Phillies All-Star Break Check-In: Analyzing Every Position Group

The Philadelphia Phillies reached the MLB All-Star Break with the best record in baseball.

Their 62-34 (.646) mark firmly supplants them 8.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the National League East lead. Their recent sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers helped them build a 6.5-game cushion for the best record in the NL.

Rob Thomson and the Phillies entered the season hungry to avenge the NLCS loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks that abruptly ended Red October in stunning fashion.

They focused on avoiding another slow start like the ones that kept them out of NL East contention in 2022 and 2023. Motivation within the clubhouse atmosphere benefitted the Phillies during an outstanding start in 2024. 

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The Phillies rank third in runs scored per game and second in team ERA thanks to a major league record five pitchers selected to the MLB All-Star Game.

Most sportsbooks list the Phillies with the second highest odds to win the World Series behind only the Dodgers. Will the Phillies keep up the pace? Should the remarkable first half inspire confidence within the fan base for a World Series run? 

Entering the All-Star Break with the league’s best record is a great accomplishment for the Phillies. However, a strong-willed team doesn’t accept the satisfaction midway through a season.

Dave Dombrowski will look to add to the roster at the MLB Trade Deadline to gear up for another Red October and a possible World Series run.

The starting rotation carried the Phillies into a solid NL East lead with an otherworldly effort during the early months of the season. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Cristopher Sanchez dominated throughout the first half.

The Phillies reached the break with the best ERA among starting pitchers in the majors at 3.22.

Wheeler, Suarez, and Sanchez all posted ERAs under 3.00. All three earned National League All-Star selections.

The Phillies averaged 4.97 runs per game before the break, sitting third behind only the juggernaut New York Yankees and a sliver behind the pesky Arizona Diamondbacks.

They’re about where most analysts would’ve predicted, but a different context shows the real accomplishment of their offensive performance leading into the MLB All-Star Break. Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh all spent time on the injured list early in the season.

While the pitching staff stayed relatively healthy, the Phillies impressively withstood a barrage of injuries to lineup regulars.

The Phillies rank third in batting average, tied for third in OPS, and sixth in home runs despite five lineup regulars missing a combined 96 games.

Outstanding individual performances during the first half define the Phillies bullpen much more than collective numbers can.

Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm earned unlikely All-Star selections as relievers who haven’t racked up saves because of their usage in Philadelphia. Orion Kerkering additionally reached the break with a sub-2.00 ERA.

Jose Alvarado has tripped up in a handful of bad outings, but he’s still holding onto one of the most trusted roles in a well-rested and poised bullpen capable of carrying the Phillies on a World Series run.

How will the Phillies bullpen take shape before Red October? It’ll be one of the most interesting and impactful storylines to follow during the second half of the season.

The starting rotation has carried the Phillies in 2024. The offense has impressively withstood injuries to remain toward the top of the league. The defense has shown significant improvement, and the bullpen looks poised for another run in Red October.

The bench hasn’t come together like the other units have. Thomson doesn’t seem to have found a rhythm and fully determined his level of trust in his reserves.

Dave Dombrowski will likely trade for a right-handed outfielder to cover his mistake with Whit Merrifield.

The organization needs to make additional decisions about Cristian Pache, Kody Clemens, Garrett Stubbs, and Weston Wilson before the postseason.