The Philadelphia Phillies currently hold a commanding 6.0-game lead over the New York Mets atop the National League East, but general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Rob Thomson remain determined not to get complacent. They continue to make roster adjustments to strengthen the team for the stretch run.
Philadelphia is coming off a rough 13-3 defeat to the Mets on Monday night at Citi Field. The Phillies appeared poised for a strong outing after jumping out to a 3-0 lead, but New York’s bats came alive, erupting for 13 runs to secure the lopsided win.
While multiple Phillies pitchers were tagged during the loss, the front office decided they could no longer rely on Joe Ross. The right-hander allowed three earned runs on three hits in just one inning of relief. By Tuesday, the team opted to release him.
Ross had pitched in 37 games for Philadelphia this season, compiling a 5.12 ERA over 51 innings. He surrendered 57 hits and 18 walks while striking out 39, finishing with a 1.47 WHIP.
Phillies want to keep Mets from mounting a charge
Despite holding a comfortable lead over the Mets in the NL East, the Phillies still have nearly five weeks of baseball ahead and six head-to-head matchups remaining — two in New York and four in Philadelphia.
One of the biggest challenges for manager Rob Thomson’s club is the loss of ace Zack Wheeler, who was sidelined last week with thoracic outlet syndrome. The injury required surgery and ended his 2025 season. Wheeler is not expected to return until sometime in 2026, with his full recovery projected to take six to eight months.
In Wheeler’s absence, the Phillies will rely heavily on Christopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and Ranger Suárez to anchor the rotation down the stretch.
The bullpen remains another concern. Even after cutting Joe Ross, reliever Jordan Romano has continued to struggle, carrying an 8.23 ERA and a 2-4 record through 42.2 innings. Tanner Banks has been one of the few bright spots, posting a 5-2 record and a 2.88 ERA over 56.1 innings, while Matt Strahm has delivered a 3.16 ERA with a 1-3 record across 51.1 innings.
