The Philadelphia Phillies have come a long way since the 9-19 start to the season and the ultimate firing of Rob Thomson. Since then, the Phillies, under interim manager Don Mattingly, stand at 30-28 and in second place in the National League East, but their offense has shown an uneven split.
The club’s right-handed hitters rank last in the majors at .217 with a .315 on-base percentage and a .585 OPS, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
The other side of the order has carried the load. Left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh have driven the offense, and Marsh has been among the MLB’s batting average leaders this season while posting an OPS of nearly .880 against right-handed pitching.
Sunday Notebook: MLB expansion plans has some owners questioning whether it makes economic sense https://t.co/5TKYoZu3Vv
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 31, 2026
A lineup leaning that heavily on its left-handed bats still needs the right-handed side to pull its weight, and so far it has not.
Adolis Garcia sits at the center of that group.
The 33-year-old right fielder signed a one-year, $10 million contract last offseason after the Texas Rangers non-tendered him, and Philadelphia bet on a rebound from the slugger who hit 39 home runs and won a Gold Glove during the Rangers’ 2023 World Series run. Through his first 57 games in 2026, Garcia is slashing .194/.278/.301 with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
“They will be on the lookout for a right-handed hitter at the trade deadline, but no, Mike Trout will not be coming to Philadelphia,” Nightengale wrote. “He is still owed $148.46 million after this season and has a full no-trade clause.”
Mattingly has acknowledged that the Phillies do not have an in-house upgrade over Garcia, leaving the front office to look outside the organization. Whether the answer is an outfielder or a bat at another spot, Philadelphia’s pursuit of right-handed production figures to shape the deadline, with Garcia’s bat the clearest reason the search is on.
Related: Tigers Facing Decision After Kerry Carpenter News