The Philadelphia Phillies have FIRED manager Rob Thomson and named Don Mattingly as interim manager for the remainder of the 2026 season. After a brutal 9-19 start — tied with the Mets for the worst record in baseball — president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski pulled the trigger on a major shakeup at Citizens Bank Park. Thomson, who compiled a 355-270 record and guided the Phillies to four straight postseason appearances including a 2022 World Series run, was let go just 28 games into his newly extended contract. Despite all the success, a $300M+ payroll and the worst start in recent memory made a change inevitable. Enter Don Mattingly — the Yankees legend and 12-year MLB managerial veteran — who was serving as bench coach before being elevated to the top job. In a historic first, Mattingly will manage a team whose GM is his own son, Preston Mattingly. Dusty Wathan moves up to bench coach, and Triple-A skipper Anthony Contreras joins as third-base coach. Can Mattingly spark a turnaround like Thomson did in 2022? The Phillies are already 10.5 games behind the red-hot Braves. Time is NOT on their side. ⚾ TOPICS COVERED • Rob Thomson fired after 9-19 start • Don Mattingly named interim Phillies manager • Dave Dombrowski press conference reaction • Thomson’s legacy: 4 postseasons, 1 pennant, 355 wins • Can the Phillies still turn their 2026 season around? 🔔 Subscribe for daily Philadelphia Phillies coverage, MLB news, and breaking roster moves. #Phillies #RobThomson #DonMattingly #Philadelphia #MLB #PhilliesNews #MLBNews #GoPhils #NLEast #BaseballNews