The 1986 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 104th season for the Phillies. Under second-year manager John Felske, the Phillies stayed just below the .500 mark for roughly two-thirds of the season, until a charge after the All-Star break pushed the club past the St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos into second place in the National League East.

Background The eventual World Series champions rival New York Mets finished with a Major League best 108–54 record, and finished 21 games ahead of the Phillies. The Mets and the Phillies were the only teams in the National League East to post winning records. Mike Schmidt became the first third baseman in the history of the National League to win the MVP Award three times.

Offseason December 6, 1985: Jerry Koosman was released by the Phillies.Jerry Koosman at Baseball-Reference December 22, 1985: Tim Corcoran was released by the Phillies.Tim Corcoran at Baseball-Reference January 16, 1986: Ronn Reynolds was traded by the New York Mets with Jeff Bittiger to the Philadelphia Phillies for Rodger Cole and Ronnie Gideon. March 17, 1986: Alan Knicely was released by the Phillies.Alan Knicely at Baseball-Reference

Regular season

On August 20, 1986, pitcher Don Carman took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. Giants catcher Bob Brenly hit a long drive into the gap in left-center field. Phillies center fielder Milt Thompson was positioned to make a running catch but the ball hit the base of his glove and was ruled a hit. Carman pitched nine innings, gave up one hit, and was the winner when the Phillies scored in the top of the tenth on a Juan Samuel solo homer to win the game 1 to 0.

The Phillies were the only team in the National League to post a winning record against the World Series champs, going 10–8 with a 7–2 mark at Veterans Stadium. The high point of the season for the Phillies was the three-game sweep of the Mets in mid-September.

On September 12, up by twenty-two games, the Mets needed to win one game to clinch the division and came to Philadelphia for a weekend series. The Phillies won all three games, finishing the weekend by beating the Mets 6–0 behind a six-hit shutout by Kevin Gross, who also tripled home two runs. The sweep still left the Phillies down nineteen games but was both especially satisfying given the significant number of Mets fans who had traveled to Veterans Stadium for the weekend hoping to see the Mets clinch, and necessary because they were swept in a three-game series in Chicago preceding this series and did not want to see a visiting team's division-title celebration at Veterans Stadium. Had the Mets won one of the three games, it would have been the first time that a division title was won at Veterans Stadium.

During the series, Mets fans at Veterans Stadium became unruly and damaged seats in the upper deck. One Mets fan was arrested after striking at two Philadelphia police officers.

The club scored a season-high nineteen runs in a 19–1 throttling of the Chicago Cubs at the Vet on June 23.

Hall-of-Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt won the NL MVP for the third and final time in his career with a league-high thirty-seven home runs with 119 RBI and a .290 average. The Phillies distant second-place finish made Schmidt the first major-league MVP to have played on a team that finished at least twenty games out of first place.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 19, 1986: Tom Gorman was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Tom Gorman at Baseball-Reference May 9, 1986: Dave Stewart was released by the Phillies.Dave Stewart at Baseball-Reference June 2, 1986: Chuck Knoblauch was drafted by the Phillies in the 18th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.Chuck Knoblauch at Baseball-Reference June 24, 1986: Steve Carlton was released by the Phillies.Steve Carlton at Baseball-Reference July 24, 1986: Tom Foley and Lary Sorensen were traded by the Phillies to the Montreal Expos for Dan Schatzeder and Skeeter Barnes.Dan Schatzeder at Baseball-Reference

