The Philadelphia Phillies currently sit atop the National League East and are tied for the fourth-best record in baseball after an offseason where many said that it would be the New York Mets' division to lose. Well, with the Mets currently sitting five games back in the NL East and holding onto the final Wild Card spot for dear life, the Phillies are positioned for October baseball once again. If the Phils want to play further than they did last year in their NLDS upset, however, they're going to need the full 26- soon-to-be 28-man roster to contribute each game as the regular season draws to a close.
From the beginning of the season, it was clear the team's mantra was to either win it all or die trying. Core pieces from the past few postseasons, both offensively and defensively, are expected to hit free agency either this year or next. So the time to win is now if they want to do it with the players they've invested in, as they try to muster the same successful Cinderella run they had in 2022.
4 key players Phillies will rely on down the stretch to win a second straight NL East title
With some old rivals falling this year and new ones (re)emerging to dominance among the division, this group of players that makes up the majority of the Phillies' current roster has been with the club for some time now. If all goes as well as it has for these four players, count on them to be major contributors to the team's push to clinch the division.
Jhoan Duran, RHP
The most obvious on this list has to be the Phillies’ newly acquired closer, Jhoan Duran. The AL Reliever of the Month for May this year thankfully adapted fast to his new bullpen, with the Phillies’ need for a legitimate closing pitcher to button up tight games glaring with the Jordan Romano bust. In Minnesota, he boasted a 2.01 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in just 40 1/3 innings, converting 16 of his 18 save opportunities with his “splinker” and a four-seamer that averages 100.2 mph.
From his first save, in which he only needed four pitches, it was clear that there is something truly special about Duran, as the back of the bullpen now falls primarily to him in high-leverage situations. He solidified his place in franchise history in his second game as well, recording two of the fastest pitches thrown by a Phillie in the pitch-tracking era, clocking in at 103.3 mph, undoubtedly proving that even with former closer José Alvarado's absence this postseason, there’s someone who can shut it down for a Phillies win.
Cristopher Sánchez, LHP
After an All-Star year in 2024, southpaw Christopher Sánchez has been worth every penny of his four-year extension, continuing to pitch well this year, especially after being snubbed for the All-Star game. With how dominant he’s been this season, Sánchez is projected by ESPN to be among the top three starters in National League Cy Young voting.
At 11-4 with a 2.45 ERA in 24 starts this season, Sánchez has stepped up and emerged as a force behind ace Zack Wheeler. However, with Wheeler sidelined for an indeterminate amount of time, the Phillies will need the left-hander even more down the stretch. Ranger Suárez has been unrecognizably lost on the mound as of late and Aaron Nola had a rough return on Sunday. This seems like Sánchez’s time to shine.
Brandon Marsh, OF
It's no secret that Brandon Marsh struggled to begin the season, going 0-for-29 for a stretch in April where he batted just .095 with a .387 OPS. Then, to make matters worse, the 27-year-old outfielder suffered from a hamstring strain during that rough stretch. Upon his return, however, Marsh began to find himself again at the plate, putting up several clutch at-bats immediately upon his return to the majors on May 3 when he went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Since then, Marsh has turned into one of the team's most clutch hitters, even finding himself among legends on the all-time BABIP leaderboard. This stat alone proves that when Marsh can make contact, he serves as one of the team's most under-the-radar spark plugs. Typically having batted ninth in the lineup, he's working his way up with how well he's been performing at the plate. He's now slashing .271/.333/.415 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 102 games.
As long as he continues to see the ball well, Marsh's offensive prowess and defensive platooning will make him the most vital piece of the outfield.
Edmundo Sosa, UTL
If history repeats itself and some of the Phillies' biggest names fail to show up in the postseason, Edmundo Sosa's defensive versatility and extremely clutch situational hitting will be one of the most valuable tools in manager Rob Thompson's belt. Sosa has been one of the brightest lights this year, and it could be argued that he's one of the most consistent hitters in the Phillies' lineup.
After starting the season in the utility role, having been the team's go-to bench bat for three seasons now, he has received plenty of playing time this season. Once he was given the chance for more consistent reps, he consistently came up in the clutch, often when the team needed him most.
In his 195 at-bats this season, Sosa is slashing .262/.300/.410 while playing all over the diamond. He should continue to shine as one of the team's best players off the bench, unless he's covering for a struggling starter, as the heat gets turned on high with fall baseball around the corner.