The 2024 Phillies Are the Best in Baseball. Is That a Good Thing?

Heading into the All-Star break with a 62-34 record, the Philadelphia Phillies can honestly say they are the best team in Major League Baseball.

Like all clubs, they have gone through rough patches but the Phillies have been able to adapt and overcome. Key injuries to top stars have not slowed down their momentum, proving the value of their depth on the bench and in the minor leagues.

As the first team in Major League Baseball to reach 60 wins on the year, the Phillies have become the favorites in many peoples’ eyes to win the World Series. Sending 8 players to the All-Star Game has given them the appearance of top dogs. This is no longer the underdog story that many came to love in 2022, as the Phillies have expectations and a World Series title is at the top of their list.

Best Record vs Champions

With the Phillies having the best record in baseball, I thought to look back on the last ten seasons of Major League Baseball. I wanted to see how many teams with the best record in the sport went on to win the World Series in the same season.

In the past ten seasons of Major League Baseball, the team with the best record in the sport has won the World Series in three years. The 2016 Chicago Cubs, 2018 Boston Red Sox, and 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers all won the most games in the regular season of their respective championship run.

In five of the ten seasons, the team with the best record qualified for the World Series. The 2019 Houston Astros and 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers made the championship round but were unable to finish the job. A 50% chance of making the World Series and a 30% chance of winning the title are fairly good odds.

The Dodgers’ title in the 2020 shortened COVID season could also be looked upon differently based on the circumstances of that year. They played only Western division teams in the regular season and then won a modified playoff.

Some other interesting information helps paint this picture better as well. The 2015 Royals team that won the World Series was coming off a season where they lost to San Francisco the year prior. The Houston Astros have appeared in four World Series matchups in the last seven seasons, repeating American League champs in 2021 and 2022. The 2021 Atlanta Braves had the worst regular season record between the last ten champions, proving that once you get into the dance, anything can happen.

Does the #1 Record Favor the Phillies?

If the Philadelphia Phillies can maintain the top spot in all of baseball it would guarantee them home-field advantage for the entirety of the post-season.

For the last two seasons, the Phillies have been a Wild Card team. This has made it so the majority of their postseason series started on the road. They started in St. Louis, in Atlanta, in San Diego, and in Houston in the 2022 playoffs. They started at home against Miami in the Wild Card round of 2023, on the road in Atlanta, and then back at home against Arizona.

While the Phillies made it further in the year they had only road starts, their home-field advantage remains their greatest asset. They are 37-16 at home in 2024 which is the most in Major League Baseball. They are second in all of baseball in total attendance, despite having a smaller capacity than Yankee Stadium and Dodger Stadium.

Tales from the Past

The last time the Phillies had the best record in baseball was in 2011. This iteration of the Phillies finished with a 102-60 record, the best in franchise history. They also had the best record in the league in 2010, meaning back-to-back seasons they held this achievement.

The club of course did not win the World Series in either season. Finishing in the NLCS in 2010 and the NLDS in 2011. They lost to the World Series champions in both years, the Giants and Cardinals respectively.

When the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, they held the fifth-best record in baseball. In 1980, they held the sixth-best record before going on to win their first title. They held the third-best record in 1993 when they went on to win the NL pennant. In 2009, they held the fifth-best record and in 2022, they were the eleventh.

In years in which the Phillies were not the best club, they have had their best results. While this is not advocating for losing the top spot it does point out once again how random the playoffs can truly be.

Looking Ahead

With just 66 regular season games left in 2024, the Phillies will control their fate.

The expectation is that the team will win the National League East for the first time since 2011 and then try to win the pennant again like in 2022. Their final challenge will be to bring home the World Series for the first time since 2008.

They have the squad to accomplish this feat. As evidenced by their current standing and their previous two seasons of post-season success. This might not be their final chance to win the title but it very well could be their best chance.

A matchup with the Braves, Padres, Mets, or Cardinals seems all but likely for the Phillies in the NLDS. Adding in the Brewers and Dodgers as other potential opponents in the NLCS. The Phillies are 6-0 this season against Milwaukee and Los Angeles and have a winning record against all teams listed except for Atlanta.

In the American League, everyone is talking about the Yankees and Orioles as World Series contenders. Leaving out the Cleveland Guardians who hold the second-best record in baseball. The Astros, Mariners, Twins, and Red Sox are other clubs who are gearing up to make a run for the World Series as well.

At the end of the day the Phillies will only be able to beat the team in front of them. Handling business and playing to their best potential will be the only way for another parade down Broad Street in Philadelphia. A trade deadline move or two could potentially push this team into another gear but overall they have the pieces to win in the post-season.

Legends will be made, memories will be forged, and baseball will be played. Anything until then is just conversation but being glued to baseball in Philadelphia might just be the place to be come October.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum