Matt Strahm struggles as Phillies bullpen falters in loss to Athletics
Phillies drop finale as Strahm’s walk sparks Athletics comeback and questions loom over Realmuto’s slump and Nola’s injury.
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| Matt Strahm #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the bottom of the eighth inning of a Major League Baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 23, 2025, in Sacramento, California. Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images |
By Randy Ahmad and Yuni Utomo
Matt Strahm threw his hardest fastball of the season on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a bullpen breakdown that ended the Philadelphia Phillies’ winning streak. The veteran left-hander’s 94.3 mph pitch missed the zone to open a pivotal at-bat against Logan Davidson in the eighth inning, triggering a sequence that led to a 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
Strahm, a crucial piece of the Phillies bullpen, issued a four-pitch walk to Davidson. That free pass was followed by a triple from Lawrence Butler and an RBI single by Willie MacIver, a catcher making his MLB debut. The damage erased a one-run lead and ended the Phillies’ nine-game winning streak.
“It all started with the walk,” Strahm admitted after the game. “Way too many this year. I feel like they all score.”
In reality, only three of his six walks this season have led to runs, but Sunday’s proved decisive. Strahm now owns a 3.32 ERA over 21 2/3 innings, and while his overall numbers remain solid, the recent road trip revealed a troubling uptick in hard contact. That trend culminated in Oakland, despite a slight rise in his fastball velocity.
Strahm’s evolving role and rising pressure
With José Alvarado currently serving a suspension, Strahm has stepped into a larger role in manager Rob Thomson’s bullpen. He’s now tasked with high-leverage situations, often facing lineups’ tougher sections, including right-handed hitters who pose a greater challenge.
“We liked the matchup,” Thomson said, referring to Strahm facing the lefty Butler. “That’s the way it is.”
Strahm's velocity offered a glimmer of hope. His fastballs averaged 93 mph on Sunday, more than a full tick above his season average. Still, it was the free pass—only his second of May—that frustrated him.
“Strike one, that’s the biggest thing,” Strahm said. “Usually, if I can get strike one, I can get them to expand.”
Even with increased velocity, Strahm insisted location and sequencing remain more important than pure heat.
“I mean, I get swing-and-misses when my fastball’s 89,” he said. “So I’m not too worried about velocity.”
Bullpen status beyond Strahm
Despite Sunday’s stumble, the Phillies bullpen is far from a disaster. Orion Kerkering regained his confidence during the road trip, and lefty Tanner Banks has delivered reliable innings as a secondary option behind Strahm.
Still, the series in Sacramento offered limited insight. Multiple pitchers, including Cristopher Sánchez and Toronto’s Jordan Romano, struggled with mound conditions. It’s a venue the Phillies won’t revisit until 2027.
Lineup questions grow with Realmuto’s struggles
The loss also spotlighted another issue: J.T. Realmuto’s place in the batting order. In the second inning, the Phillies loaded the bases with no outs thanks to three consecutive walks. Realmuto, batting seventh, promptly grounded into a double play—his 10th of the season, tied for second-most in MLB.
Realmuto’s previous high in a season was 13 double plays, set in 2017 with the Marlins. He’s averaged just eight per year since joining Philadelphia in 2019, making this year’s number especially troubling.
Much of the issue lies in pitch recognition. Realmuto entered Sunday hitting just .135 with a .311 slugging percentage against non-fastballs. He’s been effective only against right-handed fastballs, leaving him with a staggeringly poor .098/.148/.137 slash line in 54 plate appearances against lefties.
“I’ve thought about a lot of things,” Thomson said when asked about a lineup shakeup. One idea might be flipping Realmuto with Alec Bohm, who has emerged from an early-season slump and is producing consistently.
Bohm's resurgence makes a lineup change logical
Bohm has not batted higher than sixth since early April, but his recent performance might demand reconsideration. He posted 11 multi-hit games in his last 18 and went 11-for-31 (.355) on the road trip, including four extra-base hits.
Thomson has hesitated to change Bohm’s position in the lineup to avoid disrupting his rhythm. But with Realmuto slumping and the Phillies needing production, a switch could soon become necessary.
Nola’s injury recovery slower than expected
Meanwhile, the Phillies’ starting rotation is adjusting to Aaron Nola’s lingering ankle injury. The veteran right-hander hasn’t pitched since May 16 and still felt soreness after testing the ankle this weekend.
“It’s just a little bit,” Nola said, downplaying the discomfort. But the setback forced the Phillies to abandon plans for a bullpen session on the road. Nola instead played catch and completed strength exercises on Sunday morning.
He’ll receive further treatment Monday and hopes to throw a bullpen Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. But even that schedule is tentative.
“I want to get it right,” Nola said. “I want it to feel good and strong again.”
With his return date uncertain, it’s increasingly likely Nola will need a minor-league rehab appearance before rejoining the big-league rotation. While he is technically eligible to be activated on Friday, that’s off the table.
Adjusted rotation for Braves and Brewers series
To accommodate Nola’s absence, the Phillies reshuffled their starting rotation. Ranger Suárez, Zack Wheeler, and Cristopher Sánchez will take the mound in a key three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, with Taijuan Walker starting the series opener Friday against the Brewers after an eight-day layoff.
Walker threw a 60-pitch bullpen session to stay sharp. Jesús Luzardo, another starter in the mix, will receive an extra day of rest after logging 100-plus pitches in four straight starts for the first time in his career.
Thomson explained the rotation tweak as a strategic move to match left-handers against Atlanta. The Braves rank 17th in MLB with a .650 OPS against left-handed pitching—80 points lower than their output against righties.
Still, the Phillies know Ronald Acuña Jr. poses a major threat regardless. Acuña, who hasn’t faced Philadelphia in 14 months, owns a career .315/.394/.550 slash line against them.
Phillies looking ahead despite setbacks
The 5-4 loss to Oakland might sting, but it also provides a midseason snapshot of the challenges the Phillies must address. Matt Strahm’s Phillies bullpen role is expanding, and with increased pressure comes reduced margin for error. Meanwhile, the offense must solve the Realmuto conundrum, and the team waits for Nola to fully heal.
In a tight National League race, these are the moments that can shape a season.
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