PHILADELPHIA — Despite a poor showing this past weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Philadelphia Phillies remain one of the best clubs in Major League Baseball. Sitting with a 36-23 record, the Phillies have firmly planted themselves in both the playoff hunt and the chase for the National League East.
Through roughly 60 games this season, the Phillies have seen some of their best players rise to the top. Kyle Schwarber is playing at an MVP level, both Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo have pitched like Cy Young caliber arms, and Trea Turner has found his swing once again. However, not every Phillie has performed like an All-Star through the end of May.
Slow starts for Alec Bohm, Jordan Romano, and Brandon Marsh had many fans questioning what the organization had done to improve the roster from past seasons. Slowly but surely, these players, as well as a few others, have started to turn their seasons around.
Overall, the most important numbers for the club are those in the win and loss columns. If the Phillies can continue to win series, they will have another great chance at a World Series title.
Phillies Team Rankings
Despite playing solid baseball through the end of May, the Phillies are still in the mix with the other top teams in baseball.
It made me curious to see how the club compared to their opponents in the rest of Major League Baseball. Peeling back the numbers in the standings, Fangraphs.com ranked the best units in the league based on their fWar statistic. Here is where each position landed for the Phillies:
| Position | Ranking (1-30) |
| C | 21 |
| 1B | 12 |
| 2B | 5 |
| 3B | 22 |
| SS | 7 |
| LF | 23 |
| CF | 24 |
| RF | 19 |
| Total OF | 24 |
| DH | 3 |
| SP | 1 |
| RP | 11 |
These rankings accumulate all of the statistics for the Phillies based on who has played in the spot. For example, the catcher slot combines the numbers for both J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan.
Based on this information, the Phillies have the best starting pitching unit, the third-best designated hitting production, and a top 5 second base unit. This also means they rank towards the bottom of the league in outfield production and are in the bottom half for third base and catching. Surprisingly, their bullpen is the eleventh-ranked unit, despite some real struggles from the group.
Individual Rankings
Breaking down the numbers even further, Fangraphs also lists out individual player rankings amongst positions. These rankings are based on qualified players, meaning those who have played in enough games to earn end-of-season awards.
| Player | Ranking Among Qualified Players |
| J.T. Realmuto | 11 of 14 |
| Bryce Harper | 9 of 27 |
| Bryson Stott | 6 of 18 |
| Alec Bohm | 17 of 22 |
| Trea Turner | 6 of 24 |
| Max Kepler | 19 of 25 |
| Johan Rojas | *28 of 42 |
| Brandon Marsh | *33 of 42 |
| Nick Castellanos | 19 of 22 |
| Kyle Schwarber | 2 of 215 |
| Jesus Luzardo | 8 of 77 |
| Zack Wheeler | 10 of 77 |
| Cristopher Sanchez | 39 of 77 |
| Matt Strahm | 15 of 188 |
*Rojas and Marsh did not qualify with enough plate appearances for center field. Therefore, the criteria was adjusted to players with over 100 plate appearances in center field.
Jesus Luzardo and Zack Wheeler were higher on this list before their appearances this past week for the Phillies. Both Luzardo and Wheeler saw minor setbacks based on their outings, but their strong performances otherwise keep them amongst the top 10 starting pitchers in baseball.
Both Bryson Stott and Trea Turner rank 6th amongst their peers at their respective positions. Stott’s defense helps boost him in the list, while Turner’s offense is his stronger calling card.
Kyle Schwarber is the second-best DH in all of baseball, trailing just Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Competing with a 3-time league MVP is certainly great company for the Phillies’ slugger and will bode well for him in the coming off-season.
A Look Ahead
What these rankings mean is up to your interpretation. As previously mentioned, the win and loss column is the most important to the Phillies organization, and as long as they continue to win, these rankings won’t mean a whole lot.
However, these do provide a glance at where the team could benefit by upgrading at the trade deadline in late July. Their outfield needs to improve, especially in the center field. Their bullpen has managed to stay afloat, but with the loss of Jose Alvarado, they will need to add at the very least 2 more arms. Alec Bohm has turned his season around, but can he continue to rise in the ranks of MLB third basemen? These rankings also give you an idea of how the players stack up against their peers in the league today.
The Phillies are off on Monday, June 2, before starting a 6-game road series. They will play the Toronto Blue Jays and then the Pittsburgh Pirates before returning home to Citizens Bank Park on June 9th against the Chicago Cubs.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
