SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 25: Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the last several weeks playing like a club determined to erase the disappointment of a turbulent first half.
After making a managerial change in May, the team has surged back into the National League playoff race behind dominant starting pitching and a lineup that has rediscovered its rhythm.
That turnaround has coincided with Don Mattingly taking over in the dugout.
“The Phillies have the best record in baseball at 24-10 since Don Mattingly took over as manager, after the Milwaukee Brewers lost tonight,” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark noted on Thursday. “And now the Phillies have the best starting staff ERA in the majors since Don Mattingly took over, at 2.79, over that span.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ New Manager Don Mattingly Sends Rob Thomson Message, ‘That Stinks’
The veteran baseball figure inherited a difficult situation after long-time skipper Rob Thomson was dismissed, but the Phillies have responded with one of the best stretches in baseball. But even amid the resurgence, Mattingly has made clear that he has mixed emotions about how he ended up in the role.
“Listen, as great as it’s been for these guys to show that they didn’t suddenly forget how to play baseball, there’s still a part of this that stinks for me, because of Rob (Thomson) losing his job,” Mattingly told MLB.com’s Mike Lupica. “I mean, one of the big reasons I came here was because of him, and now the reason I’m managing the team here is because of what happened to him.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ Skipper Has Mixed Feelings About Surge In Standings
Though Mattingly might have mixed feelings about replacing his long-time friend in the dugout, the Phillies’ performance since the change has been difficult to ignore.
The numbers illustrate just how dramatic the turnaround has been. For Mattingly, though, the story is not simply about wins and losses. His comments suggest he still views Thomson as a respected colleague whose dismissal came at a personal cost, even as the club thrives under new leadership.
Mattingly joined the Phillies as their new bench coach this season after leaving the Toronto Blue Jays and contemplating retirement. But his son, Preston, serves as the Phillies general manager and he has close ties to Thomson after the two served as coaches for the New York Yankees together.
Now, if the Phillies can sustain their success under the new manager and make a deep playoff run, Mattingly is sure to get the credit. But he might be the first one to point out that Thomson deserves some recognition for the team’s success, at least through the rest of this year.