The Philadelphia Phillies can’t win. And Bryce Harper can’t swing.
Once comfortably perched atop the National League East, the Phillies are in danger of losing touch with the New York Mets and falling into a deep thicket of NL playoff contenders.
With nine losses in their past 10 games and franchise slugger Harper tossed on the injured list with a recurring wrist injury, the free-falling Phillies have dropped three spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
Sunday, they were swept in Pittsburgh for the first time since June 2015 and now trail the Mets by four games. Next in town? The dynamic Chicago Cubs, neck-and-neck with the Mets for the NL’s best record.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Detroit Tigers (+1)
World Series atmosphere in the D as Tigers take two of three from Cubs.
2. Chicago Cubs (+2)
Rank second in the NL in defensive runs saved.
3. New York Mets (-)
Pete Alonso passes David Wright for second on franchise home run list. Next: Darryl Strawberry.
4. New York Yankees (+2)
Jazz Chisholm roars off the IL with eight hits in 16 at-bats.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (-4)
Tony Gonsolin latest pitcher to land on IL heap – though at least his UCL is intact.
6. San Diego Padres (+1)
Score six runs yet take two of three games at Milwaukee, thanks to pair of Manny Machado homers.
7. San Francisco Giants (+1)
Folk hero Late Night LaMonte Wade cut loose, but Dom Smith provides quick impact for flaccid offense.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (-3)
After giving up 20 runs in two starts, Jesús Luzardo wonders if tipping pitches is to blame.
9. Houston Astros (+3)
Jeremy Peña trails only Aaron Judge in AL WAR.
10. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)
When it’s going well: Yoshinobu Yamamoto shuts them down, but they somehow prevail.
11. Tampa Bay Rays (+6)
That’s 14 wins in 18 games and what’s this, a playoff race?
12. Minnesota Twins (+1)
Louis Varland leads AL pitchers with 32 appearances – yet has a 0.99 WHIP.
13. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)
Brandon Woodruff’s rehab road hits bump after he’s struck in elbow by 108-mph line drive.
14. Toronto Blue Jays (+1)
George Springer’s 2025 OPS-plus: 138. In 2024: 91.
15. Cleveland Guardians (-5)
They sink to 24th in runs scored, once again imperiling good work of pitching staff.
16. Kansas City Royals (-)
Jac Caglianone’s Kauffman Stadium debut Tuesday against Yankees.
17. Seattle Mariners (-6)
George Kirby halts a five-game skid by striking out career-high 14.
18. Cincinnati Reds (+1)
Christian Encarnacion-Strand returns from IL with a bang, homering in consecutive games.
19. Texas Rangers (-1)
Jacob deGrom dominating, offense flailing. Is this the 2018 Mets?
20. Arizona Diamondbacks (+2)
‘Overall, I don’t feel great,’ says manager Torey Lovullo while getting swept in Cincinnati.
21. Boston Red Sox (-1)
An off day for Roman Anthony at Worcester and New England freaks out. Hey, not much else to get pumped about.
22. Washington Nationals (+1)
Scored 11 runs in seven games as CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz slump.
23. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
They scoop LaMonte Wade Jr. off the scrap heap from Giants.
24. Atlanta Braves (-3)
No love from California: 0-10 mark in Golden State after Giants sweep.
25. Baltimore Orioles (+1)
Colton Cowser is back, and shows why they missed him.
26. Pittsburgh Pirates
They finally win a Paul Skenes start but are 5-6 in his outings. (His ERA is 1.88).
27. Athletics (-)
When they return to Yolo County, temperatures projected to hit 96 degrees.
28. Miami Marlins (-3)
After a nearly 21-month absence, Eury Perez makes return from Tommy John surgery Monday.
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
So when will that Ishbia cash kick in?
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
In case they got too high from sweeping the Marlins, the Mets outscored them 25-8.