The Philadelphia Phillies are nearing the start of another season. The team may not have made major moves to improve the offense, but the goal has remained the same. They want their trophy back, but can they get it this year?

Youth Movement

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Mar 1, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter (76) walks off the field after pitching against the New York Yankees in the first inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Andrew Painter has been a topic of discussion in Philadelphia for years now. 2026 is finally the time the fans will get to see him in the big leagues. He is healthy and has been successful in spring training. He will play a major role early in the season when the Phillies are without ace Zack Wheeler.

Justin Crawford has been given the starting CF job, and the top prospect will play a huge role in the team’s success. His game certainly comes with some question marks, most notably an absurdly high groundball rate. Despite this, he has seen success all throughout his minor league career. He is a tremendous defender, perfectly capable of anchoring the outfield.

Pitching Improvements

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Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) reacts after in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Philadelphia made huge improvements to the bullpen, specifically looking back to this time last year. The most significant addition came from the midseason trade for Jhoan Duran. Filling out the rest of the pen with good depth and explosive arms should keep them in most games.

The starting rotation has never been a question with this era of Phillies baseball. Jesus Luzardo and Cristopher Sanchez are dominant. Painter will bring an addition of youth to the rotation of vets. Aaron Nola can never be counted out, despite some recent inconsistencies.

Philadelphia’s pitching improvements did not come without a cost, however. They lost Ranger Suarez in free agency to the Boston Red Sox and traded away Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals. The two lefties were very important pieces to their pitching staff for the past few seasons.

Breakout Candidates

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Mar 4, 2026; Clearwater, FL, USA;Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) scores a run during the second inning against Team Canada at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Bryson Stott has had himself an incredible spring training. If he is able to continue performing and being a steady bat in the lineup, the Phillies’ season changes so much. He has made changes to his swing and approach, making him a prime breakout candidate in 2026.

Jesus Luzardo is hardly able to be considered a breakout candidate, but he is a name to note here as he has another step to take. Entering the final year of his contract, he will be sure to put on a show. Expect his name to come up during Cy Young conversations for the Phillies throughout 2026.

Otto Kemp is being given the biggest opportunity of his career. It appears he is set up to be the platoon partner of Brandon Marsh in left field. His power is nothing to dismiss, and if he can stay healthy, he could produce at a high level.

End Of My Philadelphia Phillies Rant

The Phillies desperately need the bats to perform in October. If that doesn’t happen, the season will be another disappointment. All of the great regular season success is great; they just need to prove it when it matters most. If they can, the Phillies could certainly find themselves getting their trophy back in 2026.