When Bryce Harper took a 97 mph fastball to his surgically repaired elbow last week, you could almost hear a moment of silence at the ballpark. The Philadelphia Phillies‘ MVP-caliber star had to walk off, and he did so without any drama. But one thing is for sure—the worry was real. And now it’s growing, given that Harper is still not back four games later.

However, on Saturday, Harper did show up—just not in the way fans might have wanted. He was not in his jersey but in regular clothes. He was there for the Phillies’ annual photo day, posing for pictures and offering reassurances to fans. But behind the scenes, the team is preparing for what could be a longer absence than they had hoped for. Meanwhile, Harper swung a bat, ran agility drills, and even made a few throws. However, Phillies manager Rob Thomson admitted that Harper’s return is still very much in limbo.

Thomson said, “I think the swelling is down a little bit.” In the meantime, though, Thomson has had to get creative, and this is where a rather surprising twist comes in. So, ever since Harper went down to IL, Alec Bohm has been handed over the reins of first base. But on Friday, cameras caught something unusual: Kyle Schwarber taking ground balls before the game.

Schwarber, the Phillies’ home run leader, designated hitter, and also full-time outfielder, is getting infield reps for the first time in ages. He hasn’t started a regular-season game at first base since 2021. Back then, he was still in his Boston Red Sox uniform. Across 11 MLB seasons, he has only been in this position, playing just 11 times. But with Harper injured, the Phillies appear to be trying every trick in the book.

Thomson explained the move, saying, “I think he’s ramped it up a little bit, just because of the Harper situation. We don’t really know where we’re at with that.” But it is certainly a risky move, because Schwarber is one of the team’s best hitters right now. His slugging percentage sits at .578, and he has smashed 19 home runs, which says plenty about his value. So shifting him to an unfamiliar role could mess up his rhythm. But given Harper’s uncertain timeline, they might not have a choice.

Plus, with the trade deadline approaching, it adds more fuel to the fire. Will the Phillies stand their ground and trust their internal depth, or is a major roster shakeup possible? For now, though, the Phillies have lost ground.

Phillies get steamrolled by the Milwaukee Brewers

The Phillies didn’t just lose to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday; they legit got steamrolled. Calling it a baseball game would be generous; it was more like a practice. The entire Brewers team played well, but the one who broke Philly’s heart the most was Rhys Hoskins. In his return, the former Phillies slugger gave fans and the team a cold reminder of what they are missing. He smashed two three-run homers, drove in six RBIs, and you could almost sense the regret in the fans’ eyes.

And as if that was not enough, Jackson Chourio also stole the spotlight. The rookie went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, including a three-run shot. So basically, he ended whatever hope the Phillies had of a comeback. Christian Yelich also quietly collected four hits, as if it were no big deal. The final score was 17-7, and this is a major blow.

Now, as for Jesús Luzardo, who entered the game with one of the best ERAs, he ended up exiting with a brutal line: 12 earned runs on 12 hits in just 3.1 innings. Things went downhill so quickly that even Thomson couldn’t stick around and was ejected after a fiery outburst. Now, for sure, the Phillies did have some highlights, like home runs from Bohm and Marsh, three hits from Schwarber, and a late triple play by Rojas, but it all went down the drain because the Brewers were lights out.

The Phillies will be hoping the next game is not a wreck like this one. What do you think—will it be another baseball horror show?