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Phillies’ Don Mattingly likes LA, even if he ‘doesn’t worry’ about the Dodgers
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- Phillies’ Don Mattingly likes LA, even if he ‘doesn’t worry’ about the Dodgers
Phillies' Don Mattingly likes LA, even if he 'doesn't worry' about the Dodgers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Philadelphia Phillies entered Saturday looking to regain traction after dropping Friday night's series opener at Chavez Ravine, 4-2. For Don Mattingly, the trip carried added meaning because of his history with the Los Angeles Dodgers , but the Phillies' interim manager kept the focus squarely on his current club.
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Mattingly managed the Dodgers from 2011 through 2015, leading Los Angeles to three consecutive National League West titles. His return to Dodger Stadium came as the Phillies tried to sustain one of baseball's more notable in-season turnarounds.
The Phillies were 9-19 when Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson on April 28. Since then, they have climbed back into contention, winning seven consecutive series before arriving in Los Angeles for a demanding matchup against the defending back-to-back World Series champions and one of MLB's strongest teams.
The Sporting Tribune's Fredo Cervantes posted video on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday night of Mattingly discussing his return before the series opener and his positive remarks about traveling to Los Angeles.
"I love coming here, I love LA," Mattingly said. "I don't really worry about them, I really worry more about us."
The response fit the tone Mattingly has set since taking over. He acknowledged his connection to the Dodgers without turning the weekend into a reflection on his past, instead shifting the conversation back to what the Phillies need to correct.
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Friday's loss dropped the Phillies to 29-28 and offered a reminder that the turnaround remains a work in progress. The Philadelphia offense produced only three hits and continued to struggle against left-handed pitching, as Justin Wrobleski earned his seventh win of the season while throwing seven innings of one-hit ball, underscoring an issue Mattingly will need to address as the schedule moves toward June.
Even with that uneven start to the series, the broader view remains far more encouraging than it was a month ago. Mattingly's return to Dodger Stadium brought some nostalgia, but his attention stayed on a Phillies team that has moved from early disappointment into the postseason race.
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