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  • How to have a Perfect Philly Day, according to former Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin

    How to have a Perfect Philly Day, according to former Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin

    Connor Barwin has a tattoo of the Detroit skyline sketched on his right arm, but in nearly every other way, he’s a Philly diehard. (Some fans have wondered online whether it’s actually the Philadelphia skyline — it’s not.)

    The former linebacker moved here in 2013 to play for the Eagles and “fell in love with Philly pretty quickly,” he said.

    During his first season, Barwin, 39, launched the Make the World Better Foundation to fund revitalizations of city parks and playgrounds. He lived in Center City and rode SEPTA to practice.

    Even when he left to play for the Rams in Los Angeles in 2017 and the Giants in New York in 2018, he maintained his civic devotion, reminding Pennsylvanians from afar to register to vote. In 2018, he moved back for good, settling in Fishtown with his wife, his now 8-year-old son and his 5-year-old daughter. He reads The Inquirer in print every Sunday.

    His foundation hosts a yearly benefit concert and has transformed the Vare Recreation Center in Grays Ferry and Waterloo Playground in Kensington, among others.

    Barwin now works for the Eagles as head of football development and strategy. On his perfect day, he orders the same breakfast he’s eaten roughly 199 times before, (quietly) roots for his kids from the sideline of their soccer games, and spends several happy hours at the Linc.

    A perfect day for Connor Barwin involves biking to breakfast with his wife and two children. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    7 a.m.

    I’m sleeping in, and waking up around 7 — on my own and not with my kids jumping in my bed. I have quiet time with my wife. I still get the physical paper delivered on Sundays, and if I can get 30 minutes to read it before my kids wake up, that’s the start of a perfect day.

    8 a.m.

    All of us get on our bikes and ride over to Cafe La Maude. I don’t know how I discovered it, but I’ve been going there for about 12 years. I get the open-faced burrito. I’ve probably been there 200 times, and I’ve ordered the open-faced burrito 199 times. I hear they have a lot of other great things on their menu, but I don’t waver.

    9:30 a.m.

    We bike home. It’s about a mile, and when you’re with two young kids, you have to take your time. Cycling is the perfect thing because it gets me outside, it gets me with my family, and we’re all getting some exercise.

    11 a.m.

    We go watch my kids play soccer in a local club. You just can’t forget the chairs because there’s usually not seating. On my perfect day, I’m sitting and watching both of them from the same vantage point.

    I try to let them have that space and for their coach to do the coaching, and I just try to observe. There’s three things that are most important: to have fun, be a good teammate, and play hard. And if kids are doing that, they’re getting what they should be getting out of sports.

    Connor Barwin sits for a portrait in his backyard, where his kids like to play soccer. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    12:30 p.m.

    Around the block from where we live is a great little corner store, D&C Deli. We’ll walk down and get hoagies from there. I get the Italian, my wife gets the turkey. My kids get turkey and cheese or tuna. It’s one of the great parts about living in the city.

    1 p.m.

    I drop off the family. I get dressed and get whatever I need. Then I’m heading down to the Eagles stadium to be there three-plus hours before the 4:25 game.

    1:30 p.m.

    I run the stadium stairs, taking in the stadium before it fills up. It’s a tradition that I like to do since I stopped playing.

    I love seeing and talking to the people who work in the stadium. I have some fun conversations with them about what they think about the game. They play a big role in the game day experience, so I enjoy that. And then I have my responsibilities before a game.

    4:25 p.m.

    I’m locked into my role. There’s a focus and intensity to it. I often get asked, do I miss not being a player anymore? I would say I don’t really miss it because I enjoy still being a part of it, and the intensity and competition that comes with it.

    7:30 p.m.

    The Eagles win. After the game, I hang out with my family and other families in the stadium for an hour or so to let traffic die down. Maybe on a perfect day it’s not a close game, so people leave early and there’s less traffic.

    8:30 p.m.

    When I played, I always got Santucci’s pizza after home games. Now I go back and forth between Santucci’s and Pizzeria Beddia. If I’m ordering Santucci’s, it’s a mushroom pizza. If I’m at Beddia, we’re usually getting the corn pie. My wife’s favorite is the pizza with greens. And we get the plain as well.

    10 p.m.

    We put the kids to bed, and then my wife and I have a Lambrusco.

    The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.

  • She put in an offer on a ‘granny special’ in South Philly before her partner set foot inside | How I Bought This House

    She put in an offer on a ‘granny special’ in South Philly before her partner set foot inside | How I Bought This House

    The buyer: Joanna Jaeger, 32, general manager at Bart’s Bagels.

