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  • Meet the All-Stars: What to know about baseball’s best coming to Philly

    Meet the All-Stars: What to know about baseball’s best coming to Philly

    The stars are coming to town.

    Citizens Bank Park will host the 96th All-Star Game on July 14, a showcase for the game’s best with a healthy contingent of Phillies.

    After two phases of fan voting, Major League Baseball announced the starters on Saturday along with the reserves and pitchers. The remaining roster spots were determined through a players’ ballot and the commissioner’s office.

    Let’s meet the cast of stars who were selected to play in South Philly (statistics through Sunday):

    (Editor’s note: This story has been updated with roster moves on Tuesday).

    American League starters

    First base: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .275/.415/.512, 20 HR, 66 RBIs

    What to know: Kurtz gets the starting spot at first after top vote-getter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. declined to play as he recovers from a lower back issue that has plagued him for weeks. The 23-year-old Kurtz won the AL Rookie of the Year last season and is on pace to have an even better season in 2026.

    All-Star stat: Kurtz is an on-base machine. He leads baseball with 76 walks and is second in walk percentage (.189) and on-base percentage (.415). And when he makes contact, he mashes. He’s in the 99th percentile in hard-hit percentage, up from the 92nd last season.

    Second base: Ernie Clement, Blue Jays

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .293/.316/.429, 7 HR, 29 RBIs

    What to know: Clement was the top vote-getter in the AL for Phase 1, earning him a starting nod. It’s the latest achievement for an unlikely star, who has become a fan favorite in Toronto and delivered a record-setting postseason performance with 30 hits during the Jays’ run to the 2025 World Series.

    All-Star stat: Clement is among the game’s toughest hitters to strike out with a 9.9% whiff rate, which is in the 97th percentile among MLB hitters.

    Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .290/.362/.466, 12 HR, 36 RBIs, 30 SBs

    What to know: A Team USA teammate of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in the World Baseball Classic in March, Witt Jr. is a five-tool player who is in the 99th percentile in sprint speed and is second in fielding range (outs above average). He’s averaged 23.4 home runs, 81.8 RBIs, 35.6 stolen bases, and an .842 OPS in his five major league seasons.

    All-Star stat: Witt Jr. leads the American League with 4.7 WAR (Baseball Reference), and is fourth in baseball.

    Third base: Junior Caminero, Rays

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: .288/.378/.561, 26 HR, 56 RBIs

    What to know: The 23-year-old Caminero, who also will compete in the Home Run Derby, is starting his second straight All-Star Game, but this is his first time being voted in. Nicknamed “La Máxima,” Caminero has a brother named Girardi, after former Phillies manager Joe Girardi, then the manager of the Yankees.

    All-Star stat: Caminero has elite bat speed, averaging 79.9 mph, tops in baseball, and has a hard-hit rate of 51.7%, a career best and in the 93rd percentile in MLB.

    Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees

    All-Star selections: Eighth

    2026 stats: .248/.375/.533, 17 HR, 38 RBIs

    What to know: The reigning AL MVP won’t play in the game because of a fractured rib that has kept him out since early June and will sideline him likely into August.

    All-Star stat: Not much has stood out from Judge’s 2026 season, on pace to be his worst non-COVID season since 2019. But he’s Aaron Judge, and he has the Yankees fan base behind him voting.

    Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels

    All-Star selections: 12th

    2026 stats: .234/.394/.472, 17 HR, 36 RBIs

    What to know: The three-time MVP’s 90.5 career WAR is tops among active players. After playing in 130 games last season — his most since 2019 — Trout has played in 74 of the Angels’ 91 games this season, but has been out since June 18 with a strained right hamstring. With the Angels going nowhere again, will the Millville native and rabid Eagles fan finally ask to be traded? Expect that to be a topic of conversation during All-Star festivities with the Phillies among the teams in the market for a right-handed hitter.

    All-Star stat: A career .291 hitter, Trout is way down at .234, but his on-base percentage remains elite at .394. And with 17 home runs so far, he is on pace to surpass the 26 he hit last season, his most since his 40 in 2022.

    Outfield: Byron Buxton, Twins

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .271/.328/.575, 25 HR, 45 RBIs

    What to know: Another potential trade candidate for the Phillies playing in the All-Star Game, Buxton has said he’s not interested in moving on from the Twins. The 32-year-old still has elite speed, ranking in the 98th percentile in sprint speed, and remains one of the game’s top center fielders.

    All-Star stat: After hitting a career high 35 home runs last season, Buxton is on pace to surpass that total in 2026. His 25 homers rank fifth in baseball.

    Catcher: Shea Langeliers, Athletics

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .264/.328/.494, 20 HR, 44 RBIs

    What to know: The 28-year-old Langeliers has already notched his fourth straight season with at least 20 home runs. Only Cal Raleigh (133) has more home runs among catchers since 2023 than Langeliers (102).

    All-Star stat: Langeliers posted a career-best 3.9 oWAR (offensive wins above replacement) in 2025, second among catchers again only to Raleigh’s 4.1. Langeliers has a 2.4 oWAR in 2026, trailing only Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (3.2).

    Designated hitter: Yordan Alvarez, Astros

    All-Star selections: Fourth

    2026 stats: .320/.429/.637 29 HR, 67 RBIs

    What to know: Alvarez, who won AL Rookie of the Year in 2019 and finished third in MVP voting in 2022, is having another big season, topping baseball in OPS, on-base percentage, and slugging.

    All-Star stat: Alvarez’s expected slugging percentage, which measures a hitter’s quality of contact, is the best in MLB at .718, a career high.

    National League starters

    First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

    All-Star selections: 10th

    2026 stats: .293/.383/.502, 15 HR, 49 RBIs

    What to know: Freeman, 36, has appeared in every All-Star Game from 2018 to 2026, the only player in baseball to do so. This will be his sixth start and third with the Dodgers.

    All-Star stat: One of the best pure hitters in the game, Freeman’s expected weighted on-base average (which measures the quality of a hitter’s contact regardless of factors beyond their control like defensive player abilities and dimensions of the ballpark) of .391 is in the 96th percentile and is up 40 points from 2025.

    Second base: Ozzie Albies, Braves

    All-Star selections: Fourth

    2026 stats: .271/.322/.445, 14 HR, 49 RBIs

    What to know: Albies topped Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott in Phase 2 of the All-Star vote. After getting off to a hot start (.908 OPS, seven homers, 20 RBIs) in the first month of the season, Albies has a .687 OPS since May 1.

    All-Star stat: Along with decent power and speed, Albies has been one of the toughest hitters to strike out this season. His strikeout percentage of 11.9% is in the 94th percentile in the game.

    Shortstop: CJ Abrams, Nationals

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: .269/.348/.498, 18 HR, 61 RBIs

    What to know: The speedy Abrams has improved his power metrics in his fourth full season with the Nationals. He has almost eclipsed his career high of 20 homers set in 2024 and has almost done the same with RBIs (his career best of 65 also came in 2024).

    All-Star stat: Abrams’ slugging percentage is up 65 points from last season, and his average exit velocity has risen to a career-best 90 mph, which puts him in the 60th percentile among major leaguers.

    Third base: Max Muncy, Dodgers

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .264/.358/.504, 17 HR, 39 RBIs

    What to know: Muncy beat out the Phillies’ Alec Bohm to become the first Dodger to start an All-Star Game at third base since Ron Cey in 1977.

    All-Star stat: In addition to boosting his batting average and maintaining his power stroke, the 35-year-old Muncy is having his best defensive season at third base. His outs above average is in the 93rd percentile of all major leaguers, by far the best of his career at third base.

    Outfield: Brandon Marsh, Phillies

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .309/.341/.511, 15 HR, 46 RBIs

    What to know: Marsh has broken through as an All-Star starter in his fourth full season with the Phillies, proving that he can hit enough against lefties to be an everyday player. A career .208 hitter against lefties entering this season, Marsh is batting .264 against southpaws in 2026.

    All-Star stat: While Marsh is swinging at almost anything (his 38.6% chase rate is in the bottom 10% of the league and is the highest of his career), he is crushing pitches in the zone. He is among the best in the game with a 46.1% launch angle sweet spot rate (99th percentile).

    Outfield: Juan Soto, Mets

    All-Star selections: Fifth

    2026 stats: .299/.407/.559, 18 HR, 43 RBIs

    What to know: The Mets’ $765 million man is having an elite season even if his team has underwhelmed, sitting in last place in the NL East. He leads baseball with a .407 on-base percentage and has more walks (47) than strikeouts (38). His walk-to-strikeout ratio is second in the National League to the Giants’ Luis Arraez.

