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The Philadelphia Phillies were another team that did not get off to the best start this season. That led to some drastic measures, as they parted ways with manager Rob Thomson and replaced him with interim manager Don Mattingly.
That has simply been what the Phillies needed, as they have really turned it around since Mattingly came to lead the ship. They have gone 64-39 since the manager change, and have put themselves in the conversation for a division championship.
Currently, they sit just three games behind the Atlanta Braves, but the Braves have been slipping as of late, so this is a division fans will want to keep a close eye on.
MORE: Phillies made MLB history not seen since at least 1988 with wild 2-out, 2-strike win
Phillies jump up the power rankings after a dominant week at home
The Phillies really handled business last week. They took on the Miami Marlins and had their number, sweeping them in the three-game series.
They then turned their attention to the St. Louis Cardinals, where they swept them as well, three games to none over the weekend.
After such a dominant week, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter bumped them up a few spots in his latest power rankings, from No. 8 to No. 5.
"The Phillies have outscored the opposition by 34 runs during their current nine-game winning streak, and they rank second in the majors with 122 runs scored over 21 games in August. A nine-game, West Coast road trip against the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks will put their momentum to the test, though they are a terrific 35-28 away from Citizens Bank Park this year."
As Reuter mentions, they have a big road trip upcoming, but that shouldn't scare the fanbase much. They have been taking care of business on the road, and that should continue when they take on the Mariners and then the Angels.
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