The Latest Breaking News from Dave Dombrowski

HOUSTON — Once it was over, Kyle Schwarber did what he almost always does after a game, win or lose. He sat down at his locker, cracked a beer, and decompressed with half a dozen teammates.

All along, the Phillies liked their chances in any postseason series, against any team, provided they were able to start Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola in the first two games. It’s what makes them dangerous. It’s probably the biggest reason they won the pennant.

When the San Diego Padres pulled off a prospect-packed, eight-player swap for Juan Soto, the general consensus within and especially outside the industry was that they won the trade deadline.

By the middle of December in 2020, the Phillies were 5½ years into a stagnating rebuild. They had put a cart filled with high-salaried free agents ahead of the twin horses of drafting and development, and the whole endeavor stalled.

SAN DIEGO — In the past three years, John Middleton committed more than half a billion dollars to three players. He got his money’s worth Tuesday night.

PHILADELPHIA — On a day full of positive injury news, the Phillies suffered yet another setback, as right-handed starter Zack Wheeler was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sunday) with right forearm tendinitis. Left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter will start in Wheeler’s absence on Friday against the Pirates.

That ought to do it on the 2022 Red Sox season.

PHILADELPHIA — In his first week of taking swings and throwing since getting three pins removed from his left thumb, Bryce Harper said he has felt pain-free. His priority is to get his swing going so he can get back in the Phillies lineup and hopes to return by “September-ish,”…

ATLANTA — Spencer Strider stands barely 6 feet tall, but there’s fire in his right arm. And for seven innings Tuesday night, for the second time in a week, the Atlanta Braves rookie dialed up his low-effort, triple-digit fastball and overpowered the Phillies.