    All-Star stat: Soto, along with the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez and Nationals’ James Wood, is in the top three in baseball in two of the most comprehensive contact quality metrics, expected weighted on-base average and expected slugging.

    Outfield: Andy Pages, Dodgers

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .267/.332/.471, 16 HR, 63 RBIs

    What to know: The 25-year-old leads the NL in RBIs, building off a 27-homer season in 2025 while playing elite defense in center field.

    All-Star stat: Pages has cleaned up batting with runners in scoring position this season. He’s among the league leaders with a .350 batting average with runners in scoring position, driving in 51 of his 63 RBIs.

    Catcher: Drake Baldwin, Braves

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .251/.336/.451, 15 HR, 43 RBIs

    What to know: The National League Rookie of the Year in 2025 got off to a strong start to his second season, batting .303 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs through May 18, but an oblique strain in his right side sidelined him for almost a month. He’s struggled in his return, batting .104 in 17 games.

    All-Star stat: Although Baldwin is still trying to regain his early-season stroke, he is hitting the ball with an elite combination of launch angle and exit velocity. His 16% barrel rate is in the 95th percentile among major leaguers, and is up from 11% in his rookie season.

    Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

    All-Star selections: Sixth

    2026 stats: .288/.404/.522, 18 HR, 51 RBIs

    What to know: Schwarber is having another monster season at DH, but no one is moving Ohtani, the unicorn of baseball, out of a starting spot on the All-Star team. He led baseball in fan voting during Phase 1, ensuring that he would bypass the next phase and lock up a starting spot at DH.

    All-Star stat: Ohtani is putting together another MVP-level season that will be hard to beat, simply because not only is he an elite hitter, but he’s among the game’s best pitchers. His 1.79 ERA leads baseball, buoyed by an elite barrel percentage (3.8%) that ranks in the 93rd percentile.

    AL pitchers

    Bryan Baker, Rays

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 1.83 ERA, 23 saves

    What to know: Baker is second in saves in his first season as the Rays’ closer, holding opponents to a .143 batting average.

    Dylan Cease, Blue Jays

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 2.79 ERA, 137 Ks, 2.26 FIP

    What to know: In his first season with the Jays after signing a $210 million deal, Cease leads the AL in strikeouts.

    Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox

    All-Star selections: Ninth

    2026 stats: 2.36 ERA, 18 saves

    What to know: The 38-year-old flame-throwing closer is still missing bats, with 35 strikeouts in 26⅔ innings, but his 30% whiff rate is his lowest in six seasons.

    Jacob Latz, Rangers

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 1.71 ERA, 18 saves, 0.619 WHIP

    What to know: After losing out for a spot in the rotation entering the season, Latz moved to the bullpen and thrived. He took over officially as closer in late April. Latz posted a 1.13 ERA with 11 saves in June to win AL Reliever of the Month.

    Parker Messick, Guardians

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 2.80 ERA, 1.085 WHIP

    What to know: Messick wasn’t even assured of a rotation spot entering the season, but the rookie has emerged as one of the best young pitchers in the game. Hitters are batting just .147 against his four-seam fastball.

    Drew Rasmussen, Rays

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 2.78 ERA, 0.897 WHIP

    What to know: Rasmussen followed up an All-Star season in 2025 with an even better one in 2026. He leads the AL in WHIP, and is in the 97th percentile in walk rate (4.5%).

    Joe Ryan, Twins

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 3.36 ERA, 1.045 WHIP

    What to know: Ryan figures to be one of the more popular pitchers mentioned in trade deadline speculation. He has anchored the Twins’ rotation for a second straight All-Star season.

    Cam Schlittler, Yankees

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 2.08 ERA, 203 ERA+

    What to know: Schlittler’s four-seamer, which averages 97.7 mph, has held opponents to a .181 batting average and a 32.5% whiff rate. His strikeout percentage (29.7%) is in the 92nd percentile.

    Cade Smith, Guardians

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 2.90 ERA, 26 saves

    What to know: Smith has led the majors in saves for much of the season, buoyed by a 35% strikeout rate, which is in the 98th percentile in the game.

    Ranger Suárez, Red Sox

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 3.15 ERA, 1.161 WHIP

    What to know: The former Phillie is an All-Star in his first season in Boston. He throws five pitches with regularity, but his four-seamer has been particularly effective, holding hitters to a .212 batting average and a .231 slugging percentage. His status for the All-Star Game is uncertain after he suffered a left adductor injury in his start on Sunday.

    Louis Varland, Blue Jays

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 0.96 ERA, 18 saves, 12.4 SO/9

    What to know: In his first season as closer, Varland has been dominant, striking out 65 in 47 innings.

    Michael Wacha, Royals

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 3.45 ERA, 1.160 WHIP

    What to know: The 35-year-old starter, who last made the All-Star Game in 2015, has been a workhorse for the Royals, pitching a league-high 114⅔ innings in 18 starts.

    Justin Verlander, P, Tigers

    All-Star selections: 10

    2026 stats: 12.27 ERA in one start

    What to know: The 43-year-old Verlander, who announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the season, was added to the AL team as a “Legend Pick” by commissioner Rob Manfred. On the 60-day injured list with hamstring and hip injuries, Verlander will not pitch in the game but will be honored during the All-Star festivities.

    AL reserves

    Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .265/.327/.521, 19 HR, 60 RBI

    What to know: Dingler’s .521 slugging percentage is second among catchers only to fellow All-Star Hunter Goodman. He is also a Gold Glove-caliber backstop with elite numbers for pitch framing, blocks above average, and pop time.

    Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .254/.323/.451, 8 HR, 45 RBIs

    What to know: Rutschman remains an elite defensive catcher, ranking in the 97th percentile in caught stealing above average. He also has an impressive 16.3% whiff rate, meaning he rarely swings and misses.

    Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .249/.339/.412, 7 HR, 27 RBIs, 12 SB

    What to know: The first overall pick of the 2024 draft, Bazzana, who’s from Australia, has impressed with his discipline at the plate and speed on the bases. His walk percentage (11.6%) and chase rate (25.6%) are near the 75th percentile in the majors, not bad for a 23-year-old rookie.

    Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .284/.395/.422, 7 HR, 31 RBIs

    What to know: An Aldan native and Bonner-Prendergast graduate, McGonigle, 21, has arrived as a rookie star for the Tigers. Most notable is his plate discipline: He has more walks than strikeouts and is in the 99th percentile in chase rate. That contributes to a .395 on-base percentage, good for sixth in the majors.

    Ben Rice, 1B/DH, Yankees

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .267/.361/.559, 24 HR, 56 RBIs

    What to know: The 27-year-old Rice was beat out in fan voting for the starting spot at first base by Guerrero, but he had much better numbers than the Jays star. Rice’s .921 OPS is tied for seventh in baseball.

    Miguel Vargas, INF, White Sox

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .247/.363/.494, 20 HR, 56 RBIs

    What to know: Vargas has emerged as a power hitter with plate discipline in his fifth major league season. His barrel percentage has jumped to 15.2% from 9.4% in 2025. Meanwhile, he rarely chases (20.6% chase rate) and has a 13.7% walk rate, which ranks in the 97th percentile in the majors.

    Cody Bellinger, OF, Yankees

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .251/.348/.426 11 HR, 50 RBIs

    What to know: Bellinger has regained the elite plate discipline that was a staple of his game when he won NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2019. His 13.6% walk rate is in the 91st percentile and is way up from last season (8.7%).

    Randy Arozarena, OF, Mariners

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .286/.375/.451, 9 HR, 41 RBIs

    What to know: The Mariners’ lone representative, Arozarena is striking out less (22.1%, down from career 25.5%) and is about 30 points higher in batting average and on-base percentage in putting together a solid age-31 season.

    Riley Greene, OF, Tigers

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .292/.380/.474, 13 HR, 44 RBI

    What to know: One of three Tigers in the game, Greene, 25, is hitting for a higher average this season after batting .260 over the previous two seasons. But his power numbers are down for a guy who averaged 30 homers from 2024-25, and strikeouts remain an issue: He led the majors with 201 in 2025 and has 101 this season.

    Yandy Díaz, DH, Rays

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: .321/.404/.489, 12 HR, 53 RBIs

    What to know: Díaz is having perhaps his best season of an underrated career, blending power with a disciplined approach at the plate. His 13.3% strikeout rate is in the 89th percentile in the majors.

    Willson Contreras, 1B, Red Sox

    All-Star selections: Fourth

    2026 stats: .284/.378/.542, 20 HR, 59 RBIs

    What to know: Contreras replaces Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the AL roster and joins his brother William in the All-Star Game. Contreras is on pace for his best season in his first year in Boston with a career-high .921 OPS.

