The Philadelphia Phillies had an exceptionally strong month on the field in May, completely shifting the direction of their season.
They posted an 18-10 record, fighting their way back to a .500 winning percentage after a terrible start. Through their first 28 games, the team sat at 9-19, which led to the firing of manager Rob Thomson and the interim hiring of Don Mattingly.
That positive energy has continued into early June. The Phillies have won their first two games of the month against the San Diego Padres, bringing their record to 32-29 as of June 4.
To keep this momentum going, the Phillies will need certain players to elevate their game. Here are three X-factors for the team in June.
Andrew Painter / J.T. Realmuto
The rookie pitcher and veteran catcher are closely linked. Evidence clearly shows that Painter performs far better when Realmuto is behind the plate on his start days, which is why they’re listed together as an X-factor duo. Painter must learn to adjust in case Realmuto can’t catch on any given day. Realmuto has already spent time on the injured list, and the team is actively trying to reduce his workload.
If Realmuto can also improve his hitting, it would give the offense a major boost. His batting numbers have declined for four straight years, but his defensive skills remain extremely valuable to the team.
Justin Crawford
The rookie outfielder has faced his share of struggles this season. Learning center field at the major league level is challenging enough, but Crawford was given more leeway when he was hitting well. Now that his offense has dropped off, the pressure is on to improve defensively. Philadelphia remains committed to him—rightfully so, given his talent.
Crawford wasn’t a top prospect who accidentally landed the Opening Day starting job; he has real ability and is still adapting to the majors. A recent modest four-game hitting streak offers hope that he can contribute from the bottom third of the lineup.
Aaron Nola
Nola had a rough start to the 2026 season. His struggles in 2025 were mostly blamed on health issues, but that wasn’t the case this year, as he has made every start. He simply wasn’t pitching well, having trouble locating his fastball, which put him behind in counts and led to hitters attacking the pitch aggressively for damaging results.
However, over his last two outings, Nola has begun to find a groove. He has adjusted his pitch mix, leading to far better results on the mound. If he continues this trend, the Phillies could make a strong case for having the best starting rotation in baseball.
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