The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched a playoff berth for the third year in a row. How far can they take it this time?
After advancing to the World Series in 2022 and losing in the seventh game of the NLCS in 2023, the Phillies clinched at least a wild-card berth with a 12-2 win over the New York Mets on Friday. A division title seems inevitable. With a deep rotation, an improved bullpen and a notoriously dangerous lineup, the Phillies have been one of the best teams in baseball all season.
They’re seeking their first championship since 2008.
From 2012 to 2021, the Phillies went a full decade without a postseason appearance, but they’ve steadily built themselves into a contender. Homegrown players Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez have been joined by massive free-agent additions Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Kyle Schwarber to make the Phillies one of the most consistently successful teams of the past three seasons. They lost to the Houston Astros in the 2022 World Series and lost a close NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. This season, they’ve jockeyed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League and have easily jumped ahead of the preseason favorite Atlanta Braves to take control of the NL East.
Welcome back to #RedOctober 🔥
The @Phillies have #CLINCHED a #Postseason berth! pic.twitter.com/qEoouboc5j
— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024
Aside from Harper’s move from the outfield to first base, much of the Phillies lineup has remained largely unchanged the past three seasons. The pitching staff, though, has notably improved, delivering the Phillies’ lowest ERA since 2011 when the team famously had Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt in the rotation.
Nola re-signed in the offseason to rejoin a rotation led by Cy Young candidate Zach Wheeler and elevated by breakout seasons from Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez. The bullpen — long an Achilles heel for the organization — has been stabilized and improved by the emergence of All-Stars Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm, and the trade deadline additions of Tanner Banks and Carlos Estevez.
There’s been little question this season whether the Phillies would advance to play in October. The question has always been, how far can they go once they get there?
(Photo: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
