never playing in a major league game.
Adolis García is anticipated to be a defensive improvement over Nick Castellanos in right field. However, how will the new addition perform offensively, considering his high strikeout totals and his regression over the last two seasons following a 2023 season that saw him reach career highs and win the ALCS MVP award with the Texas Rangers?
The Phillies' depth in left field is a concern, with Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp expected to be the two options to start the regular season. Marsh isn't the most reliable player in a full-time role, and Kemp is a utility player entering only his second MLB season.
Philadelphia is certainly capable of putting together another successful regular season and making the postseason. However, if they make the playoffs, is this core group good enough to win a World Series? Doubts have increased, considering they've underachieved in reaching their ultimate goal the last few years.