MLB Standings Reveal One Team's Remarkably Quick Turnaround, Plus a New Division Leader

The Phillies decided to part ways with manager Rob Thomson after the club got off to a disappointing 9-19 start. It was a drastic move considering all the success the ousted skipper had enjoyed.

Whatever realistic expectations the front office had for the new Don Mattingly era have already been met and exceeded as Philadelphia has ripped off a 20-8 record since the change to save their season. Just like that all the handwringing is over. It's not even June and the Phillies have climbed to two games over .500, reduced the Braves' divisional lead to eight games and moved just one game out of the final wild card spot.

Wednesday night's 3-0 victory over the Padres in San Diego featured Cristopher Sanchez breaking a 115-year-old franchise record as he ran his scoreless innings streak to 44 2/3. He is two incredible starts away from breaking Orel Hersheiser's record of 59 straight. Kyle Schwarber has six more home runs (21) than anyone else in the NL and a handful of proven entities who struggled out of the gate have regained their mooring. The offensive stats don't look particularly impressive but the bottom line does.

Elsewhere the Brewers have suddenly opened up a relatively comfortable lead over everyone else in the NL Central, the Mariners have piggybacked their way to catching the Athletics for the top spot in the AL West and the Yankees are creeping closer to the Rays. The Padres have gone from battling for first place in the NL West to 4 1/2 games out and fighting to stave off the hard-charging Diamondbacks, who appear to be serious about competing for their own playoff spot.