The Philadelphia Phillies are back in action tonight, kicking off the second half of the 2023 Major League Baseball season with a four-game weekend series against the San Diego Padres. 

Phillies are BACK – The Hunt for Red October

After a rough start to the year, the Phillies turned it on over the past 1.5 months, posting a 23-9 record since June 3rd. Their pitching staff has a 2.96 ERA during that span, which is more than a half-run better than any other team in the majors. In the same stretch, they rank 8th in the MLB in scoring. 

At 48-41 on the season, it’s hard to not be excited about the upside of the Phillies right now. While they sit 12 games back of the Atlanta Braves, they are 3.5 games back of the Miami Marlins in second place in the NL East standings. 

In the National League Wild Card, the Phillies will begin the second half of the season a half game behind the San Francisco Giants for the third and final postseason spot. 

The good news is that the second half is favorable for the Phillies, who will play 43 of their final 73 games at home, including a stretch of games in August where they will play 19 of 24 at Citizens Bank Park. 

Padres back in town for first time since NLCS

The San Diego Padres will return to Citizens Bank Park for the first time since October 23, 2022 when they lost 4-3 to the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLCS. 

In that game, Rhys Hoskins hit not one, but two 2-run home runs. That series alone against the Padres, Hoskins had four home runs to lead the Phillies to the World Series. 

Rhys Hoskins Home Run NLCS

Reminder What Rhys Hoskins Did Last Postseason

• Most Home Runs in Phillies NLCS History – Rhys Hoskins
• Most Home Runs in Phillies Playoff History – Rhys Hoskins
• Most RBIs in MLB Playoffs (2022) – Rhys Hoskins 

Hoskins’ incredible performance in the NLCS was overshadowed by Bryce Harper, who sent the Phillies to the World Series with a 2-run blast of his own in the bottom of the eighth inning. Harper was at the plate with a 2-2 count and crushed a 2-run home run to send The Fightins to the Fall Classic. 

Bryce Harper Home Run NLCS

The San Diego Padres enter tonight 43-47 on the season and 8.5 games behind the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Yu Darvish will be on the mound facing Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez. 

The Phillies were forced to make a few roster moves today with Cristian Pache and Josh Harrison both hitting the injured list. No. 6 prospect Johan Rojas was called up from Double A Reading, and Drew Ellis will be recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Read More About Rojas and Ellis Here >>

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