For Manager Rob Thomson’s Philadelphia Phillies, they are hoping the third time will be the charm as they begin the 2024 campaign to win the World Series. Phillies’ owner John Middleton has made it crystal clear that he wants his trophy back.
In order to get back to the World Series and regain possession of the fabled trophy, the Phillies will need to rely on their greatest strength: their offense.
What Will Make a Difference On The Big Stage
There is no doubt that the Phillies have assembled a strong pitching rotation and bullpen, but there are some significant question marks going into the postseason. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola will certainly keep the Phillies in the game, but Cristopher Sanchez is still a young pitcher and has cooled off significantly from his All Star-caliber first half (no, he did not make the team, but he had a strong argument to do so).
And then there is Ranger Suarez, who just has not been the same in recent starts. One could mention Taijuan Walker or Kolby Allard here as well, but if either of them start a postseason game, it is to cover due to an injury.
Meanwhile the Phillies’ bullpen has stabilized overall after being the butt-end of many jokes in years past. The Phillies have to deal with, as all teams do, the occasional blowup in the postseason, but the bullpen will likely neither win nor lose many games this postseason.
Then there is the Phillies’ offense. Over 162 games this season, they scored 784 runs, an average of 4.84 runs per game, good for fifth in the Major Leagues. There are only three stronger offenses in baseball that remain in the picture whom the Phillies can face: the Dodgers, Yankees, and Orioles.
Looking Back on the Phillies’ 2024 season
Looking back on the 2024 season, one thing is obvious about the Phillies: they ride or die with their offense. The Phillies scored six or more runs in 53 games on the season in 2024, going 48-5 in those contests. If the Phillies score six runs in a game, statistically speaking, they are probably going to win.
When they score around their average for the season, four or five runs per game, their record is 32-18 over 50 games. Still a very good record, but a bit more fair.
If you’ve got a math mind, you already know what is coming next. In games where the Phillies only scored three runs or less (59 games), the Phils went a measly 15-44. They have not won a single game while scoring only one run.
Going back to last year’s postseason, three of Philadelphia’s four losses to the Diamondbacks came when they scored two runs or less. The D-Backs figured out how to keep the Phillies’ offense at bay, shutting them down in Games 6 and 7 in Philadelphia.
Stepping It Up On the Show
The MLB Postseason is The Show. From Shohei Ohtani to Aaron Judge to Bobby Witt Jr., some of the best hitters in the game are ready to battle it out. Of course, Philly’s own Showman, Bryce Harper will be ready for The Show. But he will not be able to do it alone.
Throughout the 2024 season, there has seldom been a point where the entire lineup from leadoff to the nine-hole, has been hot at the same time. While that is unlikely to happen throughout the Postseason, the Phillies will need their lineup to cover for each other. If Kyle Schwarber isn’t doing well, Nick Castellanos needs to step up. Or Bryson Stott. Or Trea Turner. Or Alec Bohm.
If the Phillies can do so, we will soon be talking about parade routes back to Citizens Bank Park.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
