The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the better part of the last month sitting in the top spot of many power rankings. Baseball writers and media outlets have started to take this team seriously following an incredible 41-18 start that has seen them take a 7.5-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
The accolades from the national media have been well deserved, but the Phillies' success really comes down to individual performances that have helped carry the team at various points through the first couple months of the season. While the usual suspects, Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler, have continued to perform at elite levels in 2024, the contributions of a few other players have been pivotal to the sustained success.
Pair of deserving Phillies disrespected by being left off early All-MLB Team
A panel of MLB.com baseball writers recently put together a list of early favorites at every position to win All-MLB Team honors and the Phillies were very well represented. But like all lists of this nature, a few glaring omissions stand out. For a few Phillies players, it doesn't seem like MLB writers believe a couple of them will be able to sustain their current elite level of play all season.
Where would this Phillies team be in the standings if they didn't get the type of elite performances they've received from third baseman Alec Bohm and reliever Matt Strahm?
Bohm has been the Phillies' best hitter with runners on base. With a .393 batting average with runners in scoring position, his 42 RBI in those situations are the most in MLB, while his overall total of 49 is the fourth highest.
Strahm went nearly two months without giving up a run while pitching out of the bullpen. That stability has contributed to the Phillies having one of the best bullpens this season.
Both Bohm and Strahm received votes for the early All-MLB Teams, but both came up short at their respective positions when the final votes were tallied. José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians took the top spot at third base on the First Team with a strong start that has produced 16 home runs and a MLB-leading 57 RBI.
Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox was voted to the All-MLB Second Team following a stretch that saw him hit home runs in six consecutive games. Despite Bohm having a better batting average and higher RBI total than Devers, it seems writers aren't convinced Bohm will hit for enough power this year to be included on this list.
Strahm is another glaring omission from the All-MLB Team after producing a 3-1 record with a 0.78 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP in his 24 appearances on the season. Despite those strong numbers, Mason Miller (Athletics) and Emmanuel Clase (Guardians) took First Team honors, with Ryan Helsley (Cardinals) and Robert Suarez (Padres) being named to the All-MLB Second Team. Voters may have been swayed by the save totals of the four pitchers voted in, while Strahm is a high-leverage reliever yet to record a save.
Trio of Phillies players named to early All-MLB Team
While Bohm and Strahm are currently on the outside looking in for early All-MLB Team honors, the Phillies were well represented elsewhere. Bryce Harper was named as a First Team selection at first base, nudging out Freddie Freeman for the top spot on this list. Harper has put together a strong showing at the dish in 2024, and any questions about whether he can handle playing first base on an everyday basis are now null and void.
Zack Wheeler was voted to the All-MLB First Team as one of the top starting pitchers this season. Wheeler has a record of 6-3 with a 2.32 ERA and a WHIP of 0.95 across starts.
Ranger Suárez, in the midst of a career year, made the All-MLB Second Team. He's currently tied with Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals for the most wins in MLB with a 9-1 record. Suárez's selection should come as little surprise after taking the next step as a pitcher and inserting his name into the early discussion as a player to watch in the NL CY Young Award race.
When all is said and done, will the Phillies add a few more names to the All-MLB team at season's end? There's still a lot of baseball to be played, and Alec Bohm and Matt Strahm have plenty of time to change baseball writer's minds.