The Phillies were unable to gain any ground in the division standings over the long weekend, which is unideal considering how quickly we’re approaching the end of the season. But even with another division title looking like a longshot, the Phillies need to get as many wins as they can in the coming weeks to bolster their playoff positioning.
This week sees another first place team come to Citizens Bank Park. However, unlike the Braves, the Houston Astros are in first place mostly because somebody has to be in first in the American League West.
Advertisement
Opposition research: Yordan Alvarez
The star studded roster of the 2022 Astros is a thing of the past. Stars like Kyle Tucker, Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, and Alex Bregman have moved on. Jose Altuve is still around, but plays like he needs a new battery in his buzzer these days.
Still, the Astros are in first place for two main reasons:
-
The American League West is awful.
-
Yordan Alvarez is having an epic season.
Phillies fans should need no reminder as to who Alvarez is.
Note: I was surprised to look back and see that Alvarez struggled for most of the 2022 World Series, going 3-23. It shows you how much important home runs can flip narratives.
Considering the Phillies’ lefthanded relief situation has yet to sort itself out, it seems inevitable that Jose Alvarado is going to face Alvarez at some point in this series. I wouldn’t blame anyone for simply turning off their television when that happens. (Honestly, I wouldn’t blame anyone for turning off the TV for any Alvarado appearance, even though he has been somewhat better lately.) I was very surprised to learn that Alvarado and Alvarez haven’t squared off since 2022. Maybe Jose has just been waiting his chance to get some revenge?
Advertisement
Alvarez has been one of the best offensive players in the American League for years, although injuries limited him to just 48 games in 2025. In 2026, he’s healthy and it shows. He’s currently leading in all traditional Triple Crown categories, as well as walks and OPS.
Hating on the Astros
I still don’t understand how the Astros weren’t stripped of their World Series title from 2017. They clearly cheated, the league punished a bunch of the people involved, and the owner was only able to “defend” what they did using this word salad.
I’m sure they were also cheating somehow in 2022, but we’re still waiting for those details to come out.
Advertisement
Remembering a guy who used to play for both the Phillies and Astros
Brandon Duckworth’s popularity in Philadelphia was almost entirely due to his name, and the fans’ desire to start a fan club for every new player who joined the team. In August 2001, Duckworth was called up to make his debut and I believe there were about 50 different groups in the Veterans Stadium stands calling themselves either the “Duck Pond” or “Quack Pack” that day. (The number of groups eventually whittled down to just one or two.)
Duckworth gave those fans something to cheer about during his rookie season when he had a 3.52 ERA in eleven starts. Not so much the following year when his era shot up to 5.41. After another disappointing season in 2003, the Phillies sent him to the Astros as part of the trade for Billy Wagner.
Advertisement
I don’t know if Duckworth had any fan groups in Houston, but I can’t imagine he would, considering his ERA in two seasons there was 8.08.
Duckworth moved to Kansas City after 2005, but he was similarly bad there. After a stint in Japan, he moved to a front office role and is currently employed by the Yankees‘ scouting department.
Additional thought about the series
It wasn’t a terrific weekend for the Phillies’ offense. I don’t have the exact figures, but it felt like Bryce Harper in particular abandoned his recent patient approach and was far more aggressive at the plate. Part of that may be trying to overcompensate for the rest of the lineup which hasn’t produced much lately.
Advertisement
The Phillies’ power has largely vanished in September. They have five home runs in the month, and three are by Kyle Schwarber. Luiz Arraez is showing why the Phillies didn’t pursue him last offseason, as his lack of power and refusal to accept a walk have hurt the team at times. And if anyone is still waiting for Trea Turner to finally get hot, you probably need to end that dream.
Can they improve during this series? The starters they’re scheduled to face appear to be a mixed bag. Hayden Wesneski has looked good in seven starts after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Hunter Brown hasn’t matched his 2025 season where he finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting, but he’s still been solid. They will seem to get a break in the third game against Cristian Brown who was demoted from the rotation and later reinserted only because the Astros were short on arms.
The Phillies can generally rely on their rotation to give them a good start most nights. But without more help from the offense (and the bullpen, but that’s a whole different story), that’s only going to get them so far.
Yordan Alvarez, Phillies, Houston Astros, Jose Alvarado, American League West, American League, Citizens Bank Park, Jose Altuve, Brandon Duckworth, Kyle Tucker
#revenge #Alvarado #Phillies #Astros #series #preview
