The MLB regular season is right around the corner. While the Philadelphia Phillies haven't had much drama through the six weeks of their training camp and spring training game action, the intensity will be ratcheted up right out of the gate — the Phillies will host the division rival Atlanta Braves on Opening Day.
While the Phillies hope to contend for the NL East title this season with a mostly healthy squad to begin the year, Atlanta is still the favorite. The Phillies also hope to compete for the ultimate prize: a trip to the World Series and hoisting the trophy.
Baseball is a team sport, and everything will have to click for the Phillies to bring home the third World Series title in franchise history. Do you know what would make the journey to the World Series easier? Some standout performances from individual Phillies players.
Now's the time on the baseball calendar when anything is possible. Before Zack Wheeler throws the first pitch of the Phillies' season, fans can live in a state of exciting, limitless possibilities. Let's look ahead to the 2024 regular season, dust off the crystal ball, and see what predictions we can make.
But we don't want to play it too safe, that's no fun. We want to make some bold predictions. Outcomes that could happen, but may not be entirely realistic to expect to come to fruition. They definitely shouldn't all come true.
We could predict that Zack Wheeler will win the NL Cy Young Award (finally), but that's so close to happening that it's a little too timid of a prognostication. The righty, fresh off signing a three-year, $126 million extension during spring training, has been the best pitcher by fWAR since joining the Phillies in 2020. He led the majors with a 5.9 fWAR last season, somehow finishing sixth in Cy Young voting.
We could also say that Bryson Stott will win a Gold Glove Award this season. That's still not nearly bold enough. The standout defender was a finalist in 2023, in just his second MLB season and first year as the primary second baseman. It's not much of a stretch to see him taking home the award this year.
So, let's get to it. Here are five bold predictions for the Phillies 2024 season.