    The house: A 894-square-foot rowhouse with two bedrooms and 1½ baths built in 1920 in Lower Moyamensing.

    The price: Listed for $236,900; purchased for $233,000.

    The agent: Martha Lutz, OCF Realty.

    Adrian Schraufnagel and June on the first floor. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The ask: Joanna Jaeger and her boyfriend, Adrian Schraufnagel, were tired of their one-bedroom in West Philly and fed up with renting in general. When their landlord announced a $200 rent increase in 2022, they notified him they would be moving out in 90 days.

    The clock was ticking to find a new home.

    They wanted a move-in ready place that wouldn’t immediately require expensive repairs. And after renting in West Philly for six years, they were eager to move across the river, to be closer to restaurants and more public transit. They also wanted to live within walking distance of a dog park.

    With a ceiling of $250,000, they hoped to find something closer to $230,000.

    Joanna Jaeger’s mother paid for the floors to be redone. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The search: Jaeger enlisted a friend and coworker to be her real estate agent. They visited a series of newly renovated houses because Jaeger thought they would require the fewest repairs after move-in. She put in an offer on one but didn’t get it. She was becoming increasingly panicked.

    “I was like, ‘Oh my god, we’re running out of time!’” Jaeger recalled.

    Then, in April she saw an intriguing house on Zillow. It was a “granny special,” she said, featuring wall-to-wall purple shag carpeting and an upstairs bathroom paneled in dark wood with a ’70s floral motif around the sink. When she visited, there was a framed portrait of Frank Sinatra on the basement wall.

    Jaeger immediately loved the ’70s floral motif around the bathroom sink and the pale blue sink and tub. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    “It felt so cozy,” Jaeger said. “You could tell whoever lived there took a lot of pride in the house.”

    Though she had been looking at recently flipped houses, she especially liked the old-school South Philly features, including the awning out front and the amber-colored textured glass in the vestibule.

    The house was walking distance to Marconi Plaza and close to the bus and the Broad Street Line.

    Joanna Jaeger immediately loved the textured amber glass in the vestibule of the South Philly house. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The deal: Jaeger told Schraufnagel that because of their tight deadline, he wouldn’t get to see the house in person before she put in an offer. He trusted her.

    “He usually follows the vision that I propose,” she said.

    She put in an offer for $233,000, an amount slightly under asking that her agent still deemed “respectful.” The sellers accepted the next day.

    Whoever lived there took a lot of pride in the house, Joanna Jaeger thought when she visited the home. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    An inspection found the house in good condition. The main issues were an electrical system with cloth insulation — a feature in many older homes that would make an electrical panel upgrade more expensive — and basement tiles likely made from asbestos. They were already painted over by the previous owners.

    “We’ve never tested it because we don’t really want to know,” Jaeger said.

    Adrian Schraufnagel and Joanna Jaeger ripped up the purple shag carpeting on the floors themselves. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The money: A friend advised Jaeger not to buy a house with a boyfriend, and Schraufnagel’s credit score would have negatively impacted their interest rate.

    So Jaeger decided to buy the house herself. She qualified for a first-time homebuyer loan for $11,650 through Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and was able to negotiate a $2,500 seller assist after the inspection. The closing costs on the house were $13,364.

    Though she had saved up $15,000 to put toward the house, she ended up withdrawing only $9,214 from her savings for a $10,000 down payment.

    Schraufnagel contributes to the monthly payments, though the deed is in Jaeger’s name. With a 5.625% interest rate, the couple’s monthly payments are $1,274, plus $121 per month for mortgage insurance.

    Joanna Jaeger said buying her South Philly home made her feel grounded enough to have a child. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The move: Jaeger closed on the home in early June 2022, and she and Schraufnagel moved in the day before their West Philly lease ended.

    They rented a U-Haul for large items and packed smaller ones into Jaeger’s Prius. A new neighbor saw them unloading boxes and offered to help, a sign of the close-knit community they were joining.

    “They are still very fabulous neighbors,” Jaeger said.

    When Jaeger’s parents visited for the first time, her dad suggested replacing the dated bathroom. “This bathroom is why we bought the house!” she told him.

    The bathroom is paneled in dark wood, one of the old-school features Joanna Jaeger loved about the house. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Life after close: Jaeger and Schraufnagel ripped up the purple carpets from the first floor, the bedrooms, and the hallways themselves, and Jaeger’s mother contributed $10,000 to install new vinyl plank floors. But the work wasn’t done by the time they moved in, so they had to camp out in a corner of the living room for two days.

