Phillies Fall Out of NL Playoff Field Losing Series to Cardinals

The Philadelphia Phillies are falling apart at the worst time of the season.

Jul 31, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly looks on during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Philadelphia Phillies were rolling heading into the MLB All-Star break a few weeks ago, right on the tail of the Atlanta Braves.

Unfortunately, since the second half commenced, they have not been able to replicate that success. They lost their first four series out of the break to the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, going 3-9.

After losing the first game of their series to the Baltimore Orioles, some positive momentum was created, winning five out of six games. Unfortunately, that was not sustainable, and the Phillies now find themselves on the outside looking in on the National League playoff picture.

With their loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, which is already their fifth series defeat since the All-Star break, Philadelphia’s record has dropped to 64-58, putting them a half-game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Phillies lose series to Cardinals, fall out of Wild Card spot

Aug 5, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Derek Hill (49) is helped off the field by medical staff and interim manager Don Mattingly (R) after colliding into the center field wall during the eleventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With a rundown and overtaxed bullpen, the Phillies needed a strong performance from Zack Wheeler to carry them through the game. Disappointingly, he didn’t have it, running into trouble in the fifth inning.

Four of the five runs against him in the game came in that frame, as he was removed after he completed the fifth with 84 pitches thrown. Brooks Raley threw a clean sixth inning, but the deficit grew in the seventh.

Jose Alvarado’s struggles with throw strikes continued. After getting Jimmy Crooks to ground out, he walked three out of four batters faced, issuing free passes to JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera and Jordan Walker.

Before walking Walker, Alvarado surrendered an RBI single to Alec Burleson. He was lifted after his third free pass of the inning, with Chase Shugart being called upon out of the bullpen. He gave up a sac fly to Nathan Church before Masyn Winn fouled out to end the inning.

FINAL: Cardinals 7, Phillies 1

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 12, 2026

While a lot of attention will be given to the pitching staff and their collective struggles, the offense once again was non-existent. Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner failed to get on base, going 0-for-8 combined.

Bryce Harper remains an on-base machine with Luis Arraez behind him, going 1-for-2 and drawing two more walks. Arraez snapped his streak of hitless at-bats at 16, knocking in Harper with an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning for the only Philadelphia run of the afternoon.

Things are not going well for the Phillies right now, with multiple players working through cold stretches at an inopportune time.

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