The Phillies have a series of NL East matchups lined up over the next week and a half, and after a day of rest on Thursday, the team, currently leading in the league, is eager to return to action.
Across the baseball community, the Phillies have been a hot topic, with discussions ranging from the emergence of potential future stars to analyzing the team’s impressive start to the season. Here’s what experts are saying:
Standout in the Division
According to David Schoenfield of ESPN, Alec Bohm’s performance has been outstanding so far this season. Despite being in a division typically dominated by players like Ronald Acuna and other stars, Bohm has stood out. Leading the NL East in key metrics like batting average, Bohm has been praised as the top performer in the division:
“Perhaps the answer might be Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm, who is hitting .346/.413/.549 with four home runs and 32 RBIs. He leads all NL East position players in both bWAR and fWAR and ranks third in the majors in RBIs behind Ozuna and Juan Soto thanks to a .444 average with runners in scoring position.”
Bucking the Trend of Leading Teams
Paul Hagen, a former PhillyVoice contributor, examined the historical performance of teams with the best records in baseball at this point in the season. Unfortunately, recent history hasn’t been kind to teams in the Phillies’ position:
“Here are some helpful reminders that the 2024 season is just now starting to get warmed up. That more than three-quarters of the schedule remains. That having the best record in baseball on May 9, along with 11 bucks, will get you a roast pork sandwich at Di Nic’s in the Reading Terminal Market.”
Hagen highlights the reality that, while leading the league at this stage is promising, it’s no guarantee of postseason success, citing examples from the past four seasons where the top-ranked teams ultimately fell short.
There’s a dilemma for the Phillies as they navigate their pitching rotation amidst a surplus of options. With Taijuan Walker and Spencer Turnbull both performing well, the team is deliberating on their roles at the bottom of the rotation. Despite the upcoming stretch of 10 games in 10 days, manager Rob Thomson has decided to stick with the regular six-man rotation for now, with Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker, and Zack Wheeler slated to start against the Marlins. However, there’s a possibility that Turnbull may get a spot start or bullpen opportunity during the upcoming series against the New York Mets.
Wheeler expressed frustration with the extra day of rest, highlighting the importance of maintaining his rhythm and routine. While the rotation order remains unchanged for now, the situation could evolve as the week progresses.
Meanwhile, the Mets face a crucial week as they prepare to take on the Braves and the Phillies. Sitting at an even .500 record, they have a chance to prove themselves as contenders or risk falling out of contention early in the season. A strong showing against these division rivals could solidify their playoff aspirations, while losses could signal a challenging road ahead. The upcoming games will be pivotal in determining the Mets’ trajectory for the rest of the season.
