The Latest Breaking News from Didi Gregorius

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres ran out a lineup Thursday that resembled one of the many off-brand assemblages they put on the field for so many years (decades) of irrelevance.

WASHINGTON — If you’re feeling a surge of optimism over the Phillies’ chances of finally returning to the playoffs, it’s probably because they’ve reeled off 11 wins in 13 games since firing the manager. Or maybe it’s because they’re averaging 6.4 runs per game in June.

PHILADELPHIA — The tying run stood on third base. A left-handed pitcher trotted in from the visiting bullpen. Nick Castellanos waited to hit.

PHILADELPHIA — Matt Vierling hadn’t played second base in a game before. Not in high school. Not in Little League. Never. But there he was, playing second base for nine innings of a major league game Saturday.

PHILADELPHIA — When the Phillies got rid of Joe Girardi before breakfast on Friday morning, they found themselves. They scored 26 runs in three games, their second-highest run total in three straight games this season. Except this time they did it without their starting second baseman, their starting shortstop, and…

MILWAUKEE — Just when you thought the Phillies had run out of ninth-inning magic, or that they left Rob Thomson’s pixie dust at home, they recorded their most improbable victory of the season against the most unhittable closer in baseball.

Part of the problem with rebuilding a team primarily through free agency is that it tends to leave a shortfall in homegrown talent. And because the expectation to win grows in lockstep with a skyrocketing payroll, it can be difficult to show patience with the few young players who are…

SEATTLE — It took a few years, but J.P. Crawford turned out to be mostly what the Phillies thought he was: a stellar defensive shortstop with on-base skills and leadership qualities in the clubhouse.

PHILADELPHIA — In the bottom of the seventh inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers, outfielder Kyle Schwarber collided with shortstop Didi Gregorius while the two were trying to field a pop fly. Gregorius was checked out by a team trainer but remained in the game.

DENVER — J.T. Realmuto had neither dropped his bat nor run more than halfway down the first-base line when the mighty Phillies offense stalled once again Monday night.

PHILADELPHIA — The Mets were without their starting pitcher after just two innings against the Phillies, spelling disaster for the bullpen to cover the remaining seven frames. Despite David Peterson carrying the load, his strong effort in relief went from a turning point to a spoiled performance.