The best team in baseball has higher aspirations than a playoff berth. The Philadelphia Phillies will reach Red October for the third consecutive season in 2024. However, they’re hoping for more impressive regular season accomplishments that will help their World Series chances.
One victory at American Family Field (it’s not called Miller Park?) clinched the tiebreaker over the Milwaukee Brewers and set up the Phillies with a strong chance to earn a first-round bye and clinch home field advantage throughout the MLB Playoffs.
Early clinch scenarios could allow them to align a dominant starting rotation with National League Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler at the top.
Phillies vs. New York Mets
- Friday 9/13: Loss 11-3
- Saturday 9/14: Win 6-4
- Sunday 9/15: Win 2-1
Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers
- Monday 9/16: Loss 6-2
- Tuesday 9/17: Win 5-1
- Wednesday 9/18: Loss 2-1
All stats as of the beginning of play on September 19
Zack Wheeler: The Undisputed Ace
The Phillies clinched the tiebreaker over the Brewers on Tuesday behind seven dominant innings from staff ace Zack Wheeler.
Wheeler leaned heavily on a four-seam fastball that’s rounded into form as a dominant out pitch entering the postseason. Rob Thomson couldn’t stop complimenting the “life” to a pitch that also topped out at 97 miles per hour on the gun.
“He’s the Cy Young, man. I said it out there. I don’t think anybody in baseball is better than him at this point… People down in Atlanta probably think the same thing about the guy throwing down there (Chris Sale). I thought he got robbed of it three years ago, and I believe he earned it this year.” –Bryce Harper
Chris Sale is the overwhelming favorite in most major sportsbooks to win the NL Cy Young. The 35-year-old lefty has admirably rebounded for a dominant season after an offseason trade to the Atlanta Braves.
While he might be stuck in second place for the second time in four seasons, no World Series contender boasts a more threatening ace than Zack Wheeler with or without a Cy Young Award.
He’ll more than likely take the ball in Game 1 of Philadelphia’s first playoff series, wherever and whenever it is. The demeanor of a fierce competitor has already helped him build an impressive postseason track record.
Wheeler dominated through the early rounds of the MLB Playoffs in 2022. He rebounded from an underwhelming start in Game 2 of the World Series for a better outing in Game 6.
He threw his best playoff innings in 2023 with a 1.95 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance. The 6-foot-4 righty struck out 35 batters in only 27 ⅔ innings.
The conversation about the best pitchers in the game now has to include breakout stars like Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. The two fireballers might rack up Cy Young Awards for the next decade, but Phillies fans should ask themselves a legitimate question
Would you rather have any MLB pitcher other than Zack Wheeler to throw a decisive playoff game right now?
Playoff Roster Projections
Rob Thomson usually prefers to keep the standard 13 pitchers on the active 26-man MLB roster. However, the Phillies might be better off using 12 pitchers and carrying an extra bench player during the postseason.
Four starting pitchers and seven relief pitchers will earn roster spots assuming health. However, Thomson will also look for a long man to eat innings and conserve other relievers in case of a blowout scenario.
Spencer Turnbull hasn’t pitched since June 26. The Phillies hope to squeeze in the remaining steps of his rehab for possible postseason availability. However, they must question if he can regain the rhythm he showed in a hot start to the 2024 season.
Kolby Allard pitched above minimal expectations in three starts and one outing as a bulk pitcher late this summer. His recent tough day against the Mets on Sept. 14 might’ve removed him from consideration for playoff innings.
Say what you want about Taijuan Walker. He hasn’t performed anywhere close to the expectations of a four-year, $72 million contract signed entering the 2023 season.
His recent performance out of the bullpen, contrarily, has taken serious guts and humility. Walker didn’t sulk after losing his spot in the rotation entering September. He took accountability and recognized his only realistic chance to contribute to a World Series hopeful team in a long relief role.
The much-maligned righty is the most likely candidate to play the emergency long man in the postseason bullpen. His start against the Mets will play a part in the evaluation.
A possible decision to carry only 12 pitchers would add flexibility to a bench full of players who’ve performed in limited roles in 2024.
Edmundo Sosa and Garrett Stubbs will play bench roles barring injury or extreme circumstances.
Austin Hays hopes to return healthy from a kidney infection to occupy an outfield position. If all goes according to plan, the Phillies will add him to a rotation that includes Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas.
If Rob Thomson chooses a five-man bench, he’d carefully select two more players to fill very specific roles he expects to come up during the appropriate upcoming playoff series. The rotating outfield would leave two available spots.
Weston Wilson has provided some pop off the bench in a platoon right-handed outfield role this season. He hasn’t performed as a pinch hitter, so the Phillies will need to determine his expected role if they carry him on the playoff roster.
Lefty Kody Clemens is more likely to earn a roster spot than Cal Stevenson or Buddy Kennedy. However, Stevenson offers some upside as a defensive replacement.
Thomson has pinch hit for Rojas in sacrifice bunt situations twice in recent weeks. The Phillies skipper hesitated to praise his young center fielder too strongly last week when asked about how Rojas has matured as a hitter in 2024.
“I think he’s gotten better. I think there’s still some room there to improve. He’s got to still eliminate some chase, especially up in the zone. (He’s) got to cut down his swing and be able to use the field, put the ball in play so he can utilize his speed… He’s improved his bunting, but there’s a ways to go there too.” -Rob Thomson
Stevenson, meanwhile, is a capable bunter and a solid defensive replacement, although his manager openly called him a small downgrade from Rojas in center field during the Milwaukee series.
Wilson and Clemens bring more threatening bats than Cal Stevenson, but contributions as small as a pinch hit sacrifice bunt and the ability to play center for one inning as a defensive replacement can make the difference in a playoff game.
Keep your eye on the roster decisions the Phillies make entering Red October.
