The Phillies' slide hits 10 of 12 with an 8-4 loss to the Cubs on June 11, 2025. Taijuan Walker's bullpen struggles continue in another tough defeat.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's getting hard to watch. Another game, another brief glimmer of hope extinguished, another loss chalked up in the standings. The Philadelphia Phillies' mid-season collapse deepened on Wednesday, as they blew a lead to the Chicago Cubs in an 8-4 defeat at Citizens Bank Park. The loss marks their 10th in the last 12 games, a brutal stretch that is quickly turning a promising season into a desperate fight for survival.
The Phillies have now lost 10 of their last 12 games, averaging just 3.3 runs per game with a team ERA of 5.35 during the slide.
For a moment, it looked like they might snap out of it. After rookie Mick Abel surrendered three solo homers, the offense finally came to life with a two-run homer from Max Kepler and a go-ahead, two-run single from Alec Bohm in the fifth. The 4-3 lead felt like a massive exhale. But as has been the case throughout this skid, the good feeling was fleeting. The bullpen, a persistent source of agony, faltered immediately. Taijuan Walker, in his new role as a reliever after a disastrous start to the season, served up a go-ahead two-run blast to Ian Happ in the very next inning, and the Phillies never recovered. It was a microcosm of their season: one step forward, two steps back.
As if the loss wasn't painful enough, the Phillies' training room is getting crowded again. Center fielder Brandon Marsh was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning with left elbow soreness after a tag play earlier in the contest, leaving his status uncertain. The bigger blow came from an update on the team's sidelined starter. Aaron Nola, who has been out since May, is now dealing with a rib injury and won't be able to throw for at least two more weeks. This pushes his return back even further, putting immense pressure on a rotation already relying on rookies like Abel to hold the line.
The statistics behind this slump are grim. Over the last 10 games, the team is 2-8, scoring a paltry 3.3 runs per contest while the pitching staff has been lit up for a 5.35 ERA. While Kyle Schwarber (20 HR) and Trea Turner (.299 AVG) continue to produce individually, it's not nearly enough to overcome the collective struggles. The offense disappears for long stretches, and the pitching, from starters to the bullpen, can't seem to stop the bleeding. It's a total team failure, and right now, there are no easy answers.
Where do the Phillies go from here? With no immediate help on the horizon via trades and key players still weeks away from returning, the pressure is squarely on the guys in the clubhouse. The schedule doesn't get any easier, and the hole they're digging is getting deeper by the day. Someone—be it a star player, a young guy, or a manager's decision—needs to provide a spark, and fast. Otherwise, this freefall could end with the Phillies crashing right out of contention before the All-Star break.
