The Philadelphia Phillies are a game away from their second sweep of the 2026 MLB season.
At 6:40 P.M. EST the Phillies play the Athletics in their three-game series finale.
Since Don Mattingly has taken over as interim manager following the firing of Rob Thomson, the Phillies have had quite the turnaround. They are eight of their last nine games, and their starting pitching ranks in the top three for ERA, FIP, fWAR, IP, K, K/9, WHIP, and BAA.
ERA 1.86 (2nd) FIP 2.31 (1st) fWAR 1.9 (1st) IP 53.1 (2nd) K: 61 (1st) K/9 10.29 (3rd) WHIP 0.94 (2nd) BAA .199 (2nd)
While most players have shown an offensive turnaround since Mattingly’s promotion, third baseman Alec Bohm continues to struggle.
Phillies’ 3B Alec Bohm Left Out of Lineup Against Athletics
Philadelphia sports anchor John Clark announced on X that Edmundo Sosa will be starting at third base for the Phillies tonight in place of Alec Bohm.
Turner 6 Schwarber DH Harper 3 García 9 Marsh 7 Stott 4 Sosa 5 Crawford 8 Marchán 2 Painter RHP
This does not come as a surprise as Alec Bohm ranks 177th out of 178 qualified batters in OPS (.443), and was pinch-hit for in a close game against the A’s last night.
Aside from injury or a blowout game, last night was the first time in Bohm’s career that he has been pinch hit for.
After Tuesday’s game, Don Mattingly was asked when a change would be made at third base for Bohm.
“Whenever that is, it’s not now,” Matting stated. “I’ve seen Alec. He’s another big sample, he’s always hit. Smaller sample, he’s not hitting right now. And I think last year he may have started out slowly also. So it’s not like this is totally out of the norm. Obviously, he doesn’t wanna struggle, we don’t want him to struggle. But from my standpoint, I’m confident in him bouncing back.”
While it might not have been Wednesday, Mattingly certainly did not wait long.
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Philadelphia Phillies Are Predicted to Trade Alec Bohm Amid Struggles
Alec Bohm is having the worst season of his career thus far. In 126 at-bats, Bohm only has 20 hits, four extra-base hits, and 15 RBIs.
He has the third-worst batting average (.159) among qualified hitters and has the second-worst OBP (.227), SLG (.206), and OPS (.433).
Bohm, 29, signed a one-year, $10.2 million contract with the Phillies to avoid arbitration this offseason. But, as the struggles continue, Bohm is shaping up to be on the chopping block during the trade deadline.
Fansided writer Christopher Kline pitched the idea of the Phillies offering up Bohm before he hits free agency.
“The Phillies should see what the trade market offers up for a 29-year-old with All-Star pedigree,” Kline wrote. “It’s probably not much, as Bohm is on an expiring contract, but this is a pure exercise in addition by subtraction. Even if the Phillies practically give Bohm away, just getting a fresh bat (or two) in the mix at third base could work wonders.”
Along with Kline, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, listed Bohm as the Phillies’ top trade candidate.
“As with the Mets and Peralta, a selling Phillies team would have an absurd trade chip in Zack Wheeler ($42M in each of 2026 and 2027),” Miller wrote. “With wins in seven of their last nine games, though, the Phillies are back enough from the dead that we’d better press pause on any further speculation on that front. They might give up the ghost on Alec Bohm, though, regardless of whether they’re buying or selling. The classic “needs a change of scenery” trade candidate hasn’t homered since Opening Day.”
Phillies’ president of baseball operations, Dave Dombroski, has already indicated to MLB insider Jon Morosi that big trade talks have begun for the season.
With Bohm out of the lineup against the Athletics, a decision on Bohm’s future with the Phillies’ organization seems to be looming, whether that means they move him down to Triple-A to get some additional work in, release him, or trade him at the deadline.
Phillies Make Lineup Change Amid Trade Talks With Struggling All-Star Infielder