The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a point where simply waiting for struggling players to turn things around may no longer be enough. With the club sliding out of the playoff picture and only 40 games remaining in the regular season, the margin for error has become extremely small.
The Phillies entered the season with postseason expectations, but the current version of the team has struggled in nearly every phase. The offense has become inconsistent, defensive decisions have created additional problems, and the bullpen has failed to provide dependable innings when games are on the line.
Interim manager Don Mattingly and the Phillies’ front office may not have the luxury of making major external additions at this stage, but there are several internal adjustments that could immediately change the team’s outlook. The goal should be simple: put the most productive players in the best positions while reducing the roles of players who are hurting the club.
1. Bench Alec Bohm and Reconsider His Role
The Phillies need to make a difficult decision regarding Alec Bohm.
The former third overall pick has struggled to establish himself as a consistent offensive or defensive force, and his 2026 campaign has been particularly disappointing. Bohm has posted an OPS around .653, leaving Philadelphia with limited production from a player who continues to receive regular playing time.
His situation became even more complicated after Philadelphia acquired Luis Arraez. The addition of Arraez pushed Bohm away from third base and moved him to first, while Bryce Harper was shifted from first base to right field.
That alignment has created problems beyond Bohm’s offensive struggles. Harper is more valuable to the Phillies when his health and production are protected, and forcing him into the outfield has added unnecessary physical demands, particularly with his ongoing knee concerns.
Philadelphia should therefore consider removing Bohm from the everyday lineup, at least temporarily. If his bat cannot justify his defensive limitations and the positional ripple effect his presence creates, the Phillies need to prioritize the overall roster rather than continue searching for reasons to keep him in the lineup.
A temporary benching would also give Philadelphia an opportunity to evaluate other combinations before the final weeks of the season.
2. Make Derek Hill an Everyday Player
Few recent Phillies additions have provided a bigger spark than Derek Hill.
Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in June, Hill has quickly established himself as one of the team’s most useful players. In 38 games with Philadelphia, he has produced a respectable .758 OPS while providing excellent defense and the kind of speed the Phillies have often lacked.
Hill may not have entered the organization as a major offensive star, but his overall skill set makes him extremely valuable to a team searching for answers.
Giving Hill regular playing time would allow Philadelphia to improve its outfield defense while also giving the lineup another player capable of creating pressure on the bases.
It could also solve another problem.
If Hill takes over a larger role in center field, the Phillies would have more flexibility to move Harper back to first base. That would eliminate the experiment of regularly playing Harper in right field and potentially reduce the physical strain on their superstar.
Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford could still receive opportunities depending on matchups, particularly against favorable pitching situations, but Hill has done enough to warrant being in the lineup far more often.
3. Move Luis Arraez Into the Leadoff Spot
Luis Arraez has gotten off to a slow start since joining Philadelphia, hitting only .200 through his first nine games and drawing just one walk. However, it would be premature to judge him based on such a small sample.
Arraez has built his career around one of baseball’s most difficult skills: consistently making contact and reaching base. A career .316 hitter, he remains one of the Phillies’ best candidates to set the table for the middle of the order.
Philadelphia should consider moving Arraez into the leadoff position and allowing Kyle Schwarber to slide down the batting order.
Schwarber’s power remains one of the team’s biggest offensive weapons, but he has not been producing at the same level recently. Moving him into the third or fourth spot could give him more opportunities to drive in runners rather than relying heavily on solo home runs from the top of the lineup.
A lineup featuring Arraez, Harper and Schwarber in prominent spots could create a much more balanced offensive structure. Arraez’s ability to put the ball in play and potentially reach base would give Philadelphia’s power hitters more opportunities with runners aboard.
The Phillies need fewer isolated home runs and more sustained innings, and Arraez could be part of the solution.
4. Stop Using José Alvarado in High-Leverage Situations
The Phillies’ bullpen has become one of the team’s biggest weaknesses, and José Alvarado’s struggles have made the situation even more difficult.
Alvarado has posted a 6.14 ERA across 51 appearances while walking 22 batters in only 44 innings. For a reliever who has traditionally been trusted in important situations, those numbers are simply too difficult to ignore.
The problem is that Philadelphia does not have an abundance of obvious alternatives. Alvarado still possesses impressive raw stuff, and his underlying metrics suggest there may be enough talent for him to eventually rediscover his form.
But the Phillies cannot continue giving him the ball in games that are still within reach.
Instead, Philadelphia should reduce Alvarado to lower-leverage situations and allow him to work through his problems without putting victories at risk. If he can regain his command and confidence, his role can be expanded again.
Until that happens, however, the Phillies need to protect themselves from another late-inning collapse.
5. Give Alex McFarlane a Genuine Opportunity
The Phillies also need to find out what they actually have in young right-hander Alex McFarlane.
The 25-year-old has spent much of the season moving between situations without receiving a consistent opportunity at the major-league level. Despite his impressive stuff, he has appeared in only two MLB games.
McFarlane’s fastball and overall pitching arsenal have generated significant excitement, but expecting him to suddenly fix the entire bullpen would be unrealistic. What Philadelphia should give him, however, is a legitimate chance to prove that he belongs.
McFarlane has been extremely effective in the minors this season, and the Phillies need to determine whether that success can translate into meaningful major-league innings.
His recent loss against the Cardinals should not erase everything he has accomplished in the minor leagues. Young relievers need consistent opportunities to adjust to MLB hitters, and two appearances are hardly enough to make a fair evaluation.
Philadelphia has already experimented with several bullpen combinations. With the postseason race tightening, there is little reason not to give McFarlane a larger role and see whether his power arsenal can provide a much-needed boost.
The Phillies Can No Longer Afford to Stand Still
Philadelphia’s current situation demands action.
The club has only 40 games remaining, and its recent slide has pushed it outside the playoff picture. The problems are not limited to one player or one unit; the Phillies have struggled to generate runs, defend consistently and protect leads.
That makes internal adjustments particularly important.
Benching Bohm could improve the team’s defensive alignment and protect Harper. Playing Hill regularly could provide better defense and athleticism. Moving Arraez to the top of the lineup could create more traffic for Philadelphia’s biggest power hitters. Reducing Alvarado’s responsibilities could protect the bullpen, while giving McFarlane a legitimate opportunity could reveal whether the organization already has a solution within its system.
None of these changes guarantees a turnaround. But with the season entering its final stretch, the Phillies can no longer afford to continue using the same combinations while expecting dramatically different results.
If Philadelphia wants to save its season, the time for experimentation is now.
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