1986 Game Log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss Postponement EliminatedBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 7 || @ Reds || 4–7 || Mario Soto (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–1) || Ron Robinson (1) || 54,960 || 0–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 2 || April 9 || @ Reds || 5–3 (11) || Steve Bedrosian (1–0) || Ted Power (0–1) || None || 11,411 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 3 || April 11 || Mets || 7–9 || Bob Ojeda (1–0) || Kevin Gross (0–1) || Jesse Orosco (1) || 36,190 || 1–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 4 || April 12 || Mets || 9–8 (14) || Charles Hudson (1–0) || Randy Niemann (0–1) || None || 22,737 || 2–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 13 || Mets || 4–2 || Shane Rawley (1–0) || Rick Aguilera (0–1) || None || 27,691 || 3–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || April 14 || Pirates || 1–3 (10) || Cecilio Guante (1–0) || Steve Bedrosian (1–1) || Jim Winn (1) || 16,200 || 3–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 15 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 15 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 16 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 16 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 18 || @ Mets || 2–5 || Ron Darling (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–2) || Jesse Orosco (2) || 26,906 || 3–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 8 || April 19 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Dwight Gooden (2–0) || Shane Rawley (1–1) || None || 38,333 || 3–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 20 || @ Mets || 0–8 || Sid Fernandez (1–0) || Kevin Gross (0–2) || None || 41,848 || 3–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || April 22 || @ Expos || 2–8 || Andy McGaffigan (1–0) || Charles Hudson (1–1) || Tim Burke (2) || 4,276 || 3–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || April 23 || @ Expos || 5–4 || Steve Carlton (1–2) || Joe Hesketh (0–3) || Steve Bedrosian (1) || 6,293 || 4–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 24 || @ Pirates || 4–2 || Shane Rawley (2–1) || Rick Rhoden (2–1) || None || 14,622 || 5–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 25 || @ Pirates || 6–3 || Kevin Gross (1–2) || Rick Reuschel (2–2) || Steve Bedrosian (2) || 11,847 || 6–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 14 || April 26 || @ Pirates || 6–5 || Charles Hudson (2–1) || Larry McWilliams (0–2) || Steve Bedrosian (3) || 16,373 || 7–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 15 || April 27 || @ Pirates || 5–13 || Mike Bielecki (1–0) || Steve Carlton (1–3) || Bob Walk (1) || 17,218 || 7–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 29 || Astros || 12–4 || Shane Rawley (3–1) || Nolan Ryan (3–3) || None || 16,313 || 8–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 17 || April 30 || Astros || 0–1 || Mike Scott (3–2) || Kevin Gross (1–3) || Dave Smith (7) || 17,134 || 8–9

