The calendar hit Memorial Day, and that means it’s time for a full check-in on the Phillies. Josh and Austin hand out grades for every part of the roster — offense, defense, starting pitching, bullpen, bench, and coaching — and take a hard look at where things stand through the first two months of the season. Who’s carrying their weight, who’s slipping, and what needs to change as the summer heats up? On the mound, it’s been nothing short of dominant. Cristopher Sánchez is in the middle of a historic run — 37 ⅔ straight scoreless innings, the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Grover Cleveland Alexander — paired with four straight shutout performances. Meanwhile, Zack Wheeler has been just as locked in, allowing one earned run over his last 20⅓ innings. Combined, they’ve powered a staggering 51 consecutive scoreless innings. But while the pitching has been elite, the offense has hit a wall. The guys discuss a frustrating six-game stretch at Citizens Bank Park, during which the Phillies were outscored 21–14 and dropped two straight series. The bats went ice cold, slashing just .174/.256/.303 against the Reds and Guardians — with limited power and too many empty at-bats. The absence of Kyle Schwarber due to illness loomed large, and even the stars struggled, including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto. There were a couple of bright spots, though — Bryson Stott led the way with a .959 OPS over the stretch, and Alec Bohm chipped in with a pair of home runs. So, where does that leave this team heading into June? They’ve got grades, takes, and plenty to debate. Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeartRadio, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (Red Pinstripe Press) and Austin Myers (Phillies Perspective) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils YouTube channel.
