Andrew McCutchen, right, limps off the field after tearing his ACL in a game against the San Diego Padres June 3 (Photograph courtesy of Denis Poroy/Getty Images/TNS).

The Philadelphia Phillies have endured quite a few injuries so far this season, but this one may be the toughest to overcome yet.

Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen has torn his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season.

The injury took place June 3 against the San Diego Padres in the first inning. McCutchen led the game off with a walk then Phillies’ shortstop Jean Segura hit a weak infield pop up.

Padres’ second baseman Ian Kinsler let the ball drop to try and get a double play. Kinsler threw to first to get Segura then McCutchen was caught in a rundown. As McCutchen tried to evade a tag, he grabbed his left knee and fell to the ground. The 32-year-old was helped off the field, and underwent testing, hoping it wasn’t serious.

McCutchen tweeted out that night, “Pray for me.” The next morning it was confirmed.

“It’s my ACL, it’s torn. So, I’m out for the rest of the season,” McCutchen said.

“Really disappointing,” Phillies’ skipper Gabe Kapler said. “Andrew has not just been a catalyst at the top of our lineup, but a catalyst in our clubhouse.”

Freaky injuries like this are always hard to process, but even more so with a player who has showcased excellent durability as McCutchen has. In his last nine seasons, he has played at least 140 games. Before this, he had only been on the injured list once in his career, with the Pirates in 2014.

The former NL MVP had been one of the Phillies’ best players this season. He had been incredibly effective from the leadoff spot, mostly due to his elite plate discipline. At the time of his injury, he led the National League in walks with 43, while slashing .256/.378/.457 on the year. All that while driving in 29 runs and hitting 10 home runs.

The Phillies signed McCutchen to three year, $50 million contract last offseason. The contract also includes team options for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

This injury, combined with Odubel Herrera’s absence due to his domestic violence case, has the Phillies’ outfield looking quite thin. The Phillies have called up former first-round pick Adam Haseley to take McCutchen’s roster spot. The rookie made his major league debut June 4 and will see regular playing time in center field.

“It’s an opportunity for Adam Haseley to show us how ready he is to help us,” Kapler said.

Haseley’s first major league hit was a big one against the Friars. The Phillies found themselves down 5-2 aganist the Padres, but rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning thanks to three straight two-out hits from Cesar Hernandez, Bryce Harper and Segura.

In the following inning, Haseley came up with two outs and Scott Kingery at first. Haseley fell behind 0-2, but was able to poke a ball down the left field line. The ball awkwardly bounced off the third base wall, allowing the speedy Kingery to score from first and break the tie. Haseley’s clutch first hit drove in the winning run in a 7-5 Phillies’ victory and gave the Fightins’ a series win.

Another key contributor in the outfield moving forward will be Phillies’ newest acquisition — Jay Bruce. The team acquired Bruce from the Seattle Mariners June 2 in exchange for prospect Jake Scheiner. As part of the deal, the Mariners will also be paying the Phillies $18,567,204 of the $21,317,204 still owed to Bruce over the next two seasons.

The slugger has made a strong impression early, giving the offense an immediate boost. In his first start June 4, Bruce had a double, a two-run home run and a grand slam for a total of six runs driven in on the day. He followed that up the next day, hitting another double and solo home run. The Phillies’ left fielder now has 17 total home runs on the year, the highest mark on the team.

The Phillies will have to make this new look outfield work to stay atop of the National League East. The team is still in the lead of the division, but the Atlanta Braves are not far behind.

After a rough road trip, that included a devastating injury and sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies will return home to take on the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks. Both of these teams are under .500 thus far on the season. The Phillies should be looking to take advantage of some weak competition and get back on track after the McCutchen injury.

The Philadelphia Phillies saw unwanted attention come their way after league All-Star Odubel Herrera found himself in the custody of the New York Police Department after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend May 27 (Dylan Buell/Getty Images/TNS).

Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder Odubel Herrera was arrested May 27 and charged with simple assault after a domestic violence dispute in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

An Atlantic City police report said that Herrera, 27, caused “minor injuries” to his girlfriend and left “handprint markings to her neck area and small scratches to her arms.”

The incident occurred at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino Monday night while he was with his 20-year-old girlfriend. Police responded to a domestic disturbance call and arrested Herrera in his hotel room without incident. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Herrera was released on summons, and his first court date is currently scheduled for June 17.

The Phillies released a statement that said they immediately reported the incident to Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association, and that “[they] take any domestic violence dispute seriously and support the Joint Domestic Policy agreed upon by MLB and MLBPA.”

The player was placed on administrative leave May 28. He is currently scheduled to be on the list for a week while the league office investigates the case. From there, his stay on leave can be extended, he can be reinstated or he can be suspended.

The MLB and MLBPA created a new domestic violence policy in 2015, but suspensions are handed on a case-by-case basis. Most recently in September 2018, Cubs’ infielder Addison Russell was suspended 40 games for domestic abuse.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said, “domestic violence is never acceptable.” The manager held a team meeting to discuss the issue of domestic violence. Kapler himself has made philanthropic efforts to stop domestic violence through his charity, the Gabe Kapler Foundation.

“It’s incredibly disturbing. It is unacceptable every time,” he stressed.

Herrera has also been removed from the ballot for the upcoming 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland. While on leave, he will continue to collect his $5.35 million salary for this season, but he will not take occupy a roster spot. If suspended, he will not receive pay during that time.

In accordance with this, the Phillies have called up lefty outfielder Nick Williams from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Second-year player Scott Kingery and Williams will both find playing time in the new-look outfield. Williams is likely to play in left field, with veteran Andrew McCutchen moving into center, when the team faces right-handed starting pitching. Kingery will play center field mostly on days when facing a lefty and will continue to play around the diamond.

Herrera, a five-year veteran, came to the Phillies in 2015 as a Rule 5 draft selection. Originally a second baseman, Herrera was converted into a center fielder and became a promising young player for the Phillies. The lefty was the Phillies lone representative in the 2016 All-Star game, and due to his strong play, earned a five-year $30.5 million contract that year.

During his time in the big leagues, Herrea has been a complicated player. He shows flashes of brilliance followed by stretches where he looks completely lost. He has even been benched multiple times throughout his career for a lack of hustle or poor decision making.

This season, Herrera has been struggling even more, slashing a dreadful .222/.288/.341 so far. The outfielder also suffered a hamstring injury, which sidelined him for a while and was beginning to lose play time to Kingery.

Herrera has received much criticism from the fan base for his poor play this year. He has struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, has shown terrible at-bats where he swings at everything and has showcased a lack of communication in the outfield. Many fans were beginning to feel uneasy toward Herrera. After this recent news, some are calling for his release from the team.

Phillies’ General Manager Matt Klentak was asked if this is the last of Herrera as a player for the Phillies. “I think that’s premature to speculate at this point,” Klentak said.“There’s not enough information about what happened.”

Releasing Herrera is more complicated than it seems, as contracts in baseball are guaranteed. Even if Herrera is found guilty and suspended, his contract will not be voided. If the Phillies do release him, they will be on the hook for over $20 million. But while it may hurt the coffers, it may be worth it to send a message that the organization does not tolerate domestic violence.

For now, the Phillies cannot let this situation become a distraction. The Phillies lead the National League East and are continuing their long stretch of games against some of the NL’s best teams.

That continues as the Phillies start a series in California against the Los Angles Dodgers. The Dodgers are the only team above the Phillies in the NL standings, and they feature an explosive offensive led by MVP candidate Cody Bellinger. This is the Phillies first chance to measure up with the Dodgers and show that they are one of the best teams in the league.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason spending added Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper to the roster (Photograph courtesy of Sean McCole for the Triangle).

Last offseason, Phillies ownership said they were willing to spend “stupid money.” Turns out their massive spending in the offseason may have not been that stupid at all.

