5 biggest National League threats to Phillies' chances of reaching the World Series
Big moves were made in the National League this offseason, making the Phillies' road back to the World Series bumpy. Which NL teams will be the biggest hurdles for the Phillies to overcome this season?
The Philadelphia Phillies have a roster that puts them in World Series conversations, and the team's expectations are that high after back-to-back NLCS appearances and a trip to the World Series just two years ago. Philadelphia is poised to get back this year with an upgraded roster, but not without tough competition along the way, as many National League teams improved this offseason.
So far, the Phillies' offseason has been mild compared to other NL teams. The biggest moves were re-signing Aaron Nola and extending Zack Wheeler, two ace starting pitchers that the team absolutely needs. They also added veteran utility man Whit Merrifield on a one-year deal.
On the other side of things, the Phillies lost slugger Rhys Hoskins and missed out on multiple big names this offseason, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cody Bellinger, all of whom signed with other NL teams. For the Phillies, getting to the World Series will be harder this year due to the roster upgrades of multiple powerhouse NL teams.
The big dogs are obvious, but there are a few sleepers who could make a decent pursuit for a spot in the playoffs. The Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants are two teams predicted to be middle of the road this season, but their rosters still need to be taken seriously. The NL Central is up for grabs for the Brewers, and they have a roster capable of taking the top spot. The Giants are in a tougher division, so they will have their sights set on a Wild Card. The San Diego Padres are projected to come in fourth in the NL West but have a very talented roster that could easily surprise everyone.
It feels like the Phillies are in great shape with all of the recent success, but we can't forget there are teams trying to steal the Wild Card. Let's take a look at who in the National League the Phillies need to watch out for most this season.
Who are the biggest National League threats to the Phillies?
No. 5: St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a very disappointing 2023 season, finishing well below .500 and coming in dead last in the NL Central. This year, they seem determined to bounce back with a productive offseason. According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan, the Cardinals focused on pitching, as that was their biggest problem in 2023. They signed Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson, plus reliever Kenyan Middleton. Those are intimidating additions to a pitching staff.
As bad as the Cardinals were last year, no one expects them to be that bad again. Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA standings and FanGraphs' playoff odds both predict the Cardinals will come in first in the NL Central. That's a big jump, but even if they can't win the division, they'll be competing for a Wild Card spot.
The Cardinals have added new and important pieces to their roster, but it's the veteran players who will be counted on this season, as pointed out by FanSided's Miranda Remaklus. All-Stars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt are key pieces. They'll have to improve at the plate to get this team out of its rut — when Arenado and Goldschmidt are hot, the Cardinals are a different team. The club also signed veteran and former Cardinal Matt Carpenter to a one-year deal. Carpenter will be important in helping Arenado and Goldschmidt restore the team's winning culture.
The Phillies faced St. Louis in the 2022 Wild Card Series and could see them again if the Cardinals have their way this year. Philadelphia shouldn't be too worried if that were to happen, but the Cards will have more to prove, and we know all too well that anything can happen in the playoffs.
No. 4: Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs also had a disappointing ending to 2023. They finished above .500, in second place in the NL Central, but just missed out on a Wild Card spot, keeping them out of the playoff picture. This year they are determined to improve.
The Cubs had a good offseason and are predicted to make the playoffs. They landed starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, ace pitcher from Japan, and right-hander Hector Neris. On top of that, the Cubs were able to re-sign stud outfielder Cody Bellinger to a three-year deal.
With the state of the NL Central, the Cubs can definitely put up a good fight and compete for the division. PECOTA has the Cubs finishing second in the NL Central, securing one of the Wild Card spots. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com predicts that the Cubs will make the playoffs in 2024 with new manager Craig Counsell at the helm. Counsell is a well-respected manager and is expected to make the most out of the Cubs' talented roster.
The Cubs are a very well-rounded team. Their rotation is dominant with pitchers like Imanaga, Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, and Jameson Taillon. The projected lineup is daunting from top to bottom and includes decorated and experienced bats like Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, and Christopher Morel.
The Cubs haven't made the playoffs since 2020, but they have all the tools and momentum to return this year. The Phillies have recently been able to handle the Cubs during the regular season, but it's not a lineup they'll want to face in October.
