PHILADELPHIA— Are the Philadelphia Phillies a shoo-in to win the National League East?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, a hot start by the Phillies has placed them in a comfortable position within their division. A 5-1 record following a sweep of the Colorado Rockies is exactly what is expected of this team. Beat up on the bad teams in baseball and fully compete against the upper echelon of clubs.
However, after breaking through in 2024, the Phillies have positioned themselves to add another banner. As Jimmy Rollins once said, “I think we are the team to beat in the NL East.”
Expectations for the Phillies
Heading into the 2025 season, and even just over a week ago, the expectation around baseball was that the Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and New York Mets would battle it out for the division crown.
After winning the title last season, many picked Philadelphia to repeat in the NL East. Others felt that a healthy Atlanta club would bounce back to the top with players like Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr returning. For New York, a September heater and appearance in the NL Championship Series last season, plus the addition of Juan Soto, created a third formidable challenger.
Just a week into the season, that might no longer be the case. The Atlanta Braves have fallen to 0-7 to begin the year. A 7-game road trip to start their season against the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers was always going to be a tough task. However, nobody could have predicted the hole they find themselves in.
They have now returned home for their home opener against the Miami Marlins, a team that has already put together three walk-off victories in their 4-3 start. After the weekend series, the Phillies will meet the Braves at Truist Park for a 3-game set. If they cannot find their footing against the Marlins, the Braves might be playing for their division hopes on Tuesday night.
Are the Braves Out of The Race?
The answer to this question is an emphatic no.
If there is one team that the Philadelphia Phillies have learned never to count out, it’s the Braves. Atlanta is a well-run organization that consistently finds themselves in the mix late in the season. Even with drastic injuries to star talent in 2024, they still managed to squeak past the Arizona Diamondbacks to make the Wild Card round.
The team has regained Spencer Strider to start the season and will have Ronald Acuna Jr back in time. Playing against some of the best teams in baseball should not overcloud judgment, and this Braves club is talented.
It certainly helps the Phillies’ case in the division race to have their top competition start down 7 games. A 5.5 game lead over the Braves is not insurmountable by any stretch, but it nearly gives the Phils a week’s head start. For reference, the Phillies finished the 2024 season with a 6-game lead over the Braves to clinch their first division crown since 2011. It will be much harder for the Braves to catch up to the Phillies, but the race isn’t over until its over.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
