Phillies crushed 9-1 by Blue Jays on June 5, 2025. Luzardo falters, Castellanos shines. Can Phillies snap their 6-game losing streak in Pittsburgh? More.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, Phillies fans, there's no sugarcoating it – last night was another tough pill to swallow. The Fightins fell hard to the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-1, marking our sixth loss in the last seven games. It's a frustrating stretch, and the vibes are definitely a bit shaky right now as the team heads to Pittsburgh.
Six losses in seven games, and a tough 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position last night... something's gotta give, and soon.
The series finale in Toronto was one to forget. Jesús Luzardo had a brutal outing, getting tagged for eight runs on nine hits in just 2 1/3 innings. That's not the kind of start you need when you're trying to snap a losing streak. The Blue Jays pounced, with Bo Bichette launching a two-run homer and both Myles Straw and Tyler Heineman driving in three runs apiece. Chris Bassitt, on the other hand, was dealing for Toronto, holding our bats to just one run over seven solid innings. The lone bright spot offensively was Nick Castellanos, who went a perfect 3-for-3, and Kyle Schwarber managed to drive in our only run. But overall, the offense sputtered, going a dismal 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Things got so out of hand that outfielder Weston Wilson even pitched a scoreless eighth – you know it's a rough one when that happens. On a side note for Jays fans, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s impressive 34-game on-base streak came to an end.
With the team scuffling and pitching depth being tested, there were a couple of key roster moves recently. Ace Zack Wheeler has been placed on the paternity list – congratulations to Zack and his family! – but his absence will certainly be felt. To fill the gap, promising right-hander Mick Abel has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. It's a big opportunity for Abel, and with Luzardo's short start yesterday, the bullpen got more work than anticipated. This all puts a bit more pressure on the starters to go deep in games.
After the game in Toronto, there was some uncertainty about who would take the mound for Friday's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team has now confirmed that right-hander Joe Ross (2-1, 4.34 ERA) will get the ball. Ross has had some decent outings this season, and the Phillies will be leaning on him to deliver a quality start and set a positive tone for the weekend. Facing the Pirates presents a crucial opportunity to turn things around and get back in the win column. We desperately need to build some momentum.
It's a quick turnaround, and the Phils desperately need to find their footing against the Pirates. A strong outing from Joe Ross and some timely hitting could be just what the doctor ordered to stop the bleeding. Let's hope they come out swinging in Pittsburgh. Go Phils!