No. 3: Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been quietly improving their team this offseason. They missed out on big names they had hoped to get but still managed to acquire talent mostly through trades. Pitching has been their number one focus, and their moves this offseason show they are prioritizing pitchers who can help them finally win in the playoffs, per J.J. Cooper of Baseball America.
The Braves traded Vaughn Grissom for left-hander Chris Sale. They also traded for Ray Kerr and Aaron Bummer and signed Reynaldo Lopez through free agency. These new pitchers will join and support the Braves' biggest assets on the mound, Spencer Strider and Max Fried. If Strider and Fried continue pitching at a high level, incorporating Sale, Bummer, and Lopez in the rotation creates a well-rounded and productive pitching unit.
The Braves currently have 24 pitchers on their 40-man roster and only 11 hitters, and while the starting lineup is stacked, they don't have good backup options for the field. Nevertheless, we can't gloss over how stacked their starting lineup is with players like Ronald Acuña Jr., the reigning NL MVP, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and Matt Olson at the top of the lineup. With the additions to the rotation, the Braves are in a better position this year, barring injuries.
The Atlanta Braves believe their new pitching talent will be the difference maker in the playoffs this year. I don't think the crowd at The Bank cares who's on the mound, but will the third time be the charm for the Braves?
No. 2: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the most improved teams this offseason, per MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. They added a ton of players to improve their already talented roster and depth chart. The reigning National League champions have put themselves in an even better position to start the 2024 season by landing big names like Joc Pederson, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Eugenio Suárez, to name a few.
After last season, the Diamondbacks pinpointed the need for another starting pitcher as their biggest priority. Well, they got that in the Rodriguez signing. Bringing the left-hander to Arizona was a great move for all parties involved. Rodríguez is at the top of his game and the perfect addition to the current rotation, which consists of Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, and Ryne Nelson, all right-handed pitchers. Rodríguez, as a lefty, will add necessary variance within the group.
The Diamondbacks also made sure to resign star outfielder, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to a three-year deal. Gurriel is a very important part of this team, not just on the field but off. He helped the Diamondbacks get to the World Series last year while creating strong relationships and bonds with his teammates, coaches, and fans.
Most recently, Arizona signed Randal Grichuk to a one-year contract. The veteran right-handed hitter will be a productive DH and a perfect pairing with left-handed hitter Joc Pederson. The two of them will duo as designated hitters, ensuring there is always a consistently powerful bat in the DH spot.
The Diamondbacks addressed every facet of the roster this offseason and checked off their to-do list, and they might not be done. This is frightening after what happened last year between the Phillies and Diamondbacks in the NLCS.
No. 1: Los Angeles Dodgers
The name on everyone's lips this offseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers had one of, if not the, most legendary and iconic offseasons in MLB history. Of all the big names available in free agency, the Dodgers managed to sign multiple, as outlined by Tim Kelly of Just Baseball. The biggest big name being All-Star and double threat Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani makes this already great team even greater — it's almost unfair.
Ohtani joins a talented club with a winning culture in the Dodgers. The team has dominated the regular season, winning 100 games last year and taking first place in the division two years in a row. However, since their World Series Championship in the shortened 2020 season, they've been unable to make it back. They anticipate getting back this year after going all in this offseason.
The Dodgers would still have made history if they had given up after Ohtani, but that's not the Dodger way. They got fellow Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and right-hander Tyler Glasnow. They also signed outfielder Teoscar Hernández. These new players join a roster filled with returning All-Stars, including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Max Muncy.
Many changes were made for the Dodgers this offseason: a revamped starting rotation, Betts' move to shortstop, and the addition of Ohtani's bat in the lineup. Change might be exactly what the Dodgers need to avoid stalling in the playoffs again. They are projected to win the NL West again, but their focus is on October.
The Phillies have not had to play the Dodgers in the playoffs the past two years, but if the Phils want to make another run, they should expect to come face-to-face with arguably the best roster in baseball. Playing the Dodgers will be a daunting task. No team will want to face this lineup and rotation in the postseason.
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