    The house has already been a site of major life changes. Jaeger and Schraufnagel married in 2023 and welcomed their first child, June, last year.

    A set of June’s paints. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    “If we hadn’t bought our house, we probably would have decided not to have a kid,” Jaeger said. “Moving into our house gave me a big sense of grounded-ness.”

    The house still has its quirks: The bedrooms are connected by a closet, so if both closets are open, there’s a passageway between them. And sometimes Jaeger and Schraufnagel will come across something like mismatched molding that was clearly done by an amateur in a DIY spirit.

    Even so, they don’t plan to move any time soon.

    “We’re gonna own this house forever,” Jaeger said, “and probably live in this house forever.”

    Did you recently buy a home in the Philadelphia area or South Jersey? Share the story of how you did it. Email Inquirer real estate reporters at properties@inquirer.com.

  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 1 and a game prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Commanders in Week 1 and a game prediction

    The Eagles open the season against the Washington Commanders at 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:

    When the Eagles have the ball: The biggest uncertainty coming into this season will be how Sean Mannion does as a first-time offensive coordinator and play-caller and how the Eagles — specifically, quarterback Jalen Hurts — adapt to his new scheme. We saw many of the changes throughout camp and in the preseason: more of Hurts under center, more outside zone runs, more motion, and more play-action. Expect more of all of it in the regular season. But how far will Mannion go, and how much of a previous Eagles offense that had highs and notable lows last season, will be kept? The Eagles have understandably kept the answer to that question close to the vest, with the element of surprise one possible benefit heading into the opener.

    unCovering the Birds: Is tight end the biggest area of concern?
    Video: unCovering the Birds: Is tight end the biggest area of concern?

    What wouldn’t be a shocker is a run-heavy offense, especially against a Commanders defense that is still not that imposing up the middle. The Eagles’ offensive line is about as healthy as possible. Mannion will likely lean on them and running back Saquon Barkley, despite the new wide-zone blocking scheme. Washington’s defense should be better than last season. It would be hard to be worse. They hired a new coordinator in Daronte Jones and went faster and more athletic with six new starters. Jones has worked under several notable coaches, but he was last with Brian Flores in Minnesota and is expected to employ Flores’ base system. That would mean a 3-4 front, lots of pre-snap disguise, and frequent blitzing.

    Daron Payne, who’s questionable with a knee injury, returns as Washington’s best interior lineman, but he’s never been a dominant force against the run and now the unit will be without veteran middle linebacker Bobby Wagner. First- round rookie Sonny Styles was drafted as his replacement, and could end up one of the better two-way linebackers in the game. But he’s young and an unknown. Frankie Luvu is a chess piece for Jones at the second level. And speedy edges Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson were added in the offseason. But I don’t see a front seven that can match up with the Eagles’ O-line if Mannion plays it straight-up on the ground. Barkley has had some of his best outings against the Commanders. I’d stay with that formula.

    If forced to throw a lot in Week 1, how comfortable will Jalen Hurts look? Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Jones will likely want to be aggressive and not let the Eagles dictate the flow. If he can force Hurts and Co. to play behind the sticks then it could get interesting on offense, because the pass offense may not yet be where coach Nick Sirianni wants it. If there’s going to be a fair amount of play-action and Hurts turning his back to the defense — something he hasn’t done a lot of over his career — Jones could alter the picture post-snap by rotating his safeties. That was a Flores calling card, but it’s also worth noting that Hurts had one of the best throwing halves of his career against Flores and the Vikings last season.

    There’s little doubt that Jones will create pressure when Hurts drops. I’d expect more simulated blitzes than extra rushers considering how the Eagles struggled against that tactic last season. Will the protection adjust and will Mannion give his quarterback better answers than he had last season? If so, Hurts could have opportunities to exploit a secondary that isn’t strong on paper. Washington’s best corner, Trey Amos, is on injured reserve. Former Eagle Rasul Douglas is his likely replacement. I’d expect a double move or two from receiver DeVonta Smith when he lines up opposite the 32-year-old cornerback.

    When the Commanders have the ball: Washington’s other new coordinator is more of a mystery, because David Blough is so young. He’s an ex-quarterback only a few years removed from playing who’s been on the coaching express train. If that doesn’t sound similar enough to Mannion, he is also implementing a Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay-type offense that will ask his quarterback to major in schemes he’s only minored in before. Jayden Daniels thrived in former coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s shotgun-heavy, run-pass-option system as a rookie. But he put himself in harm’s way too much in his second season and missed tons of time to injury. Can Daniels remain as effective in an under-center system, while maintaining his mobility as a threat?

