{"id":48219,"date":"2025-05-23T08:06:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/48219\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T08:06:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:06:17","slug":"mlb-insider-breaks-down-philadelphia-phillies-rise-to-national-leagues-best-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/48219\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB insider breaks down Philadelphia Phillies\u2019 rise to National League\u2019s best record"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Phillies<\/a> have emerged as the National League\u2019s hottest team amid their current streak. They\u2019ve won seven straight after sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> and Colorado Rockies<\/a> to improve to 32-18, first in the NL East and the best record in the NL.<\/p>\n

Over their last 24 games, they\u2019ve won 19 times. In May, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber<\/a> has racked up eight of his MLB-leading 17 home runs \u2014 tied with Shohei Ohtani \u2014 and posted a 1.015 OPS.<\/p>\n

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During an appearance on the \u201cFair Territory\u201d podcast, The Athletic\u2019s MLB insider Ken Rosenthal explained what has fueled the Phillies\u2019 rise up the standings.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor starters, I would suggest their schedule of late has been kind of easy\u2026 You have to win the games against the opponent in front of you,\u201d explained Rosenthal. \u201cThe last six have been against the Rockies and the Pirates, they should be winning those games and they are. Also in this stretch, they\u2019ve played Tampa Bay<\/a>, they\u2019ve played Cleveland<\/a>, they\u2019ve played Washington<\/a>. It\u2019s been a little breather for them in the schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosenthal highlighted how the Phillies offense has come alive lately.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBut this is, from an offensive standpoint, one of the best teams in the league. Sixth in the majors at runs per game (5.7). Their rotation, as we know, is one of the best in the game as well, fourth in rotation ERA (3.27). The question going forward is going to be the bullpen and the loss of Alvarado only highlights that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philadelphia\u2019s bullpen took a damaging blow when top reliever Jose Alvarado was suspended 80 games after testing positive for a PED. Even though he\u2019s eligible to return in late August, he will be prohibited from pitching in the playoffs if the Phillies advance that far.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey probably were going to need at least one reliever even with Alvarado and now losing that left-handed presence, one of the hardest throwing lefties in the game, they\u2019re going to be a team that is definitely going to be in search of bullpen help at the deadline,\u201d Rosenthal said.<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cIt\u2019s possible that if their rotation stays healthy come the playoffs they can use Ranger Suarez<\/a> in the bullpen as they\u2019ve done in the past. It gets a little dicey because Suarez is eligible for free agency but he has done it in the past and I can\u2019t see that hurting his market if he closes out a World Series.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Phillies will look to continue their winning ways when they begin a three-game series against the Athletics<\/a> on Friday in Sacramento.<\/p>\n

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