There was no shortage of hype surrounding the NL East this offseason. After outperforming expectations last year, everyone is curious to see if the Marlins are legitimate contenders for the division. The Mets made headlines not only getting a new owner but also landing and extending one of the best players in all of baseball in Francisco Lindor. Then there is the Braves who are expected to be at the top of the NL playoff race after falling short in last year’s 7 game NLCS. But despite all that hype, it was the Phillies who came out on top this weekend, emphatically sweeping the first 3 game series against last year’s division champs. The offense wasn’t exactly electric, but they got the job done. JT Realmuto (best catcher in baseball btw) leads the pack with a batting average of .444, 1 RBI and 2 doubles while Bryce and Didi are also off to quick starts batting .300 and .273 respectively. Jean Segura came up big on opening day with a walk off single but only managed to notch one more hit the rest of the series while Alec Bohm essentially did the opposite, struggling at the dish all weekend before delivering stepping up in the clutch yet again delivering a go-ahead RBI single in the 8th inning that proved to be the difference in Sunday’s 2-1 win. Bohm is tied with Rhys Hoskins and Zach Wheeler (yes, that Zach Wheeler) for the team lead with 2 RBI’s while Andrew Knapp hit the Phillies only homerun of the season so far.
The offense will hit its stride in time, but what really stood out from this first series was the pitching. Nola being the ace of the staff was as advertised going 6.2 innings, striking out 6, allowing just 2 runs after serving up a gopher ball to Pablo Sandoval of all people. Wheeler dazzled going 7 strong, striking out 10 while allowing just one hit. Then there was Zach Eflin who I myself questioned whether or not his success from last year would carry over, was also impressive as he went 7 strong, striking out 8 and only allowing one run off a hanging curveball to Travis d’Arnaud. Here is where it gets good though. The bullpen, yes, the historically bad bullpen that had us all ripping out hair out last season did not allow a single run this series. Connor Brogdon picked up a win in the 9th inning on opening day, Jose Alvarado and Archie Bradley made their Philly debuts, Alvarado finishing the weekend with 5 strikeouts in two innings of work while Bradley has yet to give up a hit in his 1.1 innings of work. Lastly, Hector Neris who led the bullpen with 3.0 innings pitched this weekend managed to pick up his first save of the young season. Is it early in the season? Yes. Will the Phillies go 162-0? No, but with the offense staying intact this offseason, a revitalized pitching staff, and a sweep of the defending NL East champs you better get some ear plugs because that bell is going to be ringing a lot this year.
Written by: Jonathan Abbott
April 4th, 2021