    Jayden Daniels is back after an injury-plagued 2025, but is working with a new offensive coordinator in David Blough. Nick Wass

    That’ll depend on how much Blough plans to take from Ben Johnson, under whom he played with the Detroit Lions. The expectation is that he will certainly adopt the marrying of the run and pass through the outside zone, but it’s unlikely he’ll want to make Daniels completely uncomfortable. Blough probably spent some time watching Johnson and the Bears rip the Eagles’ run defense apart last season. Chicago used movement up front to get the front out of its gap assignments and take advantage of overpursuit linebackers and safeties at the second level. Vic Fangio will know as much, and should have a counterplan. Will he lean on his preferred light box count that has prevented borrowing a safety in run support? Or will he help Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Co. knowing that Daniels will still be a plus-one factor?

    Commanders coach Dan Quinn has typically favored a run-based attack. He has a couple of solid running backs in Jacory Croskey-Merritt (early downs) and Rachaad White (passing downs). The Eagles have mostly done well against dual-threat quarterbacks, but the edges have to keep their integrity on their rushes and when they’re backside vs. zone-read run plays. Could linebacker Jihaad Campbell or others spy on Daniels?

    Fangio doesn’t rotate his safeties post-snap as much as some other coordinators. But he can certainly mix that element in to confuse Daniels on play-actions. He has two trustworthy, veteran receivers in the returning Terry McLaurin and the arriving Stefon Diggs. The Eagles have one of the best cornerback trios in the league, but McLaurin got the best of Quinyon Mitchell two years ago, not so much last season. Cooper DeJean will have his hands full vs. Diggs when he lines up in the slot. Blough has a collection of versatile tight ends that could allow him heavy “12” personnel and further mask whether he’s calling run or pass. Safeties Andrew Mukuba and Marcus Epps are sure to be targeted on throws down the middle.

    Jordan Davis (left) and Jalen Carter (right) could cause problems for a Commanders O-line that is without its best player in Laremy Tunsil. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    The Eagles should have a decided edge up front. The Commanders lost their best O-lineman (left tackle Laremy Tunsil) early in camp and are suspect at several spots. Replacement Brandon Coleman moved from left guard. Right tackle Josh Conerly is coming off an underwhelming rookie season. And new center Nick Allegretti missed most of camp with a calf injury. Right guard Sam Cosmi is good. But Carter has to be licking his chops. If the apparently healthy defensive tackle can push the pocket — or one of the other interior guys, if Carter is doubled — Daniels will likely struggle and Fangio won’t have to blitz much.

    Extra point: Jonathan Greenard was declared out on Friday after being a limited participant in practice all week. The outside linebacker missed all of camp with a pectoral injury and wasn’t expected to be ready by the opener. He also has to learn a new scheme that asks him to drop more than ever. The season is a marathon and Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. are more than capable on the edges in his absence.

    On offense, Mannion should be prepared for all scenarios, but Jones is probably going to stack the box to stop Barkley. It worked for most defenses last season, and until the Eagles show they can win consistently through the air, I don’t imagine opponents will drift from that approach. If Hurts has to drop more than expected, Mannion could go with a quick pass game to make Washington’s leaky secondary tackle in space.

    The Eagles are surprisingly only 5½-point favorites, but Vegas usually plays it safe in Week 1. Sirianni-Hurts are 5-0 in openers, though, and have mostly had their way against the Quinn-led Commanders. Unless amateur magician Blough can pull off some tricks, I see the Eagles pulling away in the second half and covering the spread.

    Prediction: Eagles, 27-20.

