Blog

Similar to last season, it wasn’t a pretty start for the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in 2023.

However, since their rocky start, the Phils have kicked it into gear and are playing solid baseball once again.

In fact, since June 3, the team is 23-9.

Their offense and their pitching have only grown stronger.

In that 32-game span, the Phils have posted a 2.96 ERA and have scored the eighth-most runs in all of baseball.

On Twitter, Buster Olney of ESPN took note of how hot the Phillies have been and pointed out just how “dangerous” they could be if they continue at this pace and add at the trade deadline.

The Phillies since June 3rd:
23-9 W-L
2.96 ERA, more than half a run better than any other team.
They are eighth in scoring in that stretch.
They feel like they have a lot of offensive upside in front of them, with an expectation that Turner will have a better second half and…

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 12, 2023

Trea Turner didn’t have his best first half, and Bryce Harper was on the injured list for most of it.

However, Olney notes that the Phillies believe the best is yet to come.

The defending National League champs got hot at the end of the first half and improved their record to 48-41 on the year.

Despite sitting 12 games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East, they are just a half-game behind the San Francisco Giants for the third and final Wild Card spot.

The Phils finished the first half having won six of their prior 10 games.

The second half of the season kicks off on Friday.

The Phillies will open up the second half against the San Diego Padres, who appear to be digging themselves out of the early hole they fell in.

But Philadelphia is prepared to do more damage and take another shot at a World Series title.

NEXT: 
Craig Kimbrel Comments On The Support From His Teammates