Phillies meet Red Sox in battle of struggling teams with new managers
Wally is better.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 01: The Philly Phanatic prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on April 1, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Despite their best efforts — and the effort was there on Sunday by Payton Tolle and others — the Red Sox lost another series. This time to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Sox briefly rose to 4th place in the AL East before the Sox dropped the series, the Orioles won, and Boston returned to its seemingly permanent last place home. That series was supposed to be four games, but rain forced Saturday’s matinee — and a possible split — to July. Boston remains just 2.
0 games out of a Wild Card and about a game out of third place in the division. If they can just string a few wins together the entire feeling surrounding the season can flip. The dark clouds can be vanquished.
Chris Cotillo said the Red Sox may hope to get Willson Contreras back for the start of the series against the Phillies. Losing their first baseman would bring shades of 2025. And Contreras has been one of the few players to contribute on both sides of the ball so far this season.