  • Horoscopes: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026

    Horoscopes: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). The usual things need to be tended to before you can move on to the “fun stuff.” Doing the chores in a different order will make it go better, if only because the novelty quickens and sharpens you.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When you’re uncertain, resist the pressure to answer right away. You probably don’t yet know what people really want. Slow the conversation down so you can hear the clues, like a change in the voice, and themes that repeat. Follow the tension.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). To aim and miss is hard enough when done in private. Missing in front of people takes real guts. But if most people around you aren’t even trying, any mistake you make proves you’re braver. You’re actually living.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your experience isn’t isolated. Many people are navigating the same kinds of obstacles. Changes in your own life really do mirror something happening all around you. Communities are forming.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You discover that compatibility has less to do with agreeing about everything and more to do with enjoying ordinary days. Routines become cozy. Greetings become warmer, goodbyes become shorter, and home starts looking like another person’s face.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are like the universal key that can, with a certain amount of jiggling, fit into a lot of different situations today, so you can afford to be choosy. There’s that one that will click like it’s made for you.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It will feel good to shed some of the things you’ve stored for year. Your efforts to need less, appreciate more and be generous in any way you can be will not only make life better for you, but also influence all around you.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re caring less about what people think of you, and the less you care, the more they like you. Without the distraction of having to please, small, wonderful things happen today, including the fact that you simply have more energy.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). “Do as I say, not as I do” may be uniquely human, as the other animals don’t spend nearly as much time directing each other. You’ll follow your advice to others and teach them twice.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). What you need most today is willpower — not because times are hard, but because they are not. Staying on track can be much more of a challenge on ordinary days, but surround yourself with good examples and you’re golden.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It is said that ability is nothing without opportunity. The trick is in pursuing the opportunity, even before you know what it looks like. You can practically smell it now, like cookies baking in the distance.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). To demand perfection of yourself is hardly fair. Even if asking for perfection nets you better results than if you hadn’t, the stress is too high a cost to be worthwhile today. A gentle, tolerant spirit takes you further.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 12). It’s your Year of the Zephyrs, when pleasant surprises drift in on the westerly wind. Change is easy, love is breezy; prepare for storms and then enjoy when they dissipate before they can ever reach you. Someone’s always having a good time; this year, it’s you. More highlights: Children inspire. Businesses meld, benefiting all. You’ll change your financial strategy and do what you wanted to do with less. Cancer and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 42, 31, 26, 9 and 3.

  • Dear Abby | Relative’s gift came with strings attached

    Dear Abby | Relative’s gift came with strings attached

    DEAR ABBY: About 15 years ago, my nephew gave me a birthday gift of a baseball bat signed by a top player. I love baseball, so it was a lovely gift. After I thanked him, he said, “When my son is older, I would like you to give it to him.” We have been estranged now for at least 10 years because his spouse dislikes our family for some reason.

    Am I obligated to find a way to get the bat back to him? Looking at their Facebook over the years, I see no signs that there is any interest in baseball in this son or their family. I am in my later years and have been trying to downsize and pass on some of my things. I would rather pass it on to a grandchild of mine who loves and currently plays baseball and would treasure it.

    — DOWNSIZING BASEBALL FAN

    DEAR FAN: This family has chosen to cut ties with you. They cannot reasonably expect you to track down a grandnephew with whom you have no relationship. In fact, it was crass of your nephew to put a stipulation on the gift in the first place. Pass the bat to the grandchild you know and love.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married for 20 years. My in-laws and I have had a decent relationship. My husband, our three teenage children and I have been living with them for 10 years. It was rough at first, but things got better. My in-laws received and spent three cushy inheritances (close to $3.5 million) over the last 22 years. They also maxed out a reverse mortgage within the past two years. Abby, they have not one dime of it left! Things started to go downhill about four years ago. My husband and I have bailed them out financially too many times to count. We’re not financially struggling, but our nest egg (that we worked hard for and was to go toward buying our own home) is nearly gone. The in-laws have slid back into their old ways again — not paying bills, not cleaning up after themselves, not helping with household chores, neglecting their health, etc.

    My in-laws gave us their powers of attorney for health and finance a few months ago. They agreed to allow us to help them get organized, make a budget, clean up their house, make appointments and hold them accountable. They invariably play the victim and complain when we try to discuss things. Over the past eight months, I’ve had two breakdowns. This is affecting my mental and physical health. My kids want nothing to do with their grandparents. I’m not perfect, but I do have self-respect. Please help!

    — ON EDGE IN WASHINGTON

    DEAR ON EDGE: It’s time to recognize that your in-laws may have a problem that you and your husband are not equipped to handle. That you now have their powers of attorney may (or may not) save all of you. For everyone’s sake, stop enabling them and enlist the help of a licensed financial counselor to help straighten out this mess. Go online and look for an accredited or certified credit counselor affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nfcc.org.). Their “slide back into their old ways” may have a medical explanation, which means your in-laws need to be evaluated medically and neurologically. Please don’t wait.

  • Phillies scratch Jesús Luzardo from Saturday’s start vs. Atlanta Braves

    Phillies scratch Jesús Luzardo from Saturday’s start vs. Atlanta Braves

    ATLANTA — The Phillies’ hopes of catching the Braves in the divisional race already were on life support after Friday night’s 6-5 extra-innings loss to Atlanta.

