The Philadelphia Phillies had a remarkable journey to the 2022 World Series, captivating fans with their impressive performance throughout October. Despite their memorable run, they ultimately fell short to the Houston Astros in the championship series.
In the following season, the Phillies returned to the playoffs and once again proved to be a formidable opponent for the Atlanta Braves. They secured victories over their National League East rivals and advanced to the NLCS. However, their postseason journey came to an end when they were defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a thrilling seven-game series.
Fast forward to the 2024 MLB season, and the Phillies have emerged as frontrunners in the NL East. Their momentum soared at the end of April, and they have maintained their dominance ever since. With an impressive record of 27-12 entering Saturday, Philadelphia currently boasts the best record in baseball. Holding a two-game lead over Atlanta as of May 11, the Phillies are displaying remarkable prowess on the field.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/6ANZ4IUTTZHQ7GRDKYFYUC52SY.jpg)
Several factors contribute to the Phillies’ success in securing the top spot in the NL East.
The Philadelphia Phillies have showcased a formidable offense throughout the 2024 season, both in terms of raw statistics and underlying performance metrics. Their impressive tally of 199 runs scored leads the National League as of Saturday, trailing only the Texas Rangers by a mere two runs. Additionally, they rank second in the NL in batting average (.261), on-base percentage (.336), and slugging percentage (.426), just behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. With 48 home runs, they also rank second in the NL, further highlighting their offensive prowess. Moreover, the Phillies rank in the NL’s top five in stolen bases and walks drawn, making them a formidable opponent at the plate and a driving force behind their division-leading position.
Another key factor contributing to their success is the elite performance of the Phillies’ starting rotation. Leading the NL in starters’ ERA with an impressive mark of 2.54, the Phillies’ starters have been a dominant force on the mound. While Boston holds the top spot in MLB with a slightly lower ERA of 2.39, the Phillies’ starters are not far behind. Furthermore, Philadelphia’s starters lead the NL in strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) with a rate of 9.48, underscoring their ability to generate strikeouts effectively. With pitchers like Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, and Spencer Turnbull boasting ERAs below 2.00, albeit possibly unsustainable over the course of a full season, the Phillies have established themselves as a formidable pitching force. If they can maintain their momentum, they are poised to be a formidable contender come October.
While Bryce Harper stands out as the Phillies’ marquee player, the standout performer for the team during the initial month of the 2024 season has been Alec Bohm. Once regarded as a top prospect, Bohm’s performance hadn’t lived up to expectations until this year. However, that narrative has changed significantly. Bohm currently leads the team in on-base percentage (.406) and slugging percentage (.543), while his batting average of .341 is only slightly behind Trea Turner’s team-leading .343 mark.
Bohm’s remarkable 168 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) tops the Phillies’ leaderboard and positions him among the top 10 players in MLB in that category. It’s evident that he has emerged as one of the most formidable hitters in baseball, playing a pivotal role in driving Philadelphia’s success. If Bohm can sustain his offensive prowess at the plate, the Phillies stand a strong chance of maintaining their momentum and potentially making significant strides in postseason play.
