Philadelphia Phillies fans want Don Mattingly gone after he pushed the wrong buttons for Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Phillies entered Saturday’s matchup desperately needing a win to fend off the Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for the final NL Wild Card slot. Mattingly turned to veteran pitcher Aaron Nola for the start at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.
Nola had just taken the mound on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mattingly was asked about the decision before the game and called Nola his “best option” for the must-win contest.
“Felt like the best option tonight,” Mattingly said on the FOX broadcast. “He’s a guy that does throw a lot. He throws his bullpen, it’s 40-50 pitches. He didn’t throw it yesterday. Saved it for today if we needed it, and we need it.”
Nola allowed three doubles and a home run in the first inning alone, putting the Phillies in an immediate 0-3 hole. Mattingly hit abort on Nola after just one inning as the Rays scored 10 unanswered runs through six innings.
Several fans slammed Mattingly for the decision to start Nola, with some even calling for his firing.
I love Don Mattingly, my fave player ever. But going with Nola, on 2 days rest on top of that, is a fireable offense https://t.co/rZ4WaYsKGk
— Eduardo D Guerrero (@DannyG_NYC) September 27, 2026
Don Mattingly: Baseball Man thought starting a guy on two days’ rest was a good idea.
— Just Some Guy 🦬 (@jeremylatzke) September 27, 2026
I bet you the “computer nerds who have never even played the game” would have said it was a terrible idea.
Shockingly, it was a terrible idea.
No matter how things turn out for the Phillies, Don Mattingly won’t be back next year.
— Ellie.G (@swimLLai) September 27, 2026
So Don Mattingly started Aaron Nola on 2 days rest tonight/after giving up 3 runs in the 1st inning he could come out 2 start the 2nd/I know I overreact but I would fire Mattingly TONIGHT/How can anyone on the team have any faith in his decisions! 2 DAYS REST!
— Steve Keller (@KellerNationNRR) September 27, 2026
The Rays beat the Phillies 12-1.
Mattingly took over as the Phillies manager in April after the team started the season 9-19 under his predecessor, Rob Thomson. Philadelphia turned things around under Mattingly and looked like a shoo-in for a postseason spot up until this week.
The Phillies came into Saturday’s game on a three-game slide, while the Diamondbacks stayed alive with a six-game winning streak. Arizona holds the tiebreaker if the two teams end the season tied.