    But they were dealt another serious blow when Jesús Luzardo was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday because of shoulder stiffness. The Phillies instead are going with a bullpen game using an opener to be announced Saturday.

    The issue cropped up after the lefty’s last outing, a two-hit, 109-pitch shutout against the Braves on Sept. 7. At this point, interim manager Don Mattingly said Luzardo will not require a stint on the injured list, just additional rest.

    “If it lingers, it obviously would be a big blow, and I would be more concerned,” Mattingly said. “To this point, I don’t feel that same way.”

    Luzardo was not in the clubhouse postgame Friday when reporters entered.

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    Mattingly said that the biggest issue is Luzardo is having trouble “getting loose.” He threw a touch-and-feel bullpen session on Friday, and while he thought he could pitch, the Phillies want to be cautious with him.

    “As we worked through it the last couple of days, we thought he’s going to be able to make the start. Still not quite there,” Mattingly said. “We feel like it’s safer to be careful with him and don’t want this to linger. So it’s one of the things we want to try to take care of and just go from there.”

    The initial plan is to have Luzardo get a couple extra days’ rest and start at some point next week. Mattingly pointed to the Braves and how they rested Chris Sale following his complete game as a comparison. After Sale, 37, threw nine innings against the Dodgers on Aug. 27, he did not appear in another game until a week later on Sept. 4 when he faced the Phillies.

    Why the Phillies should prioritize avoiding the Braves in the wild-card round | David Murphy

    The club will be stretched thin for its bullpen game on Saturday after using five relievers in an 11-inning loss to Atlanta on Friday. Orion Kerkering was also moving around the clubhouse postgame in a walking boot because of a turf toe that he has been managing.

    Mattingly said that Kerkering still can throw, and he actually was available on Friday, but he decided to go with right-hander Chase Shugart for the 10th instead. Kerkering hasn’t appeared in a game since Sept. 4.

    “He’s actually been throwing. We feel like he can pitch,” Mattingly said of Kerkering. “It’s just like it’s just one of those things.”

    But beyond Saturday’s game, the health of Luzardo, who has been an anchor for the Phillies rotation with a 1.85 ERA in his last 10 starts, is paramount.

    “Big bummer for us. We obviously need him, but we want to be healthy and we need him for the stretch,” Bryce Harper said. “But we got to get in and got to play good right now for that to happen.”

  • Baserunning miscue looms large for Phillies in series-opening loss to Braves

    Baserunning miscue looms large for Phillies in series-opening loss to Braves

    ATLANTA — Bryce Harper was off and running from second.

    Alec Bohm had hit a grounder right to Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubón, but by the time Harper realized his mistake, it was too late. He was frozen between second and third, and Dubón had him dead to rights.

    Harper was tagged out for the second out in the top of the ninth, and the Phillies’ best chance at an insurance run went up in smoke. When the Braves tied the game in the ninth, and again in the 10th, before finally walking off the Phillies, 6-5, in the 11th, the blunder cast an even longer shadow.

    “Not ideal situation,” Harper said. “Yeah, need to be better.”

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    As Friday’s game marched into extra innings, the Phillies were unable to build a lead of more than one run. And the Braves kept punching back, before finally breaking through with an RBI double from Drake Baldwin to take the series opener in Atlanta.

    The bad news for the Phillies didn’t end there. Jesús Luzardo, who almost single-handedly beat the Braves in his first career shutout last week, was scratched from his scheduled Saturday start because of shoulder stiffness.

    Now, the Phillies will follow up Friday’s 11-inning game, which required five relief arms, with a bullpen game on Saturday.

    Luzardo started feeling the stiffness after his 109-pitch shutout of the Braves on Sept. 4. The Phillies initially hoped he would be able to make his start but now opting fort caution. Interim manager Don Mattingly said Luzardo does not currently require time on the injured list.

    “We feel like it’s safer to be careful with him and don’t want this to linger,” Mattingly said. “So it’s one of the things we want to try to take care of and just go from there.”

    Friday’s loss stung all the more because the Phillies had managed to put up three runs on Braves ace Chris Sale. The second-inning rally, capped by a bases-clearing double by Derek Hill, had been their only sustained offense against him, but it was starting to look like it was all they needed.

    Aaron Nola worked his way around heavy traffic for 6⅓ innings, keeping the damage to a pair of solo home runs. José Alvarado relieved him and delivered two big strikeouts of Baldwin and Ronald Acuña Jr. Rookie Alex McFarlane turned in a scoreless eighth in a big spot.

