Game 120 - Painter and Sosa Deal Cards a Loss

Philadelphia Phillies	6
St. Louis Cardinals	5

2026 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Monday Night, August 10th

Busch Stadium - St. Louis, MO
64-56, 2nd Place, 7 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Andrew Painter took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Edmundo Sosa had three RBIs in this 6-5, series opening win over the Cardinals.

What It Means:  This would be the only positive news to come out of this St. Louis series.

What Happened:  Ivan Herrera doubled with one out in the bottom of the sixth to ruin Painter's surprising no-hit bid.  Painter would win his second game of the season, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out six.  The Phillies had built a 6-2 lead heading to the eighth, which they'd need as Alan Rangel allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched.  Jonathan Bowlan took on the closer's role in a depleted bullpen, earning his first career save.  Sosa had an RBI-single in the second and a two-run double against his former team in the eighth.  Kyle Schwarber had a two-hit night, including an RBI-double in the seventh.

Featured Card:  Let's go with Bowlan here, despite Painter's strong outing.  Bowlan was acquired in the offseason from the Royals in exchange for fellow reliever Matt Strahm, who has since been cut from the Royals.  Bowlan is 29 years old and under team control through the 2032 season.  His lone Phillies card to date can be found in the team-issued photo card set.

Transaction:  Caleb Kilian (rhp) was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain and Chase Shugart (rhp) made a quick return to the bullpen in his place.  Kilian's season is likely done, and the trade deadline day acquisition made just four appearances with the Phillies, allowing five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings pitched for a 13.50 ERA.

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The Phillies Room: Holiday Notes

2025 Topps Holiday #H61

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2025 Topps Holiday #H71

2024 Topps #399

2022 Topps #108

I'm writing this on the other side of Christmas, now looking forward to the sounds of spring training that will be here before we know it.  After an unceremonious (and painful) end to the 2025 season, I knew I'd need a break from the Phillies, and this is only my fourth real post since Game 4 of the NLDS. 

December 16 - El Bombi Signs:  It's funny how often one of our favorite non-Phillies ends up on the Phillies.  Most recently, Whit Merrifield comes to mind, and hopefully Adolis Garcia (of) fares better in pinstripes than Merrifield did.  The Phillies signed Garcia to a one-year, $10 million contract, with Dave Dombrowski confirming Garcia is slated to be the team's everyday right fielder.  Garcia is a two-time All-Star and was the ALCS MVP in 2023 with the Rangers, winning a Gold Glove that same year.

He hit .245 that season, reaching career highs in home runs (39) and RBIs (107), and has fallen off each of the past two seasons.  In 135 games with the Rangers last year, Garcia batted .227 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs, and the Phillies are hoping 2026 is a huge bounce-back season for him.

December 18 - Phils Land Keller:  Brad Keller (rhp), one of the top relievers in baseball that I'm admittedly not really familiar with, was signed by the Phillies to a two-year, $22 million deal.  Keller is a veteran of eight seasons, pitching with the Royals (2018-23), White Sox (2024), Red Sox (2024) and Cubs (2025).  He was 4-2 with a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances and 69 2/3 innings pitched last season.  As is the fate of many effective middle relievers, Keller didn't appear on a single baseball card in 2025.

December 19 - Strahm Sent to Royals:  In what was deemed to be maneuvering for payroll space, or a way to move a pitcher who had criticized the Phillies' coaching following the NLDS exit, All-Star reliever Matt Strahm (rhp) was traded to the Royals for reliever Jonathan Bowlan (rhp).  When Strahm was good for the Phillies, he was really good, but I have too many memories of him blowing leads in critical games, including last year's NLDS Game 1.  In three seasons with the Phillies, he was 17-10 with a 2.71 ERA in 188 games and 212 2/3 innings pitched.

Bowlan pitched in 34 games last year for the Royals, earning a 3.86 ERA in 44 1/3 innings pitched.  Similar to Keller, he had no baseball card appearances in 2025.

December 19 - Trade with Diamondbacks:  After the Strahm deal, the Phillies acquired Kyle Backhus (lhp) from the Diamondbacks for minor leaguer Avery Owusu-Asiedu (of).  Backhus made his big league debut in 2025, appearing in 32 games for Arizona and going 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 25 1/3 innings pitched.  Backhus has had no major baseball card appearances yet, only appearing in four minor league team sets.

December 22 - Phils Add Pop:  In what may be the last roster move of the year (?), the Phillies signed Zach Pop (rhp) to a major league deal.  Pop spent most of 2025 in the minors, appearing in a combined five games in the majors with the Mariners and Mets.  In parts of five big league seasons, he's 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA in 163 games, all in relief.  Pop's last mainstream baseball card appearance was way back in 2022.

The's Phillies' 40-man roster now has 39 players on it.

There have been a few other minor league signings announced through unofficial channels, and I'll hold off on posting about those new potential Phillies until the team makes official announcements or reveals its list of spring training non-roster invitees.