4 Phillies storylines to watch in third month of 2021 season

4. The Phillies have a tough schedule ahead of them.

Looking to help the Phillies bounce back on Tuesday will be right-hander Aaron Nola. He takes the ball for the first game of the month, and the second of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

After the Phillies finish their current series, they have an off day on Thursday before traveling home for a three-game set against the last-place Washington Nationals. After a day off next Monday, the Phillies will host the Atlanta Braves for three games.

Following another rare Friday off on June 11, the Phillies will host the New York Yankees for two games. Then, manager Joe Girardi’s squad will begin a daunting six-game road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, the latter team managed by Gabe Kapler. Currently, the Giants have the second-most wins in MLB (34), trailing only the Tampa Bay Rays by one victory.

Next, the Phillies will host the Nationals for two more games, before a four-game road series against the New York Mets from June 25-27. They wlll play a doubleheader on Friday, June 25, with the latter game being a makeup from an April 15 postponed contest. The Mets could look a lot different then, with some of their best hitters coming back. The series could be very tough for the Phillies. Girardi’s team will then end the month against the Marlins at home for two of a three-game series.

The Phillies will have seven off days overall this month, which will be good to get them some rest. A dozen of their 23 games in June will be at home, where they have a 15-10 record so far this season. The toughest part of their June slate is obvious and it could potentially make July look very different. From June 8-20, the Phillies play the Braves, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants.

Overall, June is very important for a struggling Phillies team. How will this month alter the Phillies plans for the end of July near the trade deadline? Will they all of the sudden become sellers or could they go on a run and become buyers?