    With the Phillies clinging to a 3-2 lead in the ninth, Harper’s mistake was latest in a long line of baserunning blunders the Phillies have committed in this recent stretch. And this particular play between second and third seems to be the Phillies’ kryptonite.

    Alec Bohm made an identical mistake to Harper on Thursday against the Astros. Brandon Marsh did the same two weeks ago in Anaheim, Calif., and earlier this week also was doubled off at second base after misreading a liner to shortstop.

    “A little bit contagious,” Mattingly said. “I don’t understand it really. But, again, we’ll just keep talking about it and working through it.”

    Phillies-Braves ‘cat and mouse game’ has big implications this weekend

    With Jhoan Duran unavailable after pitching back-to-back days, Jonathan Bowlan had the ninth with a one-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles on his slider, and it didn’t help that Hill bobbled Sean Murphy’s hit to center field, allowing Mike Yastrzemski to tie the game at 4.

    “Two ground balls. I mean, it’s tough, but that’s just the game,” Bowlan said. “The ground balls, they found holes, and it’s just part of it. And all you can do is take it a pitch at a time.”

    After emerging earlier this season as one of the Phillies’ go-to setup arms, Bowlan has struggled in September. He has allowed a run in each of his last four appearances.

    With 55 innings under his belt now, he’s already surpassed his career-high in the majors, though Bowlan said he feels like he’s holding up physically.

    “I thought ball was coming out good,” Mattingly said. “Couple base hits up the middle, both sides of the bag. Yeah, we just got to keep going. He’s going through it, like hitters do or pitchers do. It’s kind of the same for me. So just got to keep working through it, and get where we got to go.”

    Justin Crawford, who had been stuck on the bench for nine innings and a 47-minute rain delay before that, kept the Phillies’ hopes alive with an RBI single to lead off the 10th. But it was still not enough, as the Braves tied things back up on a sacrifice fly.

    Luis Arraez’s RBI single temporarily put the Phillies back in front, 6-5, in the top of the 11th. But Ha-Seong Kim tied the game against Brooks Raley with a single before Baldwin’s double won it.

    “He’s a guy that we trust that he’s not going to give in,” Mattingly said of Raley. “I think [Kim] hit a changeup, just kind of pulled it to him. Yeah, so all of our guys have been struggling a little bit out there. But we’ll get through it.”

    As the Phillies left Truist Park in the early hours of Saturday morning, their list of concerns was long, and only growing. At the top is Luzardo’s health and whether some extra rest will be enough to have the lefty back to form atop the rotation as the postseason approaches.

    But the Phillies’ baserunning and bullpen are not far behind.

    “Definitely thought we had a chance to win that game, all around,” Harper said.

  • Villanova can’t keep up against FBS foe Louisville in 59-13 loss

    Villanova can’t keep up against FBS foe Louisville in 59-13 loss

    Villanova’s annual David-vs.-Goliath game did not go its way on Friday night.

    The visiting Wildcats took on No. 24 Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium and kept it competitive for the first half. But the depth and physical size of the FBS foe wore them down in a 59-13 loss.

    The Wildcats (1-2) were outplayed in almost every category. Louisville (1-1) outgained Villanova, 636-253, in total yardage and scored on all but three of its drives. The Cardinals held Villanova to 75 rushing yards and 178 passing yards.

    Despite the loss, Villanova came away with positives for the rest of its FCS slate.

    Here is the good, bad, and ugly of Villanova’s 2026 FBS game:

    Limited the penalties, turnovers

    Sometimes a team needs to take what it can get against an FBS opponent.

    A big point of emphasis for Villanova was cleaning up its penalties. And against Louisville, it limited its penalties to just seven for 64 yards.

    In its season-opening loss to William & Mary, Villanova committed 15 penalties for 107 yards, compared with five for 45 yards in last week’s win over Bucknell.

    There was a time when college football’s best played against the NFL’s finest. Could it happen again?

    Villanova coach Mark Ferrante says that winning teams also win the turnover battle. The Wildcats on Friday gave up one turnover, a fourth-quarter fumble, after having zero vs. Bucknell and four against William & Mary.

    McQuaide settling in

    After a wild offseason, graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide is starting to communicate efficiently with his receivers, which is making Villanova’s offense more efficient.

    McQuaide left Villanova at the end of last season, expecting to be done with collegiate football. He returned home to Ohio and landed a role as St. Ignatius High School’s quarterbacks coach. Then, he was granted another year of collegiate eligibility.

    Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide’s eligibility has been a major storyline.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The abnormal offseason meant McQuaide was not with Villanova for spring practices and a majority of its summer offseason. McQuaide joined Villanova after its preseason started, missing a few practices.

