They did it again.
As the Phillies board their flight across the pond for the London Series this weekend, they do so coming off a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers and another dynamite homestand, with a 44-19 record and a staggering EIGHT-GAME LEAD in the National League East standings.
They do so having won 23 of their last 26 games at Citizens Bank Park.
They do so coming off of their eighth sweep of a team this season. Last year, they only had seven series sweeps all season.
It’s hard to believe what we’re watching at times, but this team is a freaking machine right now, a machine that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Following this three-game sweep of the NL Central-leading Brewers, five truths about this team have become self-evident. I discussed these truths more in-depth in the latest episode of Hittin’ Season, which you can download and subscribe to right here.
1. It’s time to kill the narrative that the Phillies haven’t beaten anybody yet
The Brewers are a legitimate first-place team that entered their series against the Phillies with a 36-23 record, 13 games over .500, in total command of the NL Central. This wasn’t the Rockies or Marlins or Nationals, this was a legitimate, division-leading squad who the Phils just swept.
All the nonsense about the Phillies running up their record on the backs of the worst teams in the league doesn’t hold water. The Phils showed they are legitimately good. They are now 7-2 against teams that currently have a winning record, but that doesn’t even tell the whole story.
They are 19-6 against teams that would otherwise have a .500 or better record had they not played the Phillies.
No, they haven’t played the Yankees or Dodgers yet, and it’s been a minute since they’ve seen the Braves, but make no mistake – the Phillies are taking on all comers and dominating.
2. The 2024 Phillies have the best pitching staff ever assembled in franchise history
Check out the National League ERA leaderboard:
Not only that, Wheeler, Nola and Suarez are among the top-six starters in the NL in innings pitched. That means not only are Phillies starters utterly dominating, they’re doing it deeper into games than any other team in baseball right now.
Everyone is going to compare the current rotation to the legendary super rotation of 2011, and that’s fair. It’s hard to argue that any rotation will ever be better than one with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Vance Worley and the seasons they had during that 102-win season. But it’s also fair that this rotation is pitching as well, if not better in some respects, than that one.
But the true difference is in the bullpen, which has caught fire since May. Over the last 30 days, the Phillies bullpen has a collective 1.95 ERA, they’ve allowed only 15 home runs all season.
Matt Strahm hasn’t allowed a run in 25 straight appearances. Jose Alvarado has a 1.40 ERA since March 31. Jeff Hoffman has a 0.98 ERA. Orion Kerkering’s is 1.27. Even the once-struggling Seranthony Dominguez has figured things out, unscored upon in his last seven appearances.
The 2011 bullpen didn’t have this kind of firepower. The ‘24 crew has at least four legitimate closers, with set-up guys both left-handed and right-handed. When a starter pitches deep into a game, manager Rob Thomson truly does have the luxury of picking and choosing from six relievers to get him the last 6-8 outs of every game.
Yep, this is the best pitching staff Phillies fans have ever seen.
3. Caleb Cotham is the best pitching coach in Major League Baseball
The Phillies have had some pretty good pitching coaches in their history. Jonny Podres, the oracle of the 1993 rotation that featured Curt Schilling, Terry Mulholland, Tommy Greene, Danny Jackson and Ben Rivera, was very good. Rich Dubee, who oversaw the pitching staffs from that 2007-11 run, was also very good. But the best pitching coach in franchise history is Caleb Cotham.
It’s not just about the numbers. It’s about the development of so many pitchers since they have been acquired by the Phillies.
Christopher Sanchez was a hard-throwing relief pitcher who couldn’t command the baseball, but Cotham and the rest of the coaching staff convinced him to reduce his velocity, refined his changeup, and taught him to command the baseball. He’s now one of the best young left-handed starters in baseball.
Jeff Hoffman was released by the Reds in November of 2022 and signed by the Phillies shortly thereafter. He was an afterthought signing by the team, completely ignored by the fanbase. Now, Hoffman features a 98 mph fastball and has become perhaps the most dependable late-inning arm on the team, with a 0.98 ERA to boot.
Matt Strahm was a solid, multi-inning reliever with the Boston Red Sox before signing a two-year free agent deal ahead of the 2023 season. He has not given up a run since his first outing of the season, and features a 0.72 ERA.
And how many times have the Phillies called up a guy like Jose Ruiz and watch them thrive at the big league level? Ruiz has been wonderful since joining the big league roster, with a 2.08 ERA in 11 appearances.
When was the last time the Phils called up a reliever and it was a disaster? It feels like it’s been a couple years at least, and Cotham and the rest of the pitching staff is largely responsible.
4. The Phillies have 10 legitimate all-stars
These 10 players all have a legitimate claim to making the Midsummer Classic next month. I have ranked them below in order of likelihood they make the team.
1B – Bryce Harper
3B – Alec Bohm
SP – Zack Wheeler
SP – Ranger Suarez
RP – Matt Strahm
RP – Jeff Hoffman
RP – Jose Alvarado
SP – Aaron Nola
C – J.T. Realmuto
SP – Christopher Sanchez
MLB has a rule that every team must have at least one representative, which means the Phillies will likely only be able to send five players to the game, which would be a tie for the most ever in team history. Can they get to six?
5. We’re steaming toward a 2009 World Series rematch
As great as the Phillies have been, the New York Yankees have matched the Phillies’ 44-19 record thanks to an insane start to the season by Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, and they don’t even have their ace, Gerrit Cole, back from injury yet. He’s in the midst of a rehab assignment in AA and will likely join the team in the coming days.
A 2009 World Series rematch between these two teams would be the dream scenario for Major League Baseball. So many stars, huge markets, and perhaps the two best venues for playoff baseball in the league.
I can’t even imagine the hype around this series, should it come to pass.