|- style="background:#fbb" | 18 || May 2 || Braves || 1–7 || David Palmer (2–1) || Steve Carlton (1–4) || None || 20,237 || 8–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || May 3 || Braves || 4–10 || Rick Mahler (2–4) || Shane Rawley (3–2) || None || 20,511 || 8–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || May 4 || Braves || 5–1 || Kevin Gross (2–3) || Joe Johnson (3–2) || None || 37,352 || 9–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || May 5 || Expos || 4–6 || Dan Schatzeder (1–0) || Kent Tekulve (0–1) || Jeff Reardon (3) || 15,425 || 9–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 22 || May 6 || Expos || 0–8 || Andy McGaffigan (2–0) || Steve Carlton (1–5) || None || 16,528 || 9–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 7 || Expos || 2–8 || Floyd Youmans (1–3) || Shane Rawley (3–3) || Tim Burke (3) || 15,840 || 9–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 9 || @ Braves || 7–6 || Kevin Gross (3–3) || Joe Johnson (3–3) || Steve Bedrosian (4) || 11,817 || 10–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 10 || @ Braves || 1–3 || Zane Smith (3–2) || Charles Hudson (2–2) || Paul Assenmacher (2) || 25,958 || 10–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 26 || May 11 || @ Braves || 2–1 || Steve Bedrosian (2–1) || Craig McMurtry (1–2) || None || 15,689 || 11–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 27 || May 12 || @ Astros || 5–1 || Shane Rawley (4–3) || Jim Deshaies (0–1) || None || 8,354 || 12–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 28 || May 13 || @ Astros || 2–3 (11) || Julio Solano (2–0) || Dave Rucker (0–1) || None || 7,087 || 12–16 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || May 14 || Reds || 8–6 || Don Carman (1–0) || John Franco (0–1) || Steve Bedrosian (5) || 21,877 || 13–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 15 || Reds || 5–6 || Ron Robinson (3–0) || Steve Bedrosian (2–2) || None || 20,767 || 13–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 31 || May 16 || @ Giants || 3–0 || Steve Carlton (2–5) || Roger Mason (2–3) || Kent Tekulve (1) || 16,560 || 14–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 32 || May 17 || @ Giants || 7–12 || Mike Krukow (5–3) || Shane Rawley (4–4) || Greg Minton (4) || 14,260 || 14–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 18 || @ Giants || 1–4 || Scott Garrelts (4–3) || Freddie Toliver (0–1) || Jeff Robinson (4) || 31,186 || 14–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 34 || May 20 || @ Padres || 3–4 || Eric Show (3–2) || Kevin Gross (3–4) || Rich Gossage (8) || 13,997 || 14–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 21 || @ Padres || 2–7 || Dave Dravecky (4–3) || Charles Hudson (2–3) || None || 12,674 || 14–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 22 || @ Padres || 2–6 || Andy Hawkins (3–3) || Steve Carlton (2–6) || Craig Lefferts (1) || 21,173 || 14–22 |- style="background:#bfb" | 37 || May 23 || @ Dodgers || 8–2 || Shane Rawley (5–4) || Jerry Reuss (2–3) || None || 39,354 || 15–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 24 || @ Dodgers || 0–6 || Fernando Valenzuela (7–2) || Freddie Toliver (0–2) || None || 47,725 || 15–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 39 || May 25 || @ Dodgers || 2–5 || Orel Hershiser (5–3) || Kevin Gross (3–5) || None || 40,424 || 15–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 40 || May 27 || Giants || 6–2 || Steve Carlton (3–6) || Jeff Robinson (2–1) || None || 16,023 || 16–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || May 28 || Giants || 4–0 || Shane Rawley (6–4) || Scott Garrelts (4–5) || None || 17,003 || 17–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 29 || Giants || 5–4 || Don Carman (2–0) || Greg Minton (2–3) || None || 17,785 || 18–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || May 30 || Padres || 2–0 || Kevin Gross (4–5) || Eric Show (3–3) || None || 10,608 || 19–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 44 || May 31 || Padres || 1–0 || Charles Hudson (3–3) || Dave Dravecky (5–4) || Steve Bedrosian (6) || 21,211 || 20–24

|- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || June 1 || Padres || 16–5 || Steve Carlton (4–6) || Andy Hawkins (3–4) || None || 35,144 || 21–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 46 || June 2 || Dodgers || 13–2 || Shane Rawley (7–4) || Jerry Reuss (2–5) || None || 21,476 || 22–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || June 3 || Dodgers || 4–11 || Fernando Valenzuela (8–3) || Mike Maddux (0–1) || None || 24,373 || 22–25 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 4 || Dodgers || 8–7 || Kevin Gross (5–5) || Orel Hershiser (5–4) || Steve Bedrosian (7) || 26,983 || 23–25 |- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 5 || @ Expos || 7–3 || Charles Hudson (4–3) || Jay Tibbs (3–2) || None || 10,845 || 24–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 6 || @ Expos || 9–10 (10) || Tim Burke (3–1) || Dave Rucker (0–2) || None || 18,325 || 24–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 7 || @ Expos || 3–1 || Shane Rawley (8–4) || Andy McGaffigan (3–2) || None || 20,486 || 25–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 52 || June 8 || @ Expos || 0–12 || Floyd Youmans (5–5) || Mike Maddux (0–2) || None || 20,743 || 25–27 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 9 || @ Mets || 3–2 (10) || Don Carman (3–0) || Doug Sisk (0–1) || Steve Bedrosian (8) || 26,050 || 26–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 10 || @ Mets || 4–8 (11) || Roger McDowell (6–0) || Randy Lerch (0–1) || None || 27,472 || 26–28 |- style="background:#fbb"