The Philadelphia Phillies are learning the hard way that a $317 million payroll doesn’t buy wins. After a disastrous 8-13 start, the reigning NL East champs are in a freefall, and the clubhouse is feeling the heat.

Ranked 4th in the NL East, the Phillies are currently on a 6-game losing streak after getting swept by the Atlanta Braves and their latest loss to the Chicago Cubs (5-1). It is their worst 22-game start since 2000. And the manager didn’t hide his disappointment.

“We’re disappointed, we’re frustrated,” manager Rob Thomson exclaimed. “I know they’re trying hard, sometimes trying too hard. I think guys are upset. We’re off to a slow start here, but it’s going to get better.”

But right now, it looks far worse than a routine “slow start” for the Phillies. The team is stuffed with All-Stars, but still ranked 25th in terms of average (.222). And the worst part is that the All-Stars are all struggling.

Kyle Schwarber, the 56-home run scorer from last season, has scored 7 HRs till now and is batting at .227. In Sunday’s 4-2 loss against the Braves, Schwarber took a hit that could have been a walk-off win, but mistimed the shot. And Ronald Acuna Jr. made no mistake, gloving it. The ninth inning ended, the Phillies fell short, and Schwarber was seen slamming his helmet.

Frustrations and disappointment are all around the Phillies clubhouse.

“Sure, there’s frustration,” Schwarber noted. “But I think you can only grin at it, too, right? It is what it is. I feel like, daily, I see the guys in here and the way that they’re working. It’s inevitable. At some point, it’s going to change.”

While both the Phillies manager and Schwarber acknowledged the setback, they both sounded optimistic. But history is not on their side.

The Phillies reportedly had the same 8-13 start from their first 21 games in 2002 and 2015. In 2022, they finished 80-81, while in 2015, they finished with a 63-99. Plus, this year, they have the worst run differential in baseball (minus-38). Last season, they dropped only three home series, while in 2026, the Phillies have already dropped four.

Despite Thomson and Schwarber defending the roster as hard workers, the reality is different. But their confidence should serve as an ultimatum to the clubhouse to get back to the best at the earliest.

The Phillies’ manager might be in the hot seat

The Phillies might turn around in the next series, and their offense might start working again, but the 8-14 record already put Rob Thomson on the hot seat.

Since taking over in June, he has a 354-262 (.575) regular-season record as the Phillies manager. Under him, the Phillies reached the playoffs for the fourth consecutive time since 2022.

Thomson can’t be termed a failure, but championships count in baseball.

The rumors around Thomson amplified further after Yankees legend Don Mattingly signed as the Phillies’ bench coach.

He previously served as the Blue Jays’ bench coach, and the Jays’ postseason surge in offense was credited to him. The chances are high that team President Dave Dombrowski would trust Mattingly to make the Phillies’ offense work.

There’s nothing from the team’s front office, though, but per MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, if this losing streak continues, Thomson will feel more pressure. And if he gets replaced anytime soon, Mattingly would surely be the first choice.

“It’s not known whether Mattingly would want the job,” Rosenthal added.

What adds more to the speculation is that Mattingly’s son, Preston, serves as the team’s general manager.