    NL pitchers

    Chase Burns, Reds

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 10-1, 2.40 ERA

    What to know: The second pick of the 2024 draft has blossomed in his first full season. His 52.8% whiff rate is fourth in baseball as is his strikeout rate (49.7%).

    Jhoan Duran, Phillies

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 1.52 ERA, 21 saves, 0.944 WHIP

    What to know: Duran has given the Phillies everything they hoped for when they acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline. His success starts with his four-seamer, which averages 100.2 mph and has held opponents to a .148 batting average against it. His 39.5% strikeout rate is the best of his career.

    Raisel Iglesias, Braves

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 1.53 ERA, 17 saves, 1.057 WHIP

    What to know: This All-Star selection has been a long time coming for the 12-year veteran Iglesias, who is fifth in the NL in saves. A master of getting hitters to swing at pitches out of the zone, Iglesias, 36, is in the 99th percentile in chase rate (39.2%, a career high).

    Jesús Luzardo, Phillies

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 3.75 ERA, 125 strikeouts

    What to know: Luzardo replaced the Marlins’ Max Meyer to become the sixth Phillies All-Star. After a rough start to the season when he sported a 5.50 ERA in his first six starts, Luzardo has been a different pitcher since May 1, posting a 2.87 ERA in his last 12 starts.

    Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates

    All-Star appearances: First

    2026 stats: 9-3, 3.24 ERA, 1.098 WHIP

    What to know: The 26-year-old Ashcroft, who replaced the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, has been a pleasant surprise for the Pirates this season. He’s allowed one run or fewer in nine of 18 starts. Opponents are batting .150 against his curveball, which has an elite 40.3% whiff rate.

    Mason Miller has an 0.98 ERA this season.

    Mason Miller, Padres

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 0.98 ERA, 22 saves, 0.818 WHIP

    What to know: Miller might be the most intimidating closer in the game with a four-seamer that averages 101.2 mph. His slider is the deadliest put-away pitch in the game with a strikeout rate of 59.7%.

    Riley O’Brien, Cardinals

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 3.72 ERA, 22 saves

    What to know: The 31-year-old O’Brien, who replaced Pirates ace Paul Skenes, is tied for third in the NL with 22 saves. His success is driven by a devastating sweeper, which opponents are batting just .033 against and has led to a 48.6% whiff rate.

    Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: 7-3, 2.25 ERA

    What to know: Another NL pitcher who had to wait awhile to make his first All-Star team, Rodriguez has been stellar for Arizona in his 11th season. He has given up one run or fewer in 11 of his 18 starts this season.

    Chris Sale, Braves

    All-Star selections: 10th

    2026 stats: 9-6, 2.27 ERA

    What to know: The 37-year-old Sale is still elite, relying on a four-seamer and slider almost 80% of the time. And he can still fool hitters with the best of them — his 35.4% chase rate is in the 92nd percentile of all pitchers.

    Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 10-3, 2.00 ERA, 5.91 SO/BB

    What to know: The unlikely ascent from fringe minor leaguer to Cy Young candidate has continued this season. Sánchez leads all pitchers with 5.7 WAR and didn’t allow a run for 50⅔ innings earlier this season, the most ever for a left-handed pitcher. It all starts with his changeup, against which hitters are batting .142 this season.

    Logan Webb, Giants

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: 3.66 ERA, 1.168 WHIP

    What to know: Webb, who led the NL in innings the past three years, got off to a rough start to the season. He had a 5.06 ERA in his first eight starts but has turned it around over his last seven with a 2.18 ERA.

    Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: 9-5, 2.49 ERA, 0.879 WHIP

    What to know: Last year’s postseason hero has been just as good as in 2025. In fact, he has the same ERA (2.49) as last season and has lowered his WHIP. He’s also lowered his walk rate to an elite 5.3%, which puts him in the 92nd percentile of pitchers.

    NL reserves

    William Contreras, C, Brewers

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .295/.358/.416, 9 HR, 51 RBIs

    What to know: Contreras has been the most productive catcher offensively over the past four seasons. And he’s durable, averaging 149 games in his last three full seasons.

    Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: .254/.318/.552, 27 HR, 51 RBIs

    What to know: Goodman has developed into one of the best power-hitting catchers in the game over the past two seasons. He’s on his way to a second straight 30-homer season and ranks fourth in the NL in slugging percentage.

    Luis Arraez, 2B, Giants

    All-Star selections: Fourth

    2026 stats: .326/.362/.461, 4 HR, 33 RBIs

    What to know: The toughest guy to strike out in baseball, Arraez is a career. 318 hitter, and has led the league in hits twice in his career, and is second this season.

    Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies

    All-Star selections: Ninth

    2026 stats: .270/.370/.522, 20 HR, 57 RBI

    What to know: After coming up short in the fan vote, Harper was “grateful” to be picked for the team by commissioner Rob Manfred. He’s certainly deserving of the spot with an OPS over .900 and his 12th 20-homer season while playing every game. After all, an All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park without the Showman wouldn’t seem like much of a show at all.

    Otto Lopez, SS, Marlins

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .346/.376/.520, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 17 SB

    What to know: Baseball’s batting leader also is tops in hits (123) and doubles (25) during what has been a career year for the 27-year-old.

    Matt Olson, 1B, Braves

    All-Star selections: Fourth

    2026 stats: .271/.341/.531, 22 HR, 54 RBI

    What to know: Olson, who has nine seasons of 20-plus home runs, is having a resurgent power season. His slugging percentage has surged to .531 this season after sitting at a combined .471 in 2024 and 2025. And more than half his batted balls are considered hard hit, putting him in the 92nd percentile among all hitters.

    Sal Stewart, INF, Reds

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .254/.339/.466, 17 HR, 61 RBI

    What to know: The 22-year-old is one of two rookies to represent the Reds at the All-Star Game, along with pitcher Chase Burns. Stewart, who has played mostly third and first base this season, is tied for fourth in the NL in RBIs.

    Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks

    All-Star selections: Third

    2026 stats: .266./.356/.506, 13 HR, 45 RBI

    What to know: An All-Star for the third time in his four full seasons, the 25-year-old Carroll is having another strong season with an .862 OPS. The speedy outfielder again leads the majors in triples, a crown he was won for four straight seasons.

    Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: .292/.383/.527, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 23 SB

    What to know: Entering June, PCA was batting .231 with a .713 OPS and a 25.6% strikeout rate. Then June rolled around (along with a late-May switch to the leadoff spot), and he took off with an epic month. He posted a 1.249 OPS with 40 hits, 11 home runs and a .381 batting average to surge back into All-Star contention.

    Jordan Walker, OF, Cardinals

    All-Star selections: First

    2026 stats: .292/.352/.529, 20 HR, 67 RBI

    What to know: The 24-year-old Walker is having a breakout season for the surprising Cardinals. It’s been fueled by elite bat speed (79.1 mph), which trails only Junior Caminero (79.9) as the best in the majors.

    James Wood, OF, Nationals

    All-Star selections: Second

    2026 stats: .266/.393/.533, 23 HR, 56 RBI

    What to know: The 23-year-old is having an exceptional offensive season. It’s a combination of solid contact and an elite ability to get on base — he is in the 99th percentile among hitters in hard hit and walk percentages. He’s also been durable, playing in every game this season.

    Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies

    All-Star selections: Fourth

    2026 stats: .254/.370/.567, 30 HR, 55 RBI

    What to know: Schwarber is back in the All-Star Game for a second straight season and third time as a Phillie. His 30 home runs lead the majors along with his .567 slugging percentage.

    Players selected who will not play

    • Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
    • Max Meyer, P, Marlins
    • Paul Skenes, P, Pirates
    • Jacob Misiorowski, P, Brewers
  • Cristopher Sánchez endures the worst start of his career in bid to be All-Star starter

    Cristopher Sánchez endures the worst start of his career in bid to be All-Star starter

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Trea Turner crossed over second base, took a throw from Bryson Stott, and sidearmed the ball to first.

    Double play, right?

    More like double trouble.

    Turner uncorked a sinker in the dirt that skipped by diving first baseman Bryce Harper. A run scored. An avalanche followed. Rather than escaping the first inning here Monday, Cristopher Sánchez got blitzed for six runs, the start of a 15-1 Phillies trouncing by the bottom-dwelling Royals.

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    “That’s a play you’ve got to make,” Turner said. “Who knows how that game ends up if [Sánchez] gets out of there clean and then gets on a roll?”

    Who knows? Because with a chance to deliver a series win for the Phillies and a closing argument to be the National League’s starting pitcher next week in the All-Star Game, Sánchez endured the worst start of his career.

