Phillies' Bryce Harper opens up on clubhouse tension amid slow start under Rob Thomson

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Phillies' Bryce Harper opens up on clubhouse tension amid slow start under Rob Thomson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies got off to a miserable start this season, struggling to win games. At one point, they had the longest active losing streak in MLB and one of the worst records in all of baseball.

“The longest losing streak in baseball now belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight and are tied with the Mets for the worst record in the National League at 8-16. At -50, the Phillies also have the worst run differential in baseball by 15 runs,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.

That stretch eventually led to the Phillies firing manager Rob Thomson. Few could have predicted just how slow of a start Philadelphia would get off to.

“There’s a major shakeup in Philadelphia. The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday morning. Don Mattingly is the interim skipper, with the team’s press release saying he’ll hold that position for the remainder of the 2026 season,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco wrote.

The Phillies have played better under Mattingly, which has naturally raised questions. Recently, Bryce Harper met with the media and shed light on why the first month of the season was so difficult.

“I think we were all just waiting for that ball to drop, waiting for something to happen. If Topper was going to get fired or he wasn’t, it was just kind of, 'We need to get over this hump and get through this,' whatever that looked like. So as a team, I think it’s just coming out, playing our game, understanding that we didn’t play well the first couple weeks of the season. April’s behind us. We’ve got to step forward and understand that we’re stacking days and playing better and just keep it going, no matter where we’re at, what’s happening in the game or anything. Just stack the days and be where we want to be at the end,” Harper said.

Even though Philadelphia is a veteran-heavy team, uncertainty can linger in any clubhouse. When there’s a sense that change could be coming, it can be difficult to stay focused and let things play out naturally.

Now, the Phillies can focus on what’s ahead. There’s no reason a team with this much talent should struggle to this extent, but things have started to turn around under Mattingly. Harper believes a turnaround is well within reach.

More MLB news:

• Blue Jays-Mets trade pitch sends $30M two-time All-Star, NL wins leader to Toronto amid slow start​

• Braves urged to cut ties with $13M veteran after another blunder as Raisel Iglesias returns​

• Dodgers' Dave Roberts reportedly switches Shohei Ohtani plan vs. Astros after 0-17 slump​

• Mets ace Freddy Peralta receives significant trade update after MLB's worst start to the season​

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