The Phillies committed over $450 million dollars to new acquisitions last offseason, bringing in veterans like Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto and superstar Bruce Harper. We are about two months into the baseball season and the new Phillies have impressed so far.

The acquisitions have made the Phillies one of the most talented in the National League, capable of scoring a massive amount of runs on any night. McCutchen has been strong in the leadoff slot. The former National League MVP has elite plate selection and it has put him in the top 10 in baseball in walks.

The Phillies traded for Realmuto from the Marlins and he has been truly fantastic. He is just a great all-around player. He is an A plus defender, a great base runner and is consistent at the plate. His clutch solo home run at the top of the 10th inning against the Cubs lead to a 5-4 Phillies win May 20. It is not a surprise that many view Realmuto as the best catcher in baseball.

Harper has disappointed some so far, but his presence has certainly made the team better. He has come up with some timely hits and continues to draw a large amount of walks. Harper does lead the league in strikeouts, but seems to be heating up as of late, hitting two monster home runs last weekend at Citizens Bank Park. He has also impressed defensively so far, showing off his glove multiple times in right field on highlight reel plays.

However, arguably the best acquisition has been Segura. Segura is hitting over .300 and has consistently gotten on base from the two-hole. Segura has the ability to hit all over the diamond, having 16 multi-hit games so far this season, and coming into Wednesday, Segura is riding a 10-game hitting streak. It seems the Phillies offense turns to Jean Segura.

These acquisitions have also made the Phillies returning starters better. Rhys Hoskins is not only getting more opportunities with runners on base, but is also getting better pitches to hit because of the protection from Realmuto. Another impressive Phillie has been Cesar Hernandez, who has been hot so far in May, hitting over .350 this month. The lineup also got some reinforcements this week with Scott Kingrey returning from a hamstring injury.

One area where the Phillies have been not as strong is the bullpen. They do have quality arms such as lefty Adam Morgan, who has posted a sub-two ERA so far, and other key veterans like Hector Neris and Pat Neshek, but not much besides them.

Their lack of bullpen depth showed against the Cubs May 21. The team’s top four relievers were unavailable and called for Juan Nicasio to close out a one-run lead. Nicasio was unable to keep up with a high-powered Cub’s lineup and lost the game on a walk-off single from star Javy Baez. It was Nicasio’s second blown save of the season, and was a crushing one for the Phillies.

Their offseason acquisition of veteran reliever David Robertson hasn’t helped either. Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies before moving to the injured list with an elbow issue. He is expected to be out until at least July. The Phillies signed the 34-year-old to a two-year $23 million contract in the offseason.

Luckily the starting rotation has been able to cover some of the bullpen’s disappointments. After a rough start, Aaron Nola is beginning to look more like the pitcher from last year, but still has yet to assemble a truly dominating performance. Jake Arrieta has been consistent so far, posting a 4-4 record and 3.77 ERA.

Zach Eflin has been the team’s best pitcher so far, winning five games while posting a 2.76 ERA with a WHIP of 1.15. He also has posted two complete games, the most in the majors, including one complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals.

All of this has added up to give the lead to the Phillies in the NL East. As of May 22, they are 2.5 games ahead of the reigning division champion Atlanta Braves, and farther ahead of the struggling New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

The Phillies are currently in what may be their toughest stretch of the season. After finishing up with the Cubs at Wrigley May 23, the Phillies have series with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, all teams that look to be contenders in the National League. This stretch is a good way for the Phillies to show they aren’t the same team from last year.

This weekend, the Phillies will look to get revenge against the Brewers. The Brew Crew came into Citizens Bank Park last week and soundly beat the Phillies in a four-game series, taking three of four.

Milwaukee is led by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. The superstar right fielder leads the entire MLB in home runs with 19. Last week, the Phillies couldn’t figure out Yelich at home as he went 6-16 with five walks and two home runs for an OPS of 1.399 in the series.

