Author: Scott Lauber

Bryce Harper once got hit in the face by a 97 mph fastball and didn’t break a bone. He swung a bat six weeks after fracturing his thumb. He made the fastest recovery on record from Tommy John elbow surgery. “I always tell him,” Bryson Stott said, “that his body is not normal.” Did anyone […]

Four months after owner John Middleton gave a spring-training keynote speech that, as one player recently recounted, “made guys want to run through a brick wall,” the Phillies will reach the midpoint of their season Thursday night with the most wins and best record in baseball. Raise a glass? No chance. » READ MORE: Busting […]

DETROIT — Two months later, Brandon Marsh remembered how to trot around the bases. “Once I sat back down the dugout, I just looked up at the sky and I was like, ‘OK, we can do it again. Thank you, man,’” the Phillies center fielder said Wednesday. “It was a good feeling.” Marsh bashed a […]

DETROIT — A few days ago, as Spencer Turnbull braced for his return to the Phillies’ starting rotation, he noted that his right arm felt strong and healthy after a six-week stint in the bullpen. “Knock on wood,” he said. Turnbull paused and peeked around the dugout. He took a step, closed his fist, and […]

DETROIT — Judging by his reaction, Trea Turner thought he should have made the play. And if he had, well, who knows? Maybe Ranger Suárez gets out of the fifth inning Tuesday night without allowing one run, let alone four. Maybe a duel between the prohibitive All-Star Game starting pitchers lives up to its billing […]

DETROIT — Even before they squared off with Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal on Tuesday night, the Phillies faced more left-handed starting pitchers than any team in baseball. Coincidence? Hardly. Leadoff-hitting Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper represent the Phillies’ most feared power sources. Both bat left-handed. Meanwhile, righty-swinging Nick Castellanos has had a poor first […]

DETROIT — Alec Bohm’s journey out of the darkness of his only slump of the season began under the dank third-base grandstand at Fenway Park. Stuck in a three-week, 11-for-67 tailspin at the plate, Bohm wasn’t in the Phillies’ lineup June 13 for the finale of a series in Boston. But a night off doesn’t […]

DETROIT — Never mind that the Phillies were 600 miles from home. Or that they were playing in an American League ballpark. The campaign was in full swing in the sixth inning Monday night, and the slogan was clear. “M-V-P! M-V-P!” It seemed to rise out of the right-field seats at Comerica Park. Maybe it […]

DETROIT — What began as a broken-bat pop-up back to the mound Monday night ended up as the 34th triple play turned by the Phillies in their 142-year history. With the Phillies already leading 4-0, the Tigers had runners on first and third in the third inning when former Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling hit a […]

DETROIT — Spencer Turnbull has neither made a start nor thrown more than 54 pitches in a game since April 30. So, in preparation for rejoining the Phillies’ rotation, he faced hitters in live batting practice Monday. But there was still time to trash talk his old friends. “Sorry,” said Tigers catcher Jake Rogers, expected […]