After a trade deadline that saw the Phillies bolster some key spots on the roster and add one of the most prolific pitchers of the past decade in Noah Syndergaard, it’s safe to say that Rob Thomson’s men are eyeing up that final wildcard spot. But is now a good time to bet on their potential success?
Are the Phillies trending in the right direction?
The Phillies opened the season at around +3000 odds to win it all. Things quickly derailed, with Bryce Harper getting injured and the team falling apart at the seams, ultimately leading to the firing of Joe Girardi. Since then, they’re 36-19 thanks to new Rob Thomson, who has helped change the trajectory of the team.
The Phillies are now +4000 to win the World Series. This is obviously a worse price than when they started the year, but considering how violently the wheels fell off, the fact that they’re still very much in contention and picking up speed at the right time means that there is absolutely some value to be had here.
Between now and the end of the year, the Phillies have to face the following teams: (W/L record as of Sudnay August 7th)
Miami Marlins (48-59) – 9 games
New York Mets (69-39) – 7 games
Cincinnati Reds (43-63) – 4 games
Pittsburgh Pirates (43-64) – 3 games
Arizona Diamondbacks (47-59) – 3 games
San Francisco Giants (52-55) – 3 games
Washington Nationals (36-73) – 7 games
Atlanta Braves (64-45) – 7 games
Toronto Blue Jays (59-48) – 2 games
Chicago Cubs (43-63) – 3 games
Houston Astros (70-39) – 3 games
Of the 11 opponents remaining, 7 have a losing record. Of the 51 games remaining, 32 come against sides with a record less than .500. To say that a team who are 9-1 in their last 10 are in a perfect position to rally to a wildcard spot would be an understatement.
A successful trade deadline
On top of that, the biggest weakness this season has been the lack of bullpen reliability. The Phillies rank 11th in hits, 5th in home runs, and 6th in slugging. Their bullpen had been holding them back, but with the addition of Noah Syndergaard to the starting rotation, as well as some real growth from the rest of the crew, they may well have eradicated some of the woes could’ve haunted them over the final chapter of the 2022 season.
As for their defensive weaknesses, the acquisition of Brad Marsh as a defensive presence to play CF was huge. The Phils were clearly aware that while Matt Vierling was great offensively, the team really needed some extra defensive prowess, and they ticked that box elegantly.
This team is primed to make a run into the postseason and beyond and with odds to win it all now higher than they were at the beginning of the year, it may well be the time to hop onboard.
A $100 bet on the Phillies to win the World Series would net you a $4,000 return. The good news is that by clicking the link below, you can get a $100 FREE bet on the Phillies, just for signing up to DraftKings. This means that if you were to sign up and place that free bet on the Phils, you’d win $4,000 if they could somehow go all the way and win their first ring since 2008!
If you think the Phillies are a year or two away from winning a world series, don’t fret. The betting offer can be used on any market, including on a game against their next opponent, the Mami Marlins on Tuesday!
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
