Interim manager Don Mattingly has guided the Philadelphia Phillies to a Major League Baseball-best 24-10 record since taking over the dugout in May 2026, propelling the club back into the National League playoff race.
According to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, the Phillies also achieved the best starting staff ERA in the majors at 2.79 over that span.
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Mattingly assumed the role after long-time skipper Rob Thomson was dismissed following a slow start by the team.
Emotional Return to Toronto
On Monday, June 8, 2026, Mattingly returned to the Rogers Centre for a series against Toronto, marking his first visit since losing Game 7 of the World Series to the Dodgers in November 2025 as the Blue Jays' bench coach.
He remained in the dugout briefly to absorb the conclusion of his first career World Series appearance before being approached by shortstop Bo Bichette, who later departed for the New York Mets in free agency.
"I usually get out of the dugout after a game, but that one I just kind of watched, took it in, and then Bo came over," Mattingly stated.
The current Phillies skipper reflected on the intense psychological impact of competing at the highest level of postseason baseball.
"What I learned: It's hard to get there; it's hard to move through each round," Mattingly said.
He emphasized that the sudden conclusion of a championship run brings an identical sense of disappointment regardless of the postseason round.
