One of the most highly-anticipated seasons in franchise history is nearly here, as the Phillies’ quest to return to the World Series and win it kicks into full gear on Thursday’s Opening Day.
Offseason acquisitions of Trea Turner, Taijuan Walker, Craig Kimbrel and others have created significant expectations for the defending NL champs — expectations that remain despite several injuries, headlined by those to Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper.
The Phillies Nation staff predicted how the pennant defense will play out for the 2023 club, including win totals, playoff qualification and postseason runs — or lack thereof.
“Two more wins” has been a rallying cry of sorts for this year’s Phillies. Can they do it? Here’s what we think:
Tim Kelly — Editorial Director
Record: 90-72
Playoff berth: Third Wild Card spot in the NL
Postseason run: Defeat Cardinals in NLWCS, Lose to Padres in NLDS
If the Phillies played in either central division, 90 wins may very well be enough to win it. In the NL East, however, I believe it will only be good for third place. That will leave them to be the sixth and final seed in the NL playoffs for the second consecutive year. And also for the second time in as many years, I am projecting that the Phillies will go into Busch Stadium and eliminate the Cardinals in the playoffs. While I believe that this time around the Padres will get the better of the Phillies in the postseason, this is now a team with extended postseason experience. If they get into the playoffs for the second year in a row, it would hardly be shocking if the Phillies go on another run.
Destiny Lugardo — Deputy Editorial Director
Record: 93-69
Playoff berth: 1st NL Wild Card Spot
Postseason run: Defeat Mets in NLWCS, Defeat Braves in NLDS, Defeat Dodgers in NLCS, Defeat Blue Jays in World Series
I’m saying this because the stakes are low and unbridled optimism is charming at this time of year. The Phillies’ dearth of internal starting pitching depth in the beginning of the season will ultimately cost them the division, but they have enough talent and good vibes to capture the third World Series in franchise history. They will draw the Mets, perhaps the most overrated team in baseball, in the best of three series at home and one satisfactory victory after another will lead to an ending you can only dream of.
If only.
Ty Daubert — Staff Writer
Record: 87-75
Playoff berth: No playoffs
Postseason run: No playoffs
Last season, the Phillies’ role players stepped up to help the team stay afloat in the absence of players like Jean Segura and Bryce Harper in the summer months. That roster depth will be leaned on even more in 2023 with Philadelphia missing a number of key figures due to injury for varying stretches — including Ranger Suárez in the short term, Harper in the medium term and Rhys Hoskins for the entire season. The addition of star shortstop Trea Turner will certainly bring a big boost, but the injury issues and remaining question marks may leave the Phillies on the wrong side of what should be a competitive National League Wild Card race.
Nathan Ackerman — Staff Writer
Record: 98-64
Playoff berth: NL East winner, NL No. 2 seed
Postseason run: Defeat Brewers in NLDS, Lose to Padres in NLCS
There are reasons to be skeptical of this team in the regular season: Bryce Harper is out for two months. Ranger Suárez is banged up early. The rotation might soon feel the effects of last year’s run, and depth is thin. Rhys Hoskins is out for the season.
But Trea Turner is nearly the hitter that Harper is, and those two together in the lineup come June will be special. The April schedule is light. A top-5-to-8-ish bullpen will ease the rotation’s workload. And Hoskins’ injury will sting, but it’s not the fatal blow that a season-long Harper or Turner absence might be. Maybe it’s something they’ll rally around, “win it for Rhys”-esque. They’ll beat out the barely-inferior Braves and overhyped (as Destiny mentioned) Mets to win the NL East, before an eventual NLCS rematch against the buzzsaw 102-win Padres, who will exact their revenge.
MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION
- Phillies Nation Top 15 Prospects: March 2023
- The Last Time The Phillies And Rangers Met On Opening Day, It Was Wild
- Phillies, Aaron Nola Reportedly Break Off Extension Talks
- With Grand Slam, Trea Turner Has Full Circle Moment With Ken Griffey Jr.
- Trea Turner Could Be First Phillie Since Juan Samuel To Steal 50 Bases
- David Robertson Becomes Key Figure In NL East Race After Edwin Díaz Injury
- Phillies Nuggets: Opening Day Lineup Projection 3.0
- José Alvarado Talks Transformation, World Series, New Contract & More
- Bryce Harper: ‘I Want To Play Well Into My 40s’
- Garrett Stubbs Bat-Spiked And DJ’d His Way To Fan Favorite Status In 2022. He’s Ready For ‘New Memories’ In 2023
Latest Comments