    The ugly numbers:

    • 3⅓ innings, his shortest (noninjury) start since April 23, 2024
    • nine runs, career high
    • 12 hits, tied for career high
    • three homers, career high

    “It was not good,” Sánchez said through a team interpreter. “I mean, it was crap what I did today.”

    The Royals’ Starling Marte celebrates a first-inning double, one of four consecutive hits after Trea Turner’s error.

    Sánchez repeatedly was over the middle of the plate with his signature changeup. His sinker lacked its peak zip. Each of the homers — Luke Maile’s three-run shot in the first inning and solos by Salvador Perez and Lane Thomas — came on changeups.

    A half-dozen Royals hits against Sánchez were scorched at 100 mph or faster off the bat. Sánchez’s ERA climbed from 2.00, second-best in the NL, to 2.62, seventh in the league.

    Turner’s error absolved none of that.

    But it did change the game.

    Kyle Schwarber still deciding whether he’ll compete in the Home Run Derby

    “Yeah, absolutely,” Turner said. “They put some good swings on the ball today. But [Sánchez] has thrown the ball so great this whole year. He could easily put up five, six, seven scoreless, and we could’ve been in it.”

    Turner said he “rushed it a little bit” after taking the throw from Stott. It was his 12th error of the season, tied for the third-most among shortstops behind the Nationals’ CJ Abrams and the Angels’ Zach Neto (14 apiece).

    Errors aren’t always the truest measure of defense, but modern metrics haven’t favored Turner either. Entering play Monday, he was tied for 32nd among shortstops in outs above average (minus-6) and ranked last in defensive runs saved (minus-8).

    Alec Bohm drove in the Phillies’ only run with a double in the first inning.

    The Phillies haven’t considered moving Turner away from shortstop, especially after last year, when he had one of his best defensive seasons. But given his downturn this season, the questions will be renewed.

    “I don’t think this year’s been nearly as good as last,” Turner said. “I feel like just a little sped up. I feel like the game slowed down quite a bit last year. It’s still in there. I feel like I can do it.”

    Don Mattingly didn’t want to discuss Turner specifically. But he made clear that the Phillies must convert more balls in play into outs. By most metrics, and through the old-fashioned eye test, they rank among the worst defensive teams in the sport.

    Everything you need to know about the MLB All-Star Game coming to Philly

    “Let’s just say in general, I think defense is always a concern,” Mattingly said. “You want to limit outs. You never know when one out turns into runs at any point in the game.”

    Sánchez’s first inning was proof of concept. Instead of being back in the dugout after a scoreless inning, he gave up four consecutive hits: RBI singles from Nick Loftin and Starling Marte, an infield single by Tyler Tolbert, and Maile’s homer, which sent center fielder Derek Hill crashing into the wall.

    And with that, the rout was on.

    Kyle Schwarber got ejected by plate umpire Alan Porter after striking out in the sixth inning. Third-string catcher Garrett Stubbs pitched the eighth — and gave up the last two runs and four hits in the Royals’ 22-hit barrage. Mattingly emptied the bench in the middle innings, spring training-style.

    And the Phillies dropped the series to the Royals, who have the second-worst record in a bad American League. They’ve lost three of the last four games and five out of nine, with six games left before the All-Star break.

    Sánchez will get one more start, Saturday in Detroit, to stake his claim as the first Phillies pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011.

    The Royals’ Jac Caglianone beats the tag by Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto to score off a Nick Loftin double during the first inning on Monday.

    In the meantime, the Phillies will dive into whether the start against the Royals was a one-off or a reason for concern about the ace lefty, who has worked the second-most innings (120⅓) of any pitcher in the majors.

    Mattingly noted that Sánchez struggled in three recent road starts in Milwaukee, Washington, and now Kansas City. Maybe that’s a coincidence. He has always pitched better at home.

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    “You are looking like, ‘Is he getting ahead in the count; is he getting the ball where he wants to on the plate,’ things like that,” Mattingly said. “That’s what you look at. You’re looking at health. [Is he] tired, even? We’ve asked a lot of him. He’s thrown a lot of innings.”

    Sánchez insists everything’s fine. And if Turner makes a better throw to first base, who knows?

    “I feel great,” Sánchez said. “That’s why I was a little surprised to have such an outing today. Because, physically, I feel really good.”

  • Kyle Schwarber still deciding whether he’ll compete in the Home Run Derby

    Kyle Schwarber still deciding whether he’ll compete in the Home Run Derby

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kyle Schwarber has a deadline.

    In all likelihood, Schwarber will swing away in the Home Run Derby next Monday night on the eve of the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. But the Phillies slugger hasn’t committed yet to the event and figures he’ll have to decide imminently.

    “I’m sure they’ll want an answer from me here in the next day or so,” Schwarber said Monday. “I just want to make sure I’m not putting myself in a risky position.”

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    Schwarber, who leads the majors with 30 home runs, is dealing with a sore lower back that kept him out of the lineup for two games on June 23-24 in Washington. He has started every game since.

    But before Schwarber enters the Derby for the third time in his career, he wants to consult with the Phillies’ athletic training staff.

    “You want to feel comfortable that you’re going to be able to do it,” he said.

    In 2018, Schwarber was runner-up to future teammate Bryce Harper, who won the Derby in Washington in his last year with the Nationals. Four years later, Schwarber didn’t advance beyond the first round of the Derby at Dodger Stadium.

    Kyle Schwarber was named All-Star Game MVP last season after winning the first-ever swing-off for the National League.

    Last year, Schwarber starred in the first-ever swing-off to decide an All-Star Game that was tied after nine innings. He hit three homers in three swings to lead the National League to a victory and take home MVP honors.

    Schwarber is a preeminent power hitter in the sport. He has 217 homers since 2022, second-most behind only Aaron Judge (227), and has 370 for his career.

    All of that aside, Schwarber and Harper are box-office draws for a Derby in their home ballpark. Harper said his biggest obstacle is finding someone to throw to him. His dad, Ron, pitched to him in 2018 but hasn’t thrown in nearly five years, Harper said.

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    Schwarber chose a friend, former college baseball player Mike Sinicola, to throw to him in 2018 and 2022. This time, he said he plans to ask a member of the Phillies staff.

    The Derby’s new format might influence Schwarber’s decision. Rather than taking as many swings as possible within a time frame, hitters will be limited to 20 swings in the first round and 15 in both the semifinals and final.

    “I don’t know how many swings you’d get before, but it felt like a lot,” Schwarber said. “Twenty swings will make it feel not as exhausting.”

    The eight-hitter field will take shape over the next few days. Entering the week, Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was the only entry.

    Phillies reliever Brad Keller is expected to be reinstated from the injured list Tuesday.

    Keller ready to roll

    A sight for the bullpen’s sore eyes: Brad Keller rejoined the Phillies here and is expected to be reinstated from the injured list before Tuesday night’s game.

    Keller, who made two appearances in triple A, has been sidelined since June 16 with right forearm tendinitis.

    In time, Keller figures to reclaim his spot as the primary eighth-inning reliever, the role for which he was signed to a two-year, $22 million contract in the offseason. But Orion Kerkering has pitched well in that role and will continue to see setup opportunities.

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    “I’m definitely comfortable with Kerk anywhere back there,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “One thing I’ve tried to do in the past, when you get a guy coming off the IL, you’re probably not firing him into a bases-loaded, no-out situation. You try to give him somewhat of a clean inning, a little bit of a softer landing so to speak.”

    But Mattingly also won’t hesitate to bring Keller into high-leverage situations.

    “I feel like he’s ready to go,” Mattingly said.

    Phillies rookie right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. has swung the bat better over the last two weeks.

    Extra bases

    Rookie right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. is 6-for-15 with two doubles and a homer over his last five games after going 4-for-36 with 11 strikeouts to begin his major league career. “I think we’re seeing the aggressiveness that we’ve been looking for,” Mattingly said. “He’s a guy that can impact the ball, and when he’s aggressive, he controls the zone for the most part. He’s still going to have bumps and bruises as a young player, but we’re liking the way it looks.” … Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.36 ERA) is scheduled to face Reds lefty Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.88) at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday in Cincinnati.

  • Everything you need to know about the MLB All-Star Game coming to Philly

    Everything you need to know about the MLB All-Star Game coming to Philly

    The wait is finally over.

    It was more than seven years ago that Major League Baseball announced the All-Star Game would come to Philadelphia for the nation’s 250th birthday. The game is the bookend to a season of big events following March Madness, the PGA Championship, and the FIFA World Cup.

    Baseball’s midsummer classic, which returns to Philly for the first time since 1996, will be more than just a game, as the city will be the center of the baseball world for nearly a week.