    “We didn’t have Pat at all in the spring or the summer, and we got him about halfway through camp,” sophomore receiver Braden Reed told The Inquirer before the Louisville game. “So it’s still just figuring out the timing, figuring everything out. But I think each week we’re improving and getting better, the more reps he gets and the more reps we get with him.”

    McQuaide completed 18 of 31 passes for 166 yards, a touchdown — a 65-yard completion to Ja’briel Mace — and zero interceptions. It was McQuaide’s second consecutive interception-free game.

    Outpaced physically, mentally

    Louisville showed why there are levels to collegiate football.

    While Villanova kept it close for most of the first half, Louisville’s depth finally showed as the game went on. Villanova was forced to punt on five consecutive drives, the last three of which were three-and-outs.

    Louisville wide receiver Lawayne McCoy (7) looks back at the pursuit of Villanova defensive backs Jayvont Williams and Josh Oluremi on Friday.Timothy D. Easley

    After three unanswered Louisville touchdowns in the second and third quarters, the Wildcats tacked on a 29-yard field goal by Dominic LeBlanc halfway through the third quarter for their lone second-half score.

    Louisville played its backups for much of the fourth quarter and added a pair of touchdowns. The Wildcats also sat their starters for much of the final period.

    Up next

    Villanova will stay on the road for the third consecutive week. The Wildcats will return to FCS and Patriot League play against LIU (0-2) at noon on Saturday in Brookville, N.Y.

    Villanova won the last meeting, 24-10, on Sept. 28, 2024, at Villanova Stadium.

  • Man fatally shot at Nicetown shopping center

    Man fatally shot at Nicetown shopping center

    A 25-year-old man was fatally shot early Friday evening in the parking lot of a shopping center in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia, police said.

    Around 5:20 p.m., police were called to the shopping center on the 2800 block of Fox Street and transported the victim to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m., police said.

    A Pennsylvania state constable who was working at the shopping center as a security guard told police he saw an altercation at a parked SUV and went to investigate, said Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace.

    The state constable found the man shot inside the SUV and attempted to provide aid before police arrived, Pace said.

    No arrests were reported.

  • DA’s office filing argues against overturning murder conviction in controversial case

    DA’s office filing argues against overturning murder conviction in controversial case

    A new motion filed Friday in the controversial case that has roiled Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office argued that a federal judge should not overturn a man’s murder conviction.

    The filing from the District Attorney’s Office — which would have to be accepted by U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond — was the latest development in a legal fight that has focused primarily on the conduct of lawyers in the case.

    Jean Peters-Baker and Thomas Gaeta wrote in their motion that Dennis Johnson, who was found guilty of second-degree murder in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison without parole, should not be provided relief on his multiple appellate claims. The prosecutors also argued that Johnson had not yet exhausted his remedies in state court.

    Peters-Baker, a longtime prosecutor from Missouri who previously led the prosecutor’s office in the county that includes Kansas City, was hired by Krasner’s office to handle the case as an outside attorney. Gaeta is Krasner’s civil litigation supervisor.

    On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said in court documents that Krasner should be barred from continuing to oversee the post-conviction case in federal court — and that his office should be kicked off the case as well.

    Prosecutors for Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday argued that drama about the Johnson case has consumed the District Attorney’s Office, and that Krasner has “placed his personal interest in protecting the office above the Commonwealth’s interest.”

    Krasner’s office said that the DA had acted in legally appropriate ways, and that his office should be allowed to continue overseeing the case.

    Krasner’s own staffers have accused him of questionable conduct in the case, including by saying he told them to “protect the office” and that they could face “consequences” if they didn’t.

    In a Tuesday filing, Gaeta wrote that Krasner had taken pains to ensure the case was handled “with competence and integrity.”

    Diamond has sought to learn more about how various attorneys connected to the case have behaved while the matter has moved through federal court.

    The case began as a routine appeal, but in recent months has led to a series of explosive accusations about the inner workings of the District Attorney’s Office.

    Several prosecutors said they advised Krasner to refer the case to the Attorney General’s Office, and Krasner allegedly responded angrily or suggested tactics they thought were legally inappropriate.

    The tactics allegedly included keeping the case in-house, potentially seeking to assign blame to a line prosecutor while protecting her supervisor, and taking steps to “protect the office” in court.

    At one point, Diamond suggested he viewed the allegations as potentially criminal, saying if they were true, they could amount to perjury, conspiracy, or obstruction of justice.

    The judge did not specify who he believed might be at fault.