The Philadelphia Phillies, while solidly above .500, are facing critical issues as they approach the playoff race. Their bullpen is particularly troubling, currently ranked as the seventh-worst in MLB with a 4.56 ERA. This is concerning for a team with playoff aspirations, especially given that they are the only team with a winning record alongside such a high bullpen ERA. Writer Aaron Gleeman highlights that the situation has become urgent, especially with José Alvarado suspended and Jordan Romano underperforming. To bolster their chances, the Phillies will likely need to make significant moves at the trade deadline, similar to last year’s adjustments when they brought in Carlos Estévez and Tanner Banks. Players like Jake Bird and Aroldis Chapman might stay put, which complicates the search for viable bullpen solutions. The pressure is mounting for the Phillies to address these shortcomings if they wish to contend in October.