    Here’s a look at what to expect:

    HBCU Swingman Classic

    When: 7 p.m., Friday

    TV: MLB Network

    Location: Citizens Bank Park

    What you need to know: The fourth annual game is a showcase of the best players from historically Black colleges and universities. The classic was founded by Ken Griffey Jr. as a way to give a platform to players who often are overlooked.

    The local connection: Jimmy Rollins will manage one of the teams, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will throw out the first pitch. The teams will visit City Hall before the game to honor Octavius Catto, a civil rights activist who cofounded one of America’s first organized Black baseball teams in 1865. There is a statue of Catto outside City Hall. Mayfair’s Santino Harwood will play in the game. The Roman Catholic grad is a shortstop at Delaware State.

    Pitcher Gage Wood was the Phillies’ top pick in last year’s MLB draft.

    The MLB draft

    When: 1:30 p.m., Saturday; TBD Sunday.

    Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center Grand Hall

    What to know: The event is free to attend, but ticket registration has closed. The draft used to be held at MLB Network’s studio in Secaucus, N.J., before the league moved it to All-Star Week starting in 2021. The White Sox have the first pick, and the Phillies have to wait until No. 36 for their first selection.

    All-Star Village

    When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

    Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center

    What to know: The event is similar to Fan Fest that came with the 1996 game, but it’s much bigger now. The village will feature big league mascots and appearances by a cast of Phillies legends including Steve Carlton, Cole Hamels, John Kruk, Larry Bowa, Dave Cash, and Carlos Ruiz. Fans can make their own strikeout call, test food from around the majors, throw a pitch, take batting practice, see the World’s Largest Baseball, and even strap on a Velcro suit, jump, and stick on a wall for a home run-robbing photo op.

    Former Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels is scheduled to make an appearance at MLB’s All-Star Village.

    Futures Game

    When: Noon Sunday

    Location: Citizens Bank Park

    TV: NBC10

    What to know: The game is a collection of baseball’s best prospects as each team sends two players from its farm system. The players are split into American League and National League squads. The game will feature nine of MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 prospects including top-ranked Jesús Made, a shortstop in the Milwaukee Brewers’ system.

    Local connection: The teams will be managed by Larry Bowa and Shane Victorino. Gage Wood, who may have a shot to reach the majors this year, will represent the Phillies a year after they drafted the hard-throwing right-hander 26th overall. Wen-Hui Pan, a right-handed reliever, also was selected for the Futures Game. Both pitchers are with double-A Reading.

    MLBx All-Star 3-on-3

    When: Following the Futures Game on Sunday

    Location: Citizens Bank Park

    What to know: New this year, MLBx replaces the Celebrity Softball Game. The fast-paced event is a modified home-run hitting challenge in which players are awarded points for their hitting and the catches they make in the field.

    Local connection: Ryan Howard, Rollins, and Victorino will captain teams, with Atlanta Braves legend Andruw Jones leading the fourth squad. Howard has Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith on his team while Rollins is teamed up with Terrell Owens. Each team includes an MLB legend, a professional softball player, and a nonbaseball celebrity.

    Bryce Harper was the last slugger to win the home run derby in his home ballpark. However, that was in 2018 while he was with the Nationals.

    Home Run Derby

    When: 8 p.m. Monday, July 13

    TV: Netflix

    Location: Citizens Bank Park

    What to know: It’s been 20 years since Howard won the Home Run Derby. The Phillies are due. Bryce Harper is the last player to win the derby in his home ballpark, which he did with the Nationals in 2018 by beating … Kyle Schwarber in the final round.

    The competitors: There will be eight participants, but could two of them be Phillies? Perhaps we’ll see a rematch of the 2018 final.

    The format: The league is ditching the clock that governed the derby since 2015, as players now will be given a finite number of swings per round. A batter gets 20 swings in Round 1, 15 in Round 2, and 15 in the final. If a batter homers on their final swing, they keep swinging until they come up empty. The top four players from the first round move to Round 2, and the top two then move to the final round. The tiebreaker in Round 1 is home run distance, and Rounds 2 and 3 use a three-swing swing-off.

    The red carpet

    When: 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 14

    TV: MLB Network

    Location: Independence Hall

    What to know: The players will showcase their fashion just steps from the Liberty Bell before walking all the way to South Philly. Just kidding. They’ll board a bus and head to the game after walking the red carpet. This event is free for fans to attend, but ticket registration has closed.

    All-Star Game

    When: 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 14

    TV: Fox29

    Location: Citizens Bank Park

    What to know: Only one player has won back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards, Mike Trout in 2014-15. Could Schwarber be the next? It’ll be hard to match last year’s heroics, when Schwarber won the game for the NL in a dramatic swing-off at the Atlanta Braves’ stadium. Expect the game to have a star-studded lineup for pregame ceremonies and something special during the game. Last year’s tribute to Hank Aaron set the bar.

    Phillies in the game: Brandon Marsh will start after receiving the most votes on the fan ballots. He will be joined by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Jhoan Duran, and Cristopher Sánchez.

  • Phillies radio calls give him ‘goose bumps.’ Then he shares those chills with everyone on social media.

    Phillies radio calls give him ‘goose bumps.’ Then he shares those chills with everyone on social media.

    The Phillies game wasn’t over yet last month but it was over as Nick Piccone kept the TV on mute like a distraction in the background. The Phils trailed the Nationals by two runs and were down to their last strike with the bases empty in the ninth on June 23. It was over.

    But Piccone — just like lots of diehards who accepted a loss but refused to stop watching — didn’t turn it off.

    “Just in case,” he said.

    And then it happened. The Phillies scored eight runs with two outs, delivering the most unlikely win of the season. It was time for Piccone to work. He’s built a following in recent seasons for being the guy who clips the radio calls of Philly sports highlights and posts them to social media.

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    First, he had to listen to how Scott Franzke — the Phils’ radio voice on 94.1 WIP — described the action.

    “I got goose bumps when I listened to it,” said Piccone, who lives in Delaware County. “And I just knew Phillies fans are going to love this.”

    He posted a montage of Franzke’s pitch-perfect calls that night and then watched them go viral. Philadelphia loves its teams but the city has always had a deep relationship with the voices, putting Piccone at the intersection of fandom and the way we enjoy it.

    Brandon Marsh’s homer was thrilling, but how much better did Franzke’s narration make it feel?

    “You could tell that the fan kind of came out,” Piccone said. “Like, he didn’t think that was going to happen. He had the same reaction that we did, and he’s calling it. He reaches that second level for a regular season game when I’m sure he probably thought this was going to be a loss. You could hear the surprise in his voice.

    “If you’re listening live on the radio, you feel that instantly. And even if you’re watching the video, you’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ Having him feel what we feel and hear his voice match what we’re feeling inside, makes it so much better. It makes those moments so much better.”

    Phillies radio play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke (left) with TV analyst John Kruk.

    Piccone does not get paid to post his videos, but he commits himself every game — “I watch every pitch,” he said — to tracking the calls of the big plays and sharing them on social media. He does the same thing for other teams. It’s how he enjoys the game.

    It takes about 10 minutes for Piccone to edit the clip on his computer and post it on social media.

    “People would message me from Europe or Asia and say, ‘I’m stationed here’ or ‘I moved here for work, and your videos make me feel like I’m home,’” Piccone said. “When I started doing it, I wasn’t even thinking about that stuff. So when people say that I was able to provide that, I was like, ‘Wow.’ That’s a huge reason why I continue to do it.”

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    His hustle gives a radio broadcast a new life, allowing Franzke’s words to be heard again and again. Some people want to relive a moment they already enjoyed. Others want to feel closer to home.

    “It’s flattering, honestly,” Franzke said. “It’s humbling to know that it resonates enough with someone to know that they’re willing to go through that sort of trouble and effort to spread the word.”

    Brandon Marsh watches the ball after hitting a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals on June 23.

    From Dolly to Franzke

    Franzke was told when he first got into the business to have someone in mind to whom you are broadcasting.

    “For me, the general Delaware Valley listener is stuck in traffic on the Schuylkill,” Franzke said.

    His voice is the soundtrack of traffic jams, days at the beach, and backyard barbecues. Kids tune their radio to the Phils while they’re putting on their PJs, just like their grandparents used to sneak transistor radios under their pillows. They listen to Franzke on their porch at night and power walk around the neighborhood with his voice in their earbuds.

    Radio broadcasters Larry Andersen (left) and Scott Franzke (right) call a Phillies game in 2011.

    The Phillies broadcast their first game on the radio in 1936 with a former umpire named Dolly Stark calling the action. He was regarded as the National League’s top ump but quit after the 1935 season when the league balked at his request for a raise from his $9,000 salary.

