Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber Hits Grand Slam, Reaches 40 Homers, Leads NL

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber delivered a historic performance against the Baltimore Orioles, hitting his 39th and 40th home runs of the season, with the latter being a grand slam that electrified Citizens Bank Park and sealed a 13-3 victory. Schwarber's 40th homer made him the fastest player in Phillies history to reach that milestone, matching Ryan Howard's pace from his 2006 season, and he is now leading the National League in home runs, RBIs, and is on pace to challenge Howard's franchise single-season home run record. The crowd's MVP chants reflected the growing consensus around Schwarber as a top MVP candidate, with his performance boosting his odds in the race behind Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Schwarber's dominant stretch since the All-Star break has featured a surge in power and run production, further solidifying his status among the league’s elite hitters this season. His grand slam came during a season-best eight-run inning, highlighting his impact in the Phillies' offensive outburst and their season-high six home runs in the game. Schwarber's consistent power display and clutch hitting have made him a central figure in Philadelphia's lineup and a major contender for the National League MVP award.