Ad Disclosure
Philadelphia Phillies Chase Rate Update: Swinging and Missing and Winning
Published:
Here’s your Philadelphia Phillies chase rate update for August 22nd, 2025:
Interestingly, the Phillies are 14-7 since our last chase rate update, which followed the series-opening loss to the Chicago White Sox back in late July. They’ve opened up a big lead in the division, and naturally you’d think the chase rate number would have improved upon the 29.4% they were posting back then, which was their highest number of the season.
Instead, it’s gone backwards. They are now chasing 30.1% of pitches, which is the third-highest number in Major League Baseball and a season high. It’s the first time they’ve crested 30%, and they’re doing it while only making contact 54.3% of the time, which is tied for 18th. A bit of a discrepancy there, since they’re chasing at a bottom-three rate but making contact at a middle-of-the-pack number.
The takeaway is that this is just what the Phillies are. They swing at a lot of junk and only make contact about half of the time. NONETHELESS, they have 74 wins and are in position to win the division for the second straight season while earning their fourth playoff berth in a row.
What’s particularly telling is that five of the top six chase teams are all playoff squads as of publication. The Rockies are the worst chasers, but the Astros, Phillies, Padres, Red Sox, and Blue Jays would all be in, if the postseason began today. And the Royals are right there despite having a penchant for swinging at stuff outside of the zone.
TL:DR – this is what the Phillies are. Hopefully it the worst of it does not reappear in the playoffs, as it did in 2024 and 2023.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com