    “A new sports thrill,” said the advertisement for the games that were broadcast on WIP 610. “Seeing the game through the umpire’s eyes! Hearing what he thinks about every play, while that play is being made! And it’s a thrill that will last all summer.”

    Stark called games for just one season before he returned to calling balls and strikes. But the game became the perfect radio sport. The pace is slow enough for the broadcaster to share a story and make you comfortable. Yet the action becomes exciting enough for them to build drama and make you feel something.

    The umpire was followed by greats who became voices of summer like By Saam, Bill Campbell, Harry Kalas, and Franzke. Richie Ashburn ordered pizzas, Chris Wheeler taught you something, and Larry Andersen admires the umpire. There’s just something about baseball on the radio. It works.

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    “I think one of the reasons that baseball on the radio still works is because people can consume it passively,” Franzke said. “They’re driving, falling asleep in their beach chair, or doing yard work. They can do other things and be a part of it. A lot of people like the audio wallpaper, if you will. It’s there. It’s around them. They enjoy it passively and do other things in their life. We’re just along for the ride, I guess.”

    Piccone’s clips show that Franzke is more than just enjoying the ride. He’s driving the car. It wasn’t a silent clip of Marsh’s homer that went viral last week. It was the clip of Marsh’s homer with the announcer sounding just as stunned as you were that it happened.

    Franzke said it’s the moment that “generates the goose bumps,” since he’s just a guy. And it was the guy calling that moment last week that gave Piccone chills.

    “It doesn’t matter when it is during the season, September or April, the story of the game takes over,” Piccone said. “I think he tells that story perfectly in his calls. Offense, a great defensive play, a strikeout. That emotion comes through and you know it’s a big moment.”

    Nick Piccone says he’s “kind of jealous” of people who grew up listening to baseball games on the radio. “I didn’t even think of consuming sports in that way when I was younger. I’m glad I’m able to do it now.”

    Being that guy

    Piccone grew up on the 1993 Phillies and started watching the other teams in 1999 as a freshman at Kingsway High School. He soon was a diehard: devastated when they lost and elated when they won.

    “I just consume it,” Piccone said last month. “Like, I’m mad the Phillies lost today.”

    But the guy who chops up the audio of every radio broadcast didn’t grow up listening to the radio. He just watched it on TV.

    “People who say they were brought up listening to sports on the radio, I’m kind of jealous of them,” Piccone, 40, said. “Because I didn’t even think of consuming sports in that way when I was younger. I’m glad I’m able to do it now.”

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    “We just have amazing play-by-play guys. You think of the Phillies, you think of Franzke. You think of the Flyers, you think of Tim Saunders. You think of the Sixers, you think of Tom McGinnis. Eagles, Merrill Reese and Mike Quick. They’re synonymous with the teams.”

    Piccone planned to do what he does now — clip the radio call and match it to the TV feed — when the Eagles played the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. But his buddy’s Wi-Fi dropped that night, so Piccone closed his laptop and watched the game like a normal fan. And then the Eagles won, and he wished he had the clips.

    He made sure to have a stronger connection in 2022 when the Phillies went to the World Series. He clipped every call that October, and his social media following soared.

    He sends out Franzke’s call along with the team’s Spanish broadcasters and the opponent’s call. Piccone noticed that the TV calls are the ones usually shared by the teams or networks. The radio guys, he thought, weren’t getting their due.

    People soon started messaging him for specific calls or pointing out things he may have missed. He suddenly felt like he had a responsibility. He became that guy.

    “It’s fun being known for that,” said Piccone, who writes for Crossing Broad. “I like being that guy.”

    The Phillies season likely will end in October again, giving Piccone plenty of moments to share. The goose bumps, he said, usually are felt in the fall when the stakes are higher. But sometimes the broadcaster makes you feel it on a weeknight in June. And that’s why you leave the game on.

    “People will say, ‘I heard your call,’” said Franzke, who is not on X, formerly known as Twitter. “And there’s two places they heard it: WIP playing it back or on social media. It’s cool that Nick invests that kind of time. At the end of day, this promotes what we’re doing.”

  • Aaron Nola posts longest outing of the season, but Phillies’ bats go silent in loss to Royals

    Aaron Nola posts longest outing of the season, but Phillies’ bats go silent in loss to Royals

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — During the seventh-inning stretch here Sunday, as the fans stood for a holiday-weekend rendition of “God Bless America,” Aaron Nola returned to the mound.

    And it was fair to wonder why.

    Never mind that Nola’s pitch count was under control, or that the Phillies were trailing by one run. He started the seventh inning only once in 17 previous starts — and not since April 3.

    But Don Mattingly stuck with Nola, who struck out the side to punctuate his best start of the season, the extent of the good news for the Phillies in a series-evening 5-2 loss to the Royals.

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    Here’s the thing, though: It would be really good news for the Phillies if three runs on seven hits in seven walk-free innings was the start of a turnaround for Nola.

    “It’s obviously important that [Nola’s] start turns into a [future] game that you feel like you’re in, you’re not scrambling the whole day,” Mattingly said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be seven. But if we’re in the game through six, five, seven, whatever that is, then it gives us a lot better shot to be able to put some runs up.”

    OK, so that last part didn’t happen on this toasty day in the Midwest. The Phillies generated five hits, including two after the fifth inning. And unlike Saturday night’s series opener, the Royals kept them in the ballpark.

    At least the Phillies were able to look forward to sending Cristopher Sánchez to the mound for Monday’s rubber game.

    Other than Nola — and the pregame ceremony, in which bench coach Dusty Wathan’s dad, John, went into the Royals’ Hall of Fame — there wasn’t much to look back on.

    In that case, let’s talk about Nola, who entered with a 6.04 ERA, second-worst among 64 pitchers who qualified for the ERA title, and gave up hits to three of the Royals’ first five batters.

    Here we go again?

    Not exactly.

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    After allowing two first-inning runs on back-to-back singles by Lane Thomas and Michael Massey, Nola knuckled down. Leading again with his signature curveball, he held the Royals off the board save for a fifth-inning run on a leadoff double and a sacrifice fly.

    Nola threw 98 pitches; 31 were curveballs, and 11 of those generated swings and misses.

    “Yeah, curveball felt good,” he said. “Better than it had been in some previous starts. I had a couple ones that kind of popped out [of his hand] a little bit, but overall they felt pretty sharp.”

    Sharpening the curveball was a focus for Nola between starts. His also worked on his changeup, a vital weapon for him against left-handed hitters. Specifically, he wants the changeup to move downward rather than “wiping out to the right side” and into the swing paths of left-handed hitters.

    The Phillies also paired Nola with third-string catcher Garrett Stubbs in hopes of rekindling success that they’ve had working with one another in the past. Nola and Stubbs navigated the Royals’ weak lineup mostly with offspeed pitches. He threw as many changeups (19) as fastballs (19).

    “It’s always a plan to go in and throw that [changeup], just depending on how it’s working and feeling that day,” Nola said. “Today it felt really good, and we threw it quite a bit.”

    Nola was at 83 pitches after six innings. Trailing 3-2 and with the bottom of the Royals’ order due to bat, Mattingly let Nola go back out for the seventh inning. Nola wound up completing the seventh for the first time since he went eight innings last Sept. 26.

    “I felt like he was throwing the ball as good as anybody,” said Mattingly, who had two relievers warming just in case. “I felt like he’d handled those guys pretty well. If anybody gets on there, we’re not going to let him try to face the top of the order. But he got his guys.”

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    Nola appreciated the opportunity.

    “Yeah, it’s been a while since I threw seven,” he said. “It’s the first time this year. I don’t know. Felt pretty good. I don’t think I had any walks, which is a plus.”

    Especially if Nola is able to keep it going Friday in Detroit, his last start before the All-Star break.

    The Phillies are already searching for a No. 5 starter after optioning Andrew Painter to triple A last month. Pitching coach Caleb Cotham was encouraged by Painter’s second start for Lehigh Valley: one run on four hits and no walks in six innings Saturday in Rochester, N.Y.

    Mattingly didn’t rule out a swift return to the majors for Painter.

    “I think everything’s on the table,” he said. “I never had any feeling that it was sending him out and forgetting about him, right? It was send him out to work on stuff and help him get better. So, I think anything could happen.”

    Even a resurgence for Nola.

  • Brandon Marsh joins Jhoan Duran as first-time All-Star: ‘It hasn’t hit me yet’

    Brandon Marsh joins Jhoan Duran as first-time All-Star: ‘It hasn’t hit me yet’

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brandon Marsh tried not to think about it. Even as the periodic voting updates rolled in, he claimed to be concerned only with the Phillies’ next game, not the All-Star Game.

