The bigger story in Philly isn't the rotation, it's the dugout. Don Mattingly took over as interim manager after Rob Thomson got fired following a 9-19 start, and since then the Phillies have looked like a different team. That the GM calling the shots is Mattingly's own son only adds to how strange and, so far, successful this arrangement has been.
Toronto's split with Houston kept them treading water, but a loss to the Cubs right before this series is the more relevant data point walking into Philadelphia. The Blue Jays still have thump in the lineup, but between the walking-wounded list and a bullpen that's been among the most overworked in baseball, there isn't much margin for error against a lineup that's clicking.
- Day-To-DayLuis Urias (2B) — Urias was removed from Thursday's game against the Cubs due to right quad discomfort, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/06
- Day-To-DayVladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) — Guerrero (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.08/06
- 10-Day-ILJonatan Clase (LF) — Clase (foot) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.07/22
- 15-Day-ILSpencer Arrighetti (SP) — Arrighetti (foot) suffered an injury and was removed from his minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo in the third inning, Thomas Hall of The Jays Nation reports.08/06
- 15-Day-ILTrey Yesavage (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Yesavage has been diagnosed with meniscus damage in his left knee and will visit a specialist Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/06
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Corbin (SP) — Toronto transferred Corbin (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.08/05
- 60-Day-ILLenyn Sosa (2B) — Sosa (wrist) will resume taking live batting practice this week, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/02
- 60-Day-ILJoe Mantiply (RP) — Mantiply (knee) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia (RP) — Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) has been pulled off his rehab assignment and will be examined by a doctor for possible thoracic outlet syndrome, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 60-Day-ILAddison Barger (RF) — Barger is expected to be sidelined six months following surgery Monday to repair his right elbow UCL, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 60-Day-ILAnthony Santander (RF) — Santander is still dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder and recently received another cortisone shot, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.07/17
- 60-Day-ILJose Berrios (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILCody Ponce (SP) — Ponce underwent surgery Friday to repair the ACL in his right knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILBowden Francis (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Francis (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayDerek Hill (CF) — Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said Thursday that Hill (shoulder) could be "ready to go" off the bench in Thursday's game versus the Nationals, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.08/06
- Day-To-DayAndrew Painter (SP) — An MRI on Painter's left hamstring came back negative, and he is expected to make his next start Monday in St. Louis, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.08/06
- 10-Day-ILRafael Marchan (C) — The Phillies placed Marchan (knee) on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to July 23.07/24
- 60-Day-ILBrad Keller (RP) — Keller underwent right elbow UCL reconstruction surgery with internal brace and flexor tendon repair Tuesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.07/29
- 60-Day-ILTanner Banks (RP) — The Phillies placed Banks on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.07/25
- 60-Day-ILJohan Rojas (CF) — Rojas (suspension) underwent surgery Friday to repair the UCL in his right elbow and will face an expected recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/25
- 60-Day-ILAdolis Garcia (RF) — The Phillies announced that Garcia underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right lat, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/24
Scherzer's season has been a rough one to watch — forearm trouble, back spasms, a thumb issue, and an ERA that's ballooned into the high 7s. Nola's numbers aren't much prettier at 5.55, but he's at least been trending the right way his last time out. Neither guy is the ace either franchise remembers, which puts even more weight on which bullpen holds up and which lineup cashes in first.