Phillies ride small plays to gains as Wheeler’s surgery backdrop sparks run
A few days removed from news that ace Zack Wheeler underwent blood-clot surgery on Monday, the Phillies have turned the page with a string of driving wins. Since Wheeler left the team Saturday to prepare for the procedure, Philadelphia has rolled to four straight victories, scoring 40 runs in that span and showing a renewed focus on the little things that can separate wins from losses.
The shift seems to have a human backdrop as well. Losing a beloved team leader is tough, and the roster responded with resolve. “I honestly feel like we’ve been playing like this for a little bit,” said Trea Turner on Wednesday. “Losing a guy like that’s really big and can bring you together.” Harper echoed that sentiment, noting that the group was playing for Wheeler even if the effect remains uncertain.
Stats in the four-game stretch illustrate the offense coming alive. Turner posted 13 hits, seven RBIs, nine runs and three steals in the series, including a five-hit performance on Wednesday. Harper contributed seven hits, two homers and seven RBIs. Kyle Schwarber continued to swing for power, with seven hits, two homers and eight RBIs, five of those on Wednesday.
What stood out more than the big swings were the small, game-by-game plays that kept rallies going and shut down opponents. In the seven-inning frame on Wednesday, Bryson Stott, Turner, Schwarber and Harper delivered RBI singles in a five-run inning, exemplifying the “little ball” approach the Phillies had missed in recent seasons. On Tuesday, Castellanos chased down a ball in right field off the jump, turning what could have been extra bases into an out and keeping Seattle’s lead from growing. The Phillies also stole five bases across the two games, continuing a trend of aggressive baserunning that has helped erase earlier struggles.
The defense also showed moments of crisp execution. Jesús Luzardo came up with a pick-and-throw play to nail Julio Rodríguez, and Marsh made a late-inning catch sliding on one knee after tracking a sinking liner. Even a more subtle moment reflected the team’s attention to detail: a misread ground ball in an earlier inning gave way to a winning sequence thanks to heads-up baserunning and timely hits.
Manager Rob Thomson highlighted how the club’s preparation shows up in these moments. “We had three hats going to the ball when it hit that wall,” he said after a key play in a recent game. Those micro-missions matter: it’s the difference between allowing a run and shutting down the inning.
But the context matters too. Philadelphia has faced roster challenges, including injuries to key players and an 80-game suspension to closer José Alvarado, who returned to pitch on Wednesday for the first time in three months. Whether the current surge is a sustained turnaround or a fortunate stretch remains to be seen, especially with six straight series against teams with winning records looming.
Turner offered a tempered perspective on the momentum. “We played well lately. We just hadn’t played like the total package every day,” he said. Still, the performances since Wheeler’s departure have given the Phillies a tangible spark, and the team has carried that energy into a homestretch that could define their season.
Outlook
– The Phillies face a six-game slate against teams with winning records, providing a real test of whether their improved attention to small-ball execution and baserunning can translate into consistent results.
– If the group stays disciplined and continues to mix aggressiveness on the bases with timely hitting and defense, they could keep climbing in a crowded NL East and postseason race.
Summary: In the wake of Wheeler’s surgery, Philadelphia has shown that smaller plays and opportunistic offense can sustain success. The combination of a renewed focus on fundamentals, timely contributions from the lineup, and a sense of urgency around Wheeler’s situation has produced a four-game win streak and a hopeful path forward for a Phillies club that has long needed to refine the details. A sustained run will depend on maintaining this balance and handling the inevitable ebbs and flows of a lengthy season.