    Yet here he was Sunday, finally yielding to his inner 10-year-old over the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

    “Growing up as a kid, playing in the backyard with the Wiffle bats, you always want to be an All-Star,” said Marsh, one day after being named not only to the National League roster but voted in as a starter by the fans. “You always want to call yourself an All-Star growing up. I’m thankful for all the people that voted, all the fans.”

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    Marsh led NL outfielders in the final phase of the fan balloting. The support was merited. Entering play Sunday, he was sixth in the NL batting race with a .310 average. He had the Phillies’ third-best OPS (.856) and was settling into the cleanup spot behind Bryce Harper.

    Five Phillies players were selected for the All-Star Game on July 14 in Citizens Bank Park, with Marsh and closer Jhoan Duran as first-timers. Harper was named to his ninth All-Star Game as the commissioner’s pick, while Kyle Schwarber will make his fourth All-Star appearance and Cristopher Sánchez his second.

    “It’s a dream come true,” Duran said. “I always wanted to be there, and it happened this year.”

    Brandon Marsh was sixth in the NL with a .310 batting average through Saturday.

    Marsh took a winding path to the All-Star Game — in Philly, no less.

    Drafted in the second round by the Angels in 2016, Marsh made his major-league debut in July 2021 and got traded to the Phillies a year later for catcher Logan O’Hoppe. They envisioned him as their future center fielder, but eventually moved him to left.

    And as recently as last winter, even after Marsh batted .303 with an .836 OPS over the final five months of last season, the Phillies were intent on using him in a platoon role because it didn’t seem he would solve left-handed pitching.

    “To be honest, I came into the year having zero expectations for myself personally,” Marsh said. “I feel like I’ve learned that from a lot of the great players in this game. So, I didn’t have many expectations, and I think that’s honestly helped a little bit, just not pressing so hard and stuff like that.”

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    Marsh started fast, with two doubles on opening day. But like the rest of the Phillies, he has thrived under interim manager Don Mattingly, batting .315 with 11 homers and an .882 OPS in 59 games entering Sunday.

    In a team meeting Saturday, roughly one hour before the series opener against the Royals, Mattingly held a team meeting to inform the All-Stars of their selections. Marsh didn’t have much time to process it. Not with a game to play.

    “Really, it hasn’t hit me yet, to be honest with you,” Marsh said. “Tonight, when I have a lot of time on my hands after the game, I’ll sit down and I’ll have my moment and just just wrap my head around everything and realize how special it is and how much of an honor it is to be in this in this position.”

    Surely, Marsh will think about his dad, Jake, who died in 2021 due to throat and neck cancer.

    “He’s got the best seat in the house, you know?” Marsh said. “He gets to watch from the front row. I think he’d be super proud. He’s a big reason of why I do it.”

    Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez is a candidate to start the All-Star Game for the National League.

    A start for Sánchez?

    If Sánchez wasn’t already the leading candidate to be the NL’s starting pitcher, consider this: Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski is lined up to start the final game before the break, leaving him unable to unleash his historic fastball in the All-Star Game.

    Sánchez, meanwhile, will pitch Monday in Kansas City and again Saturday in Detroit. Mattingly said Sánchez could pitch one inning in the All-Star Game on what would be his between-starts bullpen day.

    What would it mean to Sánchez to get the start?

    One-stop shopping for the Phillies at the trade deadline again? Here’s three teams that could be a fit

    “Still a couple of [starts] left,” he said through a team interpreter. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

    Regardless, Sánchez said he expects to have at least 20 family members and friends in attendance at the All-Star Game.

    “Super excited and happy,” said Sánchez, who has a 2.00 ERA in 18 starts, second in the majors to only Misiorowski. “All the hard work that we’ve been putting in, it was worth it.”

    Phils pitcher Brad Keller runs to cover first base during the Chicago White Sox at Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Friday, June 5, 2026.

    Extra bases

    Reliever Brad Keller (right forearm tendintis) pitched a scoreless inning for triple-A Lehigh Valley in Rochester, N.Y. He could be reinstated from the injured list and rejoin the Phillies’ bullpen as soon as Tuesday night, according to Mattingly. … With a fastball-heavy approach (35 four-seamers out of 69 pitches), Andrew Painter allowed one run on four hits in six walk-free innings Saturday in triple A. … Bench coach Dusty Wathan’s dad, John, was inducted into the Royals’ Hall of Fame before the game. John Wathan was Kansas City’s catcher for 10 years and managed the Royals from 1987-91. … The Phillies signed triple-A outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a major-league contract, added him to the 40-man roster, and optioned him to Lehigh Valley. De La Cruz exercised an opt-out in his minor-league contract, prompting the move. Right-hander Jean Cabrera, who has a 9.10 ERA between triple A and double A, was designated for assignment. … Sánchez (10-3, 2.00 ERA) will be opposed by Royals lefty Noah Cameron (4-6, 4.95) in the series finale Monday at 2:10 p.m. ET.

  • Bryce Harper is ‘grateful’ to be MLB commissioner’s All-Star pick. He’s also earned it.

    Bryce Harper is ‘grateful’ to be MLB commissioner’s All-Star pick. He’s also earned it.

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bryce Harper saw the missed call on his phone Wednesday after the Phillies got off the field at Citizens Bank Park.

    Rob Manfred wanted to chat.

    The last time they talked, almost a year ago, it ended with Harper telling the commissioner to “get the [heck] out of our clubhouse” if he wanted to propose a salary cap in baseball.

    But Manfred had something less divisive on his mind. He wanted to use his one selection to name Harper to the National League team for the 96th All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia.

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    “Yeah, he called me and told me I was going to be his pick,” Harper said Sunday. “He said that I’ve had a great first half, and I think the numbers kind of speak for themselves. I think I had an opportunity [to be an All-Star]. Obviously with the fan vote it didn’t happen, so he gave me the opportunity. Definitely grateful for that and excited to be there.”

    So, Harper and Manfred are pals now?

    Harper laughed.

    “No, I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” said Harper, a nine-time All-Star, with more selections than any active player except Mike Trout (12), Chris Sale (10), and Freddie Freeman (10). “He left me a voicemail during the game and told me he wanted to talk about the All-Star Game. I wasn’t sure what the question was going to be at that point, but then we talked and he let me know.

    Bryce Harper said, “I think I deserve to be in the game for the way I’ve played.”

    “I think I deserve to be in the game for the way I’ve played, so definitely grateful for it.”

    Indeed, entering Sunday’s games, Harper was tied for 11th in the majors with a .903 OPS and was among 15 players with at least 20 home runs. He was batting .274 with a .374 on-base percentage.

    The numbers are notable. Last October, in a season-ending news conference, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wondered aloud if Harper, at age 33, was still elite.

    A few days ago, Harper said a reporter asked him if he has answered the question.

    “It’s like, I don’t care,” Harper said. “It’s up to you guys to decide that. Every year, I come in and I’ve got an opportunity to be great at what I do, you know? Like I said, the numbers show right now, they speak for themselves.

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    “But I know they can be better. I know I can be better. I’m going to enjoy it, obviously. But I think I can be better than what I’m doing right now.”

    Harper figures he can always swing at fewer pitches out of the zone or draw more walks. The Phillies have four other All-Stars: Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sánchez, and first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran. Marsh is a starter in the National League outfield; Sánchez might be the starting pitcher.

    But it wouldn’t have been an All-Star Game in Philly without Harper, the city’s biggest baseball star.

    The question now: Will he be in the Home Run Derby?

    Harper remains noncommittal. Health isn’t a problem. After dealing with wrist and back issues over the past few seasons, he said his “body feels great.” He has started every game so far this season.

    Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are All-Stars. Will they compete in the Home Run Derby?

    The biggest issue: Finding a pitcher. Harper’s dad, Ron, did the honors in 2018, when Harper won the Home Run Derby in Washington, but hasn’t thrown batting practice in four or five years.

    Harper’s phone has been buzzing with offers.

    “A couple ex-players that throw BP now to their kids and stuff,” he said. “I think I can trust a couple of them, but it’s just hard for me, to tell you the truth, not being able to do it with somebody that I’m super comfortable with. You can’t just pick somebody random to go out there.

    “I’m not going to do something if I’m going to have a half-mentality towards it. If I’m going to do it, I want to be full bore and very confident in winning. Because I’m not going to do it unless I’m going to try to win it. Like, I’m not going out there just to have fun. I want to win the thing.”

    One-stop shopping for the Phillies at the trade deadline again? Here’s three teams that could be a fit

    Chalk it up to a competitive streak that continues to fuel Harper in his 15th major-league season.

    None other than Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, a six-time All-Star as a player, marveled at Harper’s nine All-Star selections for both the longevity and level of excellence.

