Why 2026 Phillies are remarkably similar to 2022 World Series team

Before Bryce Harper made the “swing of his life,” the song “Dancing On My Own” became an earworm, and the Philadelphia Phillies had experienced their first “Red October” in more than 10 years; the 2022 campaign had seemed like a lost cause.

Through 51 contests under skipper Joe Girardi that season, the Phillies were only 22-29. Once interim manager Rob Thomson took the helm, the club went 65-46 the rest of the way and soared to the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 2009.

Many members from that run’s core are still on the roster, and they’ve proven they can compete at a high level under the bright lights of the postseason. Further, this season’s iteration has also experienced a managerial change and boasts the kind of momentum and incentive that could make them the National League’s sleeping giants.

The 2026 Phillies also made the right change at the correct time

There’s something to be said about knowing when to move on from an executive or manager. With less than a month remaining in the 2026 campaign, it is evident that the Phillies moved on from manager Rob Thomson at the right time.

Philadelphia has gone 72-44 since Mattingly took the reins and has played substantially better baseball. It might be easy to say that any switch could have been just as impactful, but just as Thomson was in 2022, Mattingly has been the correct replacement at the proper time.

“Rob was more than capable of managing us and doing a great job of it,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told Jayson Stark and Matt Gelb in May. “He proved it his whole time here. So it wasn’t necessarily him. I think Don’s very similar in the sense that he’s pretty even-keeled. Obviously, he’s got great experience, having played the game a long time. He’s seen a lot.”

This season’s Phillies also have the right pieces to attack early

Even beyond Mattingly’s wisdom, the Phillies also boast a dangerous roster that closely resembles the 2022 group that made the Fall Classic. Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, and Christopher Sanchez have headlined the rotation the same way that Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suarez led the charge four years ago. Currently, Philadelphia ranks seventh in terms of starter ERA. In 2022, the contingent placed 14th.

Further, sluggers like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are still known threats and have been aided by others like Turner and trade deadline acquisition Luis Arraez.

The 2022 team and the 2026 team do not have identical offensive profiles as far as stats are concerned, but some similarities are hard to ignore.

For instance, they still have a number of players atop the order who can give their starting pitchers an early lead. A Schwarber home run or a critical Harper base hit may be what grants Wheeler or Sanchez the room to attack opposing batters without feeling like a single mistake could put a game in jeopardy.

It is also worth noting that the personalities involved are largely the same fiery dispositions that made the team a bunch that fans could embrace. It could even be said that Mattingly’s competitive nature has helped this clubhouse mentality experience a rebirth after a few less-than-stellar postseason exits.

“I think we should expect to win,” Mattingly said before Tuesday’s game. “I know it’s a long season and you’re not going to win every game. But there’s no reason you can’t (expect to win) that day — and it’s just one at a time that way. To me, I’ve always expected to win, even when I’ve had teams that I probably shouldn’t have expected to win.”

Presently, the Phillies are four games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East standings. They may still win the division when all is said and done, but it is more likely that they will enter the tournament as a Wild Card team, just as they did during their last run to the World Series.

It is anyone’s guess how the Phillies will fare once the playoffs are in full swing, but it would not be entirely shocking to see a run that evokes memories of 2022.

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