ATLANTA — The Philadelphia Phillies lost 6-2 to the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday. The loss eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies from the 2026 postseason.

It was reported that Don Mattingly will not return as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2027. It was reported that the Philadelphia Phillies and Mattingly will announce a mutual parting of ways. It was reported that the Philadelphia Phillies may offer Mattingly an advisory role within the organization. "Yeah.. it's like, my stuff doesn't really matter," Don Mattingly said.

"Obviously, you never want to make an exit in the first round, especially the Wild Card," Bryce Harper said. "That's a really good team over there. They played us well all year. Just didn't happen." He said: "It's going to be a long off-season, obviously. I have trust in the organization and the people that are in charge. We'll see where we go."

Mattingly deferred discussion of his future following the elimination. "It's not the time to talk about anything like that," he said. "I'm not concerned about myself in this situation. I want the Phillies to do what they need to do to set themselves up for success."

He noted the potential for roster changes in the coming months. "I'd imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year. The guys that are leaving this clubhouse. We'll see," Harper said.

Luis Arraez, Alec Bohm, Adolis Garcia, Jose Alvarado, Edmundo Sosa, and Brooks Raley are among the Philadelphia Phillies players set to hit free agency. The Phillies won their only 2026 postseason game 4-3 in extra innings on Wednesday in Atlanta. In the decisive Game 3 loss, Aaron Nola allowed a three-run homer to Michael Harris II in the first inning. Zack Wheeler allowed a two-run homer in the 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. Jesus Luzardo allowed three hits and one run in Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves.

Kyle Schwarber went 4 for 11 (.364) against the Atlanta Braves in the 2026 Wild Card Series. Trea Turner went 1 for 11 (.091) in the 2026 Wild Card Series. Edmundo Sosa went 2 for 7 (.286) against the Atlanta Braves in the 2026 Wild Card Series. Bryce Harper went 3 for 13 (.231) in the 2026 postseason.

Bryce Harper hit.269 with 29 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 107 walks in the 2026 regular season. Harper appeared in all 162 games for the first time in his career during the 2026 season. Bryce Harper is under contract with the Philadelphia Phillies through 2031.

Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Aaron Nola are each scheduled to make more than $24 million in 2026. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Aaron Nola are all 33 years old.

Luis Arraez joined the Philadelphia Phillies in an August 2026 trade. Luis Arraez hit.278 in his final 46 appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2026. Luis Arraez missed the National League Wild Card Series due to an ankle injury. Brooks Raley was not included on the Philadelphia Phillies' 2026 postseason roster.

The Philadelphia Phillies finished the 2026 regular season with 88 wins. The 88 wins were the Philadelphia Phillies' fewest since 2022. The Phillies' 2026 roster was described as 'top-heavy' with only two regulars, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, exceeding average offensive production (OPS+), according to reports analysis.

Don Mattingly's tenure as Phillies manager included a two-year contract, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, though the team opted not to retain him after the 2026 postseason. Don Mattingly was named the American League Most Valuable Player in a season after hitting.324 with runs batted in. Don Mattingly set a major league record by hitting six grand slams in one season.

Why It Matters

The departure of Don Mattingly follows a pattern of early postseason exits for the franchise. The Philadelphia Phillies lost in the World Series in 2022. The Philadelphia Phillies lost in the National League Championship Series in 2023. The Philadelphia Phillies lost in the National League Division Series in 2024 and 2025. The organization now faces a significant offseason with multiple key players reaching free agency and high-salary veterans entering their mid-30s.

Timeline

The Philadelphia Phillies lost in the World Series in 2022 on November 5, 2022. The Philadelphia Phillies lost in the National League Championship Series in 2023 on October 24, 2023. The Philadelphia Phillies lost in the National League Division Series in 2024 and 2025 on October 15, 2025.

It was reported that the Philadelphia Phillies offered Alex Cora the manager position earlier in 2026 before hiring Don Mattingly on April 30, 2026. The Philadelphia Phillies had a record of 9 wins and 19 losses before Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as manager in April 2026 on April 30, 2026. Rob Thomson was fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in April 2026 on April 30, 2026. Luis Arraez joined the Philadelphia Phillies in an August 2026 trade on August 1, 2026.

What's New

Mattingly said he has not talked to Phillies general manager Dave Dombrowski about the pending offseason. It was reported that the Philadelphia Phillies offered Alex Cora the manager position earlier in 2026 before hiring Don Mattingly.

Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton praised Don Mattingly's performance but deferred the decision on his future to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, stating 'it's Dave's decision' during the 2026 season. Don Mattingly was elevated from bench coach to interim manager in April 2026 after Alex Cora declined the position, a move confirmed by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski admitted Don Mattingly was not his first choice for manager in 2026, with Alex Cora as the preferred candidate before Cora turned down the job, according to reports. The Philadelphia Phillies won 79 games and lost 55 under interim manager Don Mattingly in 2026.