Yelich is even more of a threat than usual at Miller Park. So far in 19 games, Yelich has 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and is slashing a ridiculous .406/.524/.1.141 at home.

Tonight, Jared Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies against Jhoulys Chacin. Eickhoff, who had been hot since being called up in April, has cooled as of late, allowing five home runs in his past two starts. Eickhoff struggled against this Brewers’ lineup last week, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out just two in four innings of work.

For the Brewers, the veteran righty Chacin gets the nod. Chacin is 3-5 so far on the season with an ERA of 4.65. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed eight hits and two runs in what would ultimately be a 12-8 loss for the Brewers.

Everyone knew the Toronto Raptors would go to Kawhi Leonard when it mattered most.

The superstar carried the Raptors this far and got his chance to win game seven against the Philadelphia 76ers with just 4.2 seconds to go.

Leonard got the ball on the inbound pass, drove to the baseline and fired a fadeaway jumper over the outstretched arms of Joel Embiid. Leonard squatted to view the shot as the stadium stood in silence, and after four almost impossible bounces off the rim, the ball fell into the hoop.

The shocking 92-90 win sent the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. It marked the end of the season for a Sixers team with high expectations and prompted tears to flow from Embiid on the court (and likely many others throughout the Philadelphia area).

It also signified the start of a long, yet critical, offseason for the Sixers.

Three Sixers’ starters, J.J. Redick, Tobias Harris, and Jimmy Butler, are set to hit free agency, as well as role players T.J. McConnell, James Ennis III and Mike Scott. There is no doubt this team could look very different next season.

The first priority will be signing superstar Butler to a long-term deal. Since being traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Butler has been key for the Sixers. He has shown that by being a clutch performer on multiple occasions, hitting game winners against the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets.

He showed up in the playoffs, averaging 19.4 points a game and even hitting the equalizer layup aganist Toronto in game seven. Then lastly, he has developed into a leader on the team, with both head coach Brett Brown and Embiid praising his locker room presence.

Butler will demand a maximum contract basically anywhere he goes, and he will probably get it. Luckily for the Sixers, they can extend a five-year offer, while other teams can only offer four-year offers. The difference is an extra $47 million in total value, which may be too good for Butler to pass up.

Harris is a more interesting case. Another mid-season trade acquisition, Harris showed flashes of brilliance, but also had moments where he struggled, especially in the playoffs. Regardless, his three-point proficiency is a huge asset and something many teams could use.

The question is how much do the Sixers value Harris? They gave up a lot to trade for him, but they may be hesitant to bring out the Brinks truck for him. Harris likely isn’t deserving of a maximum contract, but that may be the price the Sixers have to pay to keep him around.

The Sixers have the ability to keep this core together, but it will come down to how much they can go over the cap to sign Reddick, Harris and Butler due to their possession of bird rights. But in doing so, the Sixers will almost assuredly be putting themselves into the luxury tax. Maybe not next season, but for sure when all-star Ben Simmons is up for a contract extension.

General Manager Elton Brand has expressed that going into the luxury tax won’t be an issue to keep this team together, but that is yet to be seen.

Another element to this offseason is the status of head coach Brett Brown. Rumors circled around on Sunday before game seven that if the Sixers couldn’t make the Eastern Conference Finals, Brown would be out of a job.

Multiple players came out in support of Brown, including Embiid who called the report “bulls–t” and said, “[Brown] has done a fantastic job.”

Luckily on Tuesday, Sixers principal owner Joshua Harris announced at a press conference that Brown will return for the 2019-20 season. It will be Brown’s seventh season with the team.

In the end, the best solution for the Sixers may just be to run it back. Bring back the same core, with Butler and Harris, and let the starters have more time to develop chemistry with each other. That, paired with a progressing Ben Simmons and a healthy Joel Embiid, could still be dangerous in the East.

Hopefully next time, the Sixers won’t need many bounces to go their way to make it far in the playoffs.