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Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd Another off-season league got underway on Thursday with the Aguilas hosting the rival Gigantes, but it was the pitting of two teammates against one another that should be of interest to Phillies fans. The co-winners of this year's Phillies Paul Owens Award, an honor bestowed upon players chosen as the top developmental performers in the organization each year, Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins , faced off in the contest. The two sluggers led their 2016 regular season club, the Reading Fightin Phils, to a division title in the Double-A Eastern League this year. It was Cozens, who went 0-for-4 in the game, and his Aguilas that were victorious by a score of 4-2 over Hoskins (1-for-3, HBP) and his Gigantes team. Also in that game for the Gigantes, Phillies starting pitcher Alec Asher tossed five scoreless frames for a no decision. The 25-year-old righty posted a 2-1 record along with a 2.28 ERA in five big league starts this year. Cozens, the East...

Ryan Howard, image- Jay Floyd In a series that will wrap up the fifth straight season in which the Phillies (70-89) have failed to reach the postseason, the host club will likely see a division rival clinch a playoff berth on their home turf. The Phils will host the Mets (85-74), who hold a magic number of two to lock down a National League Wild Card spot, for a three-game set beginning Friday night. With the Mets in the driver's seat to be able to punch their own ticket toward the postseason, the Phils will counter with something remarkable of their own, when they honor former NL Most Valuable Player and three-time All-Star Ryan Howard with a pre-game presentation on Sunday. The 36-year-old is playing his last days in a Phillies uniform as the team reportedly plans a buy out of their option on the veteran for next season. The lefty slugger has been in the Phils' organization since the team made him their 5th round draft choice back in 2001. The Mets have been vic...

  Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that Phillies minor league pitcher Alec Asher has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance enhancing drug. Asher was on the disabled list with a lower calf contusion after being hit in the leg with a batted ball for Triple-A Lehigh Valley last month. The 24-year-old posted a 4-2 record with a 2.30 ERA and a .193 batting average against in eight minor league starts this season after opening the 2016 campaign with Double-A Reading. After he was acquired from Texas as part of the Cole Hamels trade last season, Asher tallied a 0-6 record with a 9.31 ERA in seven big league starts. Asher is the second Phillies player busted for this substance in 2016. Rule 5 acquisition and lefty pitcher Daniel Stumpf was suspended earlier this season after appearing in three games for the Phils. Also of note from the farm... CF prospect Roman Quinn hit the disabled list for AA R...

Getting swept in a double header at home has likely never had such a positive spin as it did for the Phillies on Saturday as they lost a pair of contests against the division rival Marlins. In the opening game of the twin bill, the Phils would lose for the first time this season when leading after eight innings as flame throwing closer Kenny Giles blew just his second save opportunity since taking over the duties at the back end of the bullpen after the trade of Jonathan Papelbon . In the night cap, rookie hurler Alec Asher , acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels deal, surrendered three earned runs in two innings of work to fall to 0-6 on the season in the big leagues. The Marlins were victors by scores of 7-6 and 5-2. The Phillies solidified their worst record since 1969 with their 99th loss of the season. With one game remaining this season, the century mark isn't out of the question in the loss column. They've not lost 100 or more games since 1961 when the club dro...

On the latest edition of Phillies Nation, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen joins the panel to discuss the big league debut of Alec Asher , the production of Jerad Eickhoff as well as Aaron Nola 's efforts for the big club. Minor league insider Jay Floyd and Rudy Mezzy team up to review the Phils' acquisitions from recent trades including righty pitcher Nick Pivetta . Rachel and Corey also chat about what is to come for Ryan Howard , Cameron Rupp and others. Watch this week's episode in the media player below and look for new episodes to premiere each Tuesday at 6PM on The Comcast Network (no new show Labor Day week).

Necessary roster moves were made on Friday following the placement on the disabled list for two injured players. Phillies reliever Elvis Araujo will miss time with a groin strain while Reading outfielder Nick Williams is out with a concussion following a collision in the field on Wednesday. Replacing Araujo on the big league roster is righty Nefi Ogando . The 26-year-old was acquired near the end of the 2013 season from Boston in a trade for utility guy John McDonald . Ogando, a native of the Dominican Republic, sports a 4-5 record with a 3.05 ERA, three saves and a 7.8 K/9 mark in 42 games combined at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. Cozens, image- Jay Floyd Filling the void with Reading will be outfielder Dylan Cozens . The 21-year-old was the Phillies' 2nd round draft choice in 2012. In 96 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater this season, Cozens sports a .282 average with five home runs, 46 RBI and 18 steals. The 24-year-old rookie Arau...

The Cole Hamels to Texas trade is a six-for-two ( plus money ) deal with lefty reliever Jake Diekman joining the Phillies' former ace on his way to the Rangers in return for big league starting pitcher Matt Harrison as well as the following prospects- pitchers Jerad Eickhoff , Alec Asher and Jake Thompson , outfielder Nick Williams and catcher Jorge Alfaro . Eickhoff, a 25-year-old righty, tallied a 1-0 record with a 2.70 ERA in two starts at the Triple-A level this year and had a 4.25 ERA and an 8.24 K/9 mark in 18 games at Double-A this season. The six-foot-four 240-pounder was a 15th round draft pick in 2011. Eickhoff throws a mid-90's fastball as well as a curve ball and a change up. It's possible his future is out of the bullpen. Asher, a righty, tallied a 3-6 record with a 4.73 ERA in 12 games at Triple-A after posting a 1-4 record with a 3.98 ERA in eight Double-A games this season. The six-foot-four 230-pounder was a 4th round draft selection in 2012. With ...