J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and the Phillies are off to an impressive start in 2024. Despite losing two of three games over the weekend at Coors Field, the Philadelphia Phillies boast the best record in baseball at 38-16. They’ve transitioned from a team in World Series discussions before the season to one with a clear World Series ambition for 2024.
While injuries to key players are never wished for, they do alter the competitive landscape. As other teams struggle to maintain their health, they become less formidable opponents for the Phillies.
This reality is evident with the Atlanta Braves, who recently learned about the season-ending ACL tear suffered by reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. Additionally, they lost ace pitcher Spencer Strider to a season-ending procedure on his pitching elbow. Although the Braves, currently at 30-20, won a World Series three years ago without Acuña, his absence will undoubtedly impact their performance.
The Phillies, now favored to win the NL East, have a clear path to end Atlanta’s streak of six consecutive division titles in 2024. If they secure their first division title since 2011, they’re likely to claim a top-two spot in the NL playoff seeding, granting them a first-round bye.
However, the challenge of dealing with time off, as experienced by teams with byes in recent years, may await the Phillies in 2024. Nonetheless, bypassing the NL Wild Card Series allows them to set up their rotation for the NL Division Series without overtaxing their bullpen.
This year presents the perfect storm for the Phillies. Alongside established stars, Ranger Suárez, Alec Bohm, Matt Strahm, and Jeff Hoffman are all having career-best seasons. With several players potentially becoming free agents after this season or the next, the urgency to capitalize on this opportunity is evident.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski faces the challenge of balancing short-term success with long-term sustainability. While the Phillies have been reluctant to part with significant prospect capital, the desire to win a World Series is compelling. The current window of opportunity may never be more open than it is right now.
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