    “I think the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘Not enough,’” said Harper, who has five years left on his Phillies contract and a desire to play beyond that. “I’ve been in the game a long time. Nine’s a big number. But hopefully I’ll have more after the next couple of years.

    “Every number or anything that I look at right now, it’s just I always kind of tell myself ‘not enough,’ you know? Just got to keep going, keep wanting more, and then hopefully get there.”

  • Jesús Luzardo, J.T. Realmuto take starring roles in Phillies’ 6-1 win over Royals on Fourth of July

    Jesús Luzardo, J.T. Realmuto take starring roles in Phillies’ 6-1 win over Royals on Fourth of July

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With fireworks pop, pop, popping in the distance in all directions around Kaufman Stadium, the Phillies burst a few bombs in the air, too, Saturday night.

    Just not from the usual sources.

    Never mind that five players — nearly 20% of the roster — found out before the game that they will come home to play in Philly’s All-Star Game on July 14. It was the supporting cast — notably J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, and Jesús Luzardo — that lit up the Royals, 6-1, on the Fourth of July.

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    In winning for the 10th time in 14 games, the Phillies got homers from Realmuto, rookie Gabriel Rincones Jr., and Bohm. Luzardo rode his devastating sweeper to strike out nine batters in six solid innings.

    And what about those All-Stars? Although they were in the lineup, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh might as well have taken the night off. Jhoan Duran did. There was no save necessary.

    It was a no-muss, no-fuss win for the Phillies, now 41-20 under interim manager Don Mattingly and 50-39 overall, still breathing down the neck of the Braves, who lead the division by three games.

    “I feel like, if we’re going to be any good, we need to get contributions up and down,” Mattingly said. “It can’t always be Harp and Schwarb hitting homers and driving in a bunch of runs. It’s got to be the whole roster.”

    Yes, and before Realmuto and Rincones — the seventh- and eighth-place hitters — launched back-to-back homers against Royals starter Michael Wacha in the fourth inning, Luzardo set the tone for the night.

    In his second-to-last start before the All-Star break, Luzardo retired the first eight batters — five by strikeout — before yielding an infield single. He mixed four pitches but could’ve easily gotten by with only the sweeper, a pitch that he started throwing only before last season.

    Luzardo threw a total of 95 pitches; 42 were sweepers, 15 of which generated swings and misses. And while he preyed on one of the worst offenses in baseball, it also continued a trend in which the sweeper has been more effective.

    “I almost felt like I threw it so much that I forgot how to throw it,” Luzardo said. “But lately, I feel like the last five or six starts, it’s felt back to what it was and maybe even get better.”

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    Mattingly said it can be tough to differentiate Luzardo’s sweeper from his other pitches, including his changeup. If it’s difficult to tell from the dugout, imagine what it looks like in the batter’s box.

    “It’s the angle with him,” Mattingly said. “It kind of gets into where you get pitches feeding off each other. The fastball sinks, and then the changeup, and then the sweeper, and it all starts feeding out of the window. It’s really effective.”

    Said Royals manager Matt Quatraro: “It’s an elite pitch. You hope that he makes a mistake.”

    The Royals finally scratched across a run in the fourth inning on Lane Thomas’ double and a two-out infield single from Nick Loftin.

    By then, though, the Phillies already had a lead.

    The Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto celebrates with Justin Crawford after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning.

    The Phillies put pressure on Wacha by loading the bases with two out in the first inning but didn’t break through until Realmuto cracked a two-run homer in the fourth.

    Rincones followed by hitting a cutter into the right-field bullpen to open a 3-0 lead.

    Bohm teed off in the sixth inning with a leadoff homer. The Phillies kept tacking on. Trea Turner scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning before Bohm doubled and scored on Rincones’ single in the eighth.

    Not mentioned: Schwarber, Harper, and Marsh, none of whom scored a run or drove one in. (Schwarber did, however, get three hits and reached base four times.)

    Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    The All-Stars brought the Phillies back from the sewer of a 9-19 start. And while the roster is top-heavy, the supporting actors have played a vital role in the surge under Mattingly.

    “Obviously we wouldn’t be where we are today without all the guys that got nominated and picked to be All-Stars,” Luzardo said. “And I think we could have had a lot more, too. Selfishly, I think [Bryson] Stott, Bohm, [Zack Wheeler], obviously.

    “But it is what it is. The guys that got picked, kudos to them. I’m really happy for them. It’s awesome to see.”

  • Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Zack Wheeler pitches again for the Phillies, the air between him and manager Don Mattingly will be clear.

    “All square,” Mattingly said Saturday.

    To recap: Wheeler disagreed with being taken out before completing the fifth inning Wednesday night in Citizens Bank Park, even though he gave up back-to-back-to-back two-out hits and matched his season-high with 104 pitches.

    Mattingly said he spoke with Wheeler and offered the same explanation that he gave reporters, notably that he had the long-term interests of Wheeler and the overall rotation in mind.

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    Did Wheeler accept that justification?

    “I don’t know,” Mattingly said. “I’m not sure. I mean, I’ve been through it. It’s not my first time I’m going through it with a guy that’s really good. They never want to come out. It’s the way it goes with those guys, right?”

    Besides, Wheeler may have a new gripe. He wasn’t selected to the National League All-Star team Saturday night despite posting a 2.36 ERA in 13 starts, a remarkable recovery after having a rib removed last September to treat a compressed vein near his collarbone.

    Mattingly called a team meeting at about 6 p.m. here Saturday to break the news that Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jhoan Duran were named All-Stars.

    Wheeler is lined up to start the last game before the break, which makes him ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game. Mattingly wasn’t sure if that was the reason that Wheeler was omitted.

    Phillies pitcher Brad Keller throws the baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Philadelphia.

    Keller gets closer

    Brad Keller gave up a two-run homer Friday night in a triple-A game in Rochester, N.Y., the reliever’s first game action since going on the injured list June 16 with right forearm tendinitis.

    Despite the results, Mattingly said pitching coach Caleb Cotham was pleased when he watched video of Keller’s inning.

    “He’s looking more at the process, what his delivery looks like, how it was coming out, how the ball’s spinning, all that kind of stuff,” Mattingly said. “And he was happy with it.”

    Phillies’ Brad Keller on track to return before the All-Star break: ‘It’s a night-and-day difference’

    Keller will pitch again Sunday in Rochester, according to Mattingly, after which the Phillies could decide to bring him back from the injured list.

    The Phillies are relying on Keller as part of their late-inning bridge to closer Jhoan Duran. Keller overcame a rocky start and allowed three earned runs over 12⅔ innings in a span of 13 appearances before giving up three runs in the eighth inning June 13 in Milwaukee, his last appearance before being sidelined.

    Overall, the 30-year-old righty has a 4.15 ERA in 31 appearances.

    The Phillies optioned righty Alan Rangel to triple A after his start Thursday.

    Rangel out, Banks in

    With the fifth-starter spot coming up once more before the All-Star break — and not again until July 21 — the Phillies optioned righty Alan Rangel to triple A and recalled lefty Tanner Banks to get an extra arm in the bullpen.

    Rangel replaced demoted Andrew Painter for three turns in the rotation. He appeared twice behind an opener and started once, posting a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings.

    In his most recent start, Rangel sidestepped four walks in four scoreless innings in oppressive heat at home Thursday against the Pirates. As a “bulk” pitcher, he gave up one run in five innings June 22 in Washington and four runs in four innings June 27 in New York.

    The Phillies won’t rush Andrew Painter’s return to majors. Instead, it’s about ‘getting himself’ right.

    “It’s nothing that he’s done,” Mattingly said. “I mean, he threw the ball well, so we’re happy with the way he’s going. But it did give us a chance to get an extra [reliever].”

    Mattingly said the Phillies will likely run a “true bullpen game” when the fifth-starter spot comes around Wednesday in Cincinnati, although it will be subject to how much the relievers are taxed over the next four games.

    Banks began the season in the majors but was sent to triple A with a 5.86 ERA on June 18. In four games for Lehigh Valley, he allowed six runs (three earned) in 4⅓ innings for a 6.23 ERA.

    Extra bases

    The Phillies traded low-A right-hander Ryan Degges to Cleveland for international bonus pool space, money that was allocated to signing 17-year-old Taiwanese right-hander Ho Hua for $500,000, according to a league source. In May, the Phillies made a similar move for bonus pool money to sign Chan-min Park, a 17-year-old right-hander from South Korea, for $1.205 million. … The Phillies signed veteran catcher Payton Henry to a minor-league contract and sent him to triple A. … Aaron Nola (3-5, 6.04 ERA) is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday against Royals righty Luinder Avila (3-3, 5.40).