• On Tuesday night, Nick Castellanos logged his 231st consecutive start, surpassing Jimmy Rollins' streak from 2006-2008. Castellanos' run of consecutive starts is now the longest by a Phillies player since Pete Rose from 1980-1983 (350 starts).

Through his first 11 starts with the Philadelphia Phillies, Jesus Luzardo was making a case as the best offseason acquisition in the MLB. He was performing at a

But the 26-year-old starred in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, hitting a two-run homer for an early lead along with a walk that led to another run and the go-ahead hit-by-pitch — on top of throwing out two would-be stealers, including Ozzie Albies in the ninth.

Truth is, the Phillies, despite winning, need to be better. They may have won the National League pennant in 2022, reached the NL Championship Series in 2023 and won their first East Division title since 2011 last year. But none of that will happen again if improvements don’t occur.

Zack Wheeler embraced another chance to square off with Chris Sale. The first meeting between the top-two finishers in last year's NL Cy Young Award race didn't quite live up to expectations. Each ace