The 2024 Major League Baseball playoffs are officially underway. The Philadelphia Phillies earned a first-round bye and won’t play their first playoff game until Saturday in the NLDS.
The Phillies are in unfamiliar territory with extra days off between the end of the regular season and their first playoff game. In the previous two seasons, the Phillies made the playoffs as a Wild Card team en route to two consecutive deep playoff runs. The extra time off could be good for some players to regroup and perform better than they played in the regular season.
Bryson Stott looking forward to fresh start for Phillies in MLB playoffs
Bryson Stott enjoyed a breakout season with the Phillies in 2023. He slashed .280/.329/.419 with a .748 OPS, 32 doubles, 15 home runs and 62 RBI. He was an excellent two-strike hitter and ranked No. 8 in the majors in that category with a .237 batting average. The second baseman hit an electric grand slam in Game 2 of the 2023 Wild Card round against the Miami Marlins to help send the Phillies to their second straight NLDS matchup with the Atlanta Braves.
One of the top storylines of the 2024 Phillies season has been where that version of Stott is. The 26-year-old slashed .245/.315/.356 with a .671 OPS, 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 57 RBI. He ranked No. 55 in baseball with a .195 batting average when hitting with two strikes. It was a down year for Stott, and the third-year player even saw his playing time diminish as the season progressed.
“Everyone starts at zeros now,” Stott said on Tuesday about starting fresh in the playoffs, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Good or bad you have to put your season behind you.”
Stott will look to do just that as the Phillies gear up for another Red October. The week-long playoff bye is similar to the All-Star break which gives players a chance to take a step back and evaluate themselves. It’s nice to have success during the regular season, but the playoffs are when players need to elevate their game and be the best version of themselves.
“You’re always kind of pumped up and ready to go for your first postseason game,” Stott said. “It’s kind of like opening day. It never gets old.”
The Phillies are hoping to win their first World Series championship since 2008 after falling short the previous two years. The team is talented enough to do so, but they need everyone to be at their best. If Stott can return to his 2023 form in the playoffs this year, the Phillies lineup will cause nightmares for opposing pitchers and managers.