Phillies need 'a lot to go right' to turn disastrous start to 2026 season around originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies are in the middle of a seven-game losing streak, and things are seemingly not getting any better any time soon.

Jhaon Duran is now being joined on the injured list by J.T. Realmuto, which will pose an even bigger problem for the 8-15 Phillies.

But, as The Athletics' Jim Bowden highlighted, the Phillies can still fix their issues and make the postseason. The only problem is that they will need "a lot to go right" for a trip to the postseason to be on the horizon.

"A lot must go right for this Phillies team to get back to the playoffs, but there is still a pathway," Bowden writes.

The Phillies returning to the postseason from this poor start won't be easy. While there is still plenty of time for the season to turn around, the Phillies don't look talented enough to fix things so quickly and efficiently.

Regarding the lineup, outside of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, everyone has been disappointing. Alec Bohm is a complete disaster this season, while Adolis Garcia hasn't lived up to the hype he brought into the season.

Bryson Stott hasn't been great either, and almost all of the right-handed hitters have been major disappointments this season.

More: Marlins suggested to sign Max Kepler after Phillies’ OF was suspended for 80 games

The offense needs a lot of work, and while some players getting hot and turning their seasons around could happen, it's hard to bank on such a stark turnaround this year.

And even that wouldn't be enough. The Phillies need to be a lot better defensively, and they will also need their pitchers, in both the rotation and the bullpen, to pitch better.

Add in that Rob Thomson needs to continue to make the right decisions for much of the rest of the year, and the margin of error for the Phillies is very slim.

They still have a chance to make the playoffs, but the odds don't look to be in their favor. It's been a rough year, but there's still hope for the Phillies. Bowden believes the Phillies still have a chance, albeit a slim one.

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