Categories: Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly

What Phillies have a chance to make the All-Star team?

Zack Wheeler is in his second season with the Phillies. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

2013 was the last time that the Philadelphia Phillies had multiple representatives at the All-Star Game, a year where Cliff Lee and Domonic Brown represented the team at Citi Field.

You could say then, that the Phillies are due to have at least two All-Stars in 2021. With voting now open, here’s a look at the candidacies of a few Phillies hoping to be in Colorado for the midsummer classic:

Zack Wheeler (Zero Career All-Star Game Selections)

Wheeler is probably the only Phillie that’s currently an odds-on favorite to make the team. The 31-year-old has a 2.52 ERA, 2.48 FIP and a complete game to show after his first 11 starts of 2021. He trails only Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom in fWAR among starting pitchers.

Aaron Nola (One Career All-Star Game Selection)

An All-Star in 2018, Nola has a shot to return to the midsummer classic if he puts together a strong month of June. His 3.84 ERA is underwhelming, but his 3.37 expected ERA and 3.21 FIP suggest that he could be due for positive regression. As much as every start Nola makes has turned into an indictment on whether or not he qualifies as an ace, he does currently have a 1.8 fWAR, the same mark as Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow. He’ll probably end up on the outside looking in, but don’t rule out his candidacy.

Zach Eflin (Zero Career All-Star Game Selections)

If you just look at the back of a baseball card, you’d be surprised to see Eflin here given that he’s 2-5 with a 4.10 ERA. However, like Nola, his peripheral statistics suggest he’s been much better. Eflin has a 3.57 ERA, 3.21 FIP and 1.7 fWAR. He’s also 10th in the National League with 68 innings pitched. So while an All-Star Game appearance is probably less than likely, Eflin has certainly emerged as a formidable No. 3.

Bryce Harper (Six Career All-Star Game Selections)

It would have been unthinkable at the outset of Harper’s 13-year deal that he wouldn’t have any All-Star appearances in his first three seasons with the Phillies, but that may become a reality. In year one, Harper had a much better second half than first. In year two, there wasn’t an All-Star Game because of the pandemic. And injuries have limited Harper to just 38 games thus far in 2021. When Harper has played, he’s been very effective, slashing .274/.395/.489 with seven home runs, 25 walks and an .884 OPS. Fan voting may work in his favor, but the guess here is Harper won’t be an All-Star in 2021.

Rhys Hoskins (Zero Career All-Star Game Selections)

After a huge month of May, Hoskins is slashing .270/.342/.510 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs, firmly putting him this discussion. Max Muncy has had a monster season and will almost certainly be the starter at first base. After that, though, there’s quite the dropoff, and Hoskins is actually second among National League first basemen with an .852 OPS.

Jean Segura (Two Career All-Star Game Selections)

Segura had a frustrating weekend in Dunedin last month, but he’s still hitting .322 with an .823 OPS at a position without a ton of competition. Pittsburgh’s Adam Frazier might be the favorite here currently, but if Segura has a strong June, he has a shot.

J.T Realmuto (Two Career All-Star Game Selections)

Realmuto has played at a high level when he’s been on the field – he’s hitting .287 with a .399 on-base percentage – but his injured list stint in May could prevent him from making his third All-Star team. Buster Posey is having his best season in years, while both Will Smith and Willson Contreras have had good campaigns for contending teams. You also have the possibility that fans vote in Yadier Molina, thinking it could be his final trip to to the All-Star Game.

Odúbel Herrera (One Career All-Star Game Selection)

For the rest of his career, Herrera will have to deal with people who don’t believe he should be getting the second chance the Phillies have given him. His actions set that up. On the field, Herrera has made the best of another opportunity, slashing .276/.346/.448 with four home runs, 12 RBIs, and a 1.0 fWAR. He also has four defensive runs saved, which is tied for the top mark among National League center fielders. Herrera, who didn’t rejoin the Phillies until late April, probably won’t be an All-Star. But even having this discussion would have been unthinkable after the first month of the season.