Philadelphia Phillies fans, hold onto your hats. While there’s no reason to hit the panic button yet, there’s some work to be done if the team wants to see themselves as serious World Series contenders.

Let’s not get too hung up on the Phillies’ 3 1/2-game gap behind the New York Mets in the National League East. A more pressing issue is the struggles of two key players: third baseman Alec Bohm and center fielder Brandon Marsh.

Both have played pivotal roles in past playoff runs, but right now, their bats are quiet.

As the July trade deadline looms, if Bohm and Marsh continue to struggle, Philadelphia might have to make some tough decisions about their starting lineup. The focus is particularly on Marsh, who could find himself replaced by a seasoned rental outfielder.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield has the Phillies on his radar as potential early buyers, eyeing Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox. Robert’s time with the Sox has seen highs like a 38-home run season with a .542 slugging percentage in 2023, and he’s currently in the last year of a six-year, $50 million deal.

The intriguing part? There are club options to keep him around for 2026 and 2027.

Though his bat hasn’t fully bounced back—plummeting from a .657 OPS in 2024 to a .513 mark in just 20 games this year—Robert is still showing his speed with seven stolen bases already. Sometimes all it takes is one good week to flip the script on a season.

So, who’s going to find their groove first, Marsh or Robert? This question isn’t just a thought exercise; it could shape the Phillies’ journey in the second half of the season.

The drama is building, and the team’s response will be pivotal in the weeks to come. Stay tuned, folks, because this could get interesting.