With 122 games behind them, the Philadelphia Phillies sit atop the NL East with a six-game lead over the New York Mets and hold the second-best record in the National League. While the team is well-positioned for the postseason, recent inconsistencies, along with some full-season struggles, have raised questions about certain key players, which will have fans scared, remembering past playoff runs.
With the playoffs looming and only a few weeks left in the regular season, the Phillies have the roster to make a serious postseason push. But success in October often hinges on players stepping up at the right time. As Red October draws near, these names will play a crucial role in whether the Phillies can go the distance for a World Series run.
These six Phillies players will be the key to a deep playoff run and moving on from past October failures
Ranger Suárez, LHP
Phillies fans have seen this pattern before. A dominant first half followed by a rocky second half. Ranger Suárez posted a stellar 2.15 ERA in his first 13 starts after debuting in early May. However, since the All-Star break, he’s logged a 6.59 ERA, pushing his season mark to 3.28. He’s delivered just one quality start in his last five outings and has allowed five or more runs in three of them.
With Aaron Nola returning from injury and Taijuan Walker pitching well, a six-man rotation might help manage Suárez’s workload. A move to the bullpen for the postseason is also a possibility if his struggles continue.
Nick Castellanos, RF
Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos has seen his season take a downturn after a solid start. As of June 22, he was slashing .286/.327/.446, but since then, he’s struggled to find consistency.
His current line sits at .254/.292/.408 following a rough post-All-Star break stretch in which he's hitting just .178/.204/.289 over 23 games. With only three home runs and nine RBIs in that span, Castellanos' production has dwindled, which is scary given his role in the heart of the lineup.
Alec Bohm’s return may allow Castellanos to drop lower in the order, but the Phillies will need him to rediscover his early-season form. With the outfield already a weak spot, his play is critical in making this lineup deeper.
Matt Strahm, LHP
The addition of Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline gave the bullpen a boost, but Matt Strahm remains the team’s top left-handed reliever with José Alvarado ineligible for the postseason. After a rocky start to the year, Strahm rebounded in July, tossing nine scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
But his struggles resurfaced in August. He has allowed three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings (5.79 ERA) this month. The Phillies need Strahm to find consistency heading into October, if he is going to be the main left-handed pitcher out of the bullpen. The other left-handed option will be Tanner Banks.
Alec Bohm, 3B
Alec Bohm's impending return from the injured list brings both hope and pressure. After a slow start, the third baseman found his rhythm but now faces questions about how quickly he can regain his timing. Fans remember Harper needing time post-injury to figure out his swing.
Bohm's past playoff struggles last season, when he was even benched, are still fresh in the memory banks. With him set to bat in the middle of the order, the Phillies will be counting on Bohm to make an immediate impact once he's back and start driving in runs again.
Whoever's playing left field
Left field remains an ongoing question mark for the Phillies. The platoon continues with Max Kepler (against righties) and Weston Wilson (against lefties). Kepler has struggled, slashing .210/.299/.368 in 102 games. Although he has improved in August, hitting .292, by far his best month of the season. His postseason reliability remains uncertain.
Wilson, meanwhile, is hitting .250 overall but dealt with an injury early in the season and spent time in the minors to regain form after struggling. While he's shown improvement since his return, hitting .429 in six August games, driving in four. In addition, he's slashing .296/.367/.481 since June 1. However, left field remains a liability down the stretch.