Phillies owner Middleton confident pitching staff can drive team into World Series
Phillies owner John Middleton said the club’s strong pitching rotation gives the team a realistic chance to advance in the postseason after clinching the wild-card spot on the season’s final day.
The Philadelphia Phillies secured the National League wild-card berth on the last day of the 2026 regular season, beating Tampa Bay 7-3 and ending a tense stretch in which they held a four-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks with five games remaining. Owner John Middleton, who recalled the franchise’s 1964 collapse, said the victory relieved the pressure that had built up during the final week.
"Was I worried? Of course, I was. How could you not be worried? Did I think it was going to work out? Yeah. But I didn’t know that," Middleton said during the clubhouse celebration.
Middleton highlighted the contributions of key players in the win, noting Zack Wheeler’s six innings of one-run ball, Kyle Schwarber’s two hits and two RBIs, and Bryce Harper’s home run. He praised manager Don Mattingly, who took over in late April and guided the team to a 79-55 record under his interim tenure.
The owner expressed confidence in the organization’s long-term consistency, attributing five straight postseason appearances to the leadership of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Middleton said the club’s pitching depth, which he described as the best in the league, will be critical in the upcoming series against the Atlanta Braves.
"We have the pitching to do it. I still maintain, we are the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball, better than the Dodgers, better than anybody else," Middleton said.
The Phillies plan to announce their pitching rotation on Monday, with Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sanchez among the likely starters, while rookie Andrew Painter and reliever Jesus Luzardo are also in consideration for the series opener.