The Philadelphia Phillies linger behind the powers of the American League for the best record in baseball.
Despite their ability to maintain a substantial NL East lead, the All-Star Break is approaching at the right time for a lineup depleted by injuries.
When the MLB schedule came out, early July looked like it’d be the midseason measuring stick. However, should the Phillies really draw any playoff preview takeaways during their upcoming series against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Phillies vs. Miami Marlins
- Thursday 6/27: Loss 7-4
- Friday 6/28: Win 2-0
- Saturday 6/29: Loss 3-2
- Sunday 6/30: Win 7-6
Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs
- Tuesday 7/2: Win 6-4
- Wednesday 7/3: Win 5-3
- Thursday 7/4: Loss 10-2
All stats as of July 4.
National League Playoff Previews?
A road series against the Braves will showcase one of the best modern MLB rivalries. A home series against the Dodgers gives Philadelphia fans a chance to see the best player in the world in a possible playoff preview.
However, neither series is likely to provide the takeaways fans might’ve expected when they saw the 2024 schedule.
The Phillies foremostly won’t use a lineup that remotely resembles the one they expect to send to the diamond in Red October, and their competition will similarly look depleted.
The Milwaukee Brewers actually sit ahead of the Braves for third in the National League behind the Phillies and Dodgers.
While it’s never a safe bet to dismiss the Braves, the six-time defending NL East champs simply don’t look as threatening as they did entering the past two postseasons.
Their best pitcher Spencer Strider and their best hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. suffered season-ending injuries. Michael Harris will miss the weekend series with a hamstring injury that’s kept him out since June 14.
Their record-breaking offense in 2023 has cooled off.
Runs Per Game Batting Average Home Runs OPS Atlanta Braves in 2023 5.75 (1st) .276 (1st) 307 (1st) .845 (1st) Atlanta Braves in 2024 4.29 (15th) .243 (16th) 91 (14th) .709 (13th) The NL West frontrunners aren’t at full strength either. Mookie Betts stormed out of the gates in 2024 and established his candidacy for NL MVP.
He took a pitch off the hand on June 16 to keep him out six-eight weeks. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will also miss the Phillies series.
Any series that features Shohei Ohtani is must-see tv, regardless. The revolutionary dual threat ranks second in the majors in home runs (27) and OPS (1.043) trailing only Aaron Judge in both categories.
He’s gone six career games at Citizens Bank Park without a home run.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Phillies Spotlight Player: Nick Castellanos
The 2023 NLCS didn’t end the way Nick Castellanos wanted. The 2024 regular season didn’t start the way he wanted. The veteran slugger limped out of the gates. He looked like one of the only weaknesses of a team rolling on all cylinders otherwise.
It might be the cliche about reaching the back of the baseball card. It might be his son Liam hanging around Citizens Bank Park. Whatever it is, Castellanos has steadily advanced back towards the expectations the Phillies had for him entering the season.
He hit a solo home run and a double in the series finale at Wrigley Field capped off one of his best weeks of the season. He’s raised his season average to a more respectable .236 and his OPS to .690.
Nick Castellanos Batting Average Home Runs OPS (MLB Average- .705) March/April 2024 .193 2 .521 May 2024 .229 5 .706 June 2024 .276 4 .810 Many Phillies fans fire heavy criticism at the hometown right fielder. Some of it’s deserved for a player with a $100 million contract. However, next time you’re frustrated, remember to consider the big picture.
Castellanos regularly arrives at the ballpark early to take batting practice before his teammates take the field. His work has helped his steady improvement.
He doesn’t cover the most ground in the outfield, but he’s also shown improvement defensively during his three seasons in Philadelphia.
His effort certainly wasn’t lacking when he ran hard into the notoriously rough Wrigley Field ivy to catch a blast off the bat of Cody Bellinger on Monday night.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
