The Philadelphia Phillies' chance to win their first World Series since 2008 begins on Saturday. They will play one of their NL East rivals, the New York Mets, in the best-of-five NLDS. During the second half of the regular season, who were the top players in Philadelphia's lineup, according to OPS.
Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos led the Phillies in OPS in the second half
According to FanGraphs, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (.876) and right fielder Nick Castellanos (.839) finished with the top two second-half OPS numbers on the club. Both are essential to the Phillies' chances of winning a championship.
Castellanos excelled in last year's Division Series versus the Atlanta Braves but struggled mightily in the following round, the National League Championship Series, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He finished with a slash line of .213/.269/.574 and an OPS of .844 in 13 postseason contests in 2023.
Schwarber finished with a 1.046 OPS for the Phillies during last season's playoffs. He slashed his way to a line of .255/.386/.660 in 13 contests. The designated hitter led the team in the 2024 regular season with 110 runs scored, 38 home runs, 104 RBI, and 106 walks in 150 contests. Despite also finishing first in the organization with 197 strikeouts, he plays an integral part to Philly getting off to a fast start offensively due to being their leadoff hitter.
Bryce Harper finished third with a .793 OPS in the second half of 2024. Last year, he had an OPS of 1.097 in the playoffs. The former right fielder turned first baseman represents the Phillies' top-paid franchise player. He previously won the 2022 NLCS MVP award when the club advanced to the World Series after defeating the San Diego Padres in the NLCS.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto finished fourth with an OPS of .788. He missed over a month with a meniscus injury from June until mid-July. The veteran rebounded with a slash line of .274/.330/.500 during August and an even better line of .286/.348/.476 in September.
While he is likely to be placed anywhere from fifth through seventh in the Phillies lineup during the playoffs, Realmuto has proven to be capable of making an impact in the postseason. He compiled an .825 OPS in the 2023 playoffs.
Outfielder Brandon Marsh has demonstrated inconsistency for the Phillies in 2024. He finished fifth among the club's hitters with a .703 OPS in the second half. Manager Rob Thomson will elect to platoon him in left field with Austin Hays and with Johan Rojas in center based on pitching matchups.
The 26-year-old outfielder is better suited for a part-time role as he struggled with a bigger role during the second half. He demonstrated his tendency to be aggressive as a hitter as he finished second on the team with 154 strikeouts in 135 contests in the regular season.
Trea Turner totaled a .687 OPS and finished sixth among the Phillies hitters in the category. The No. 2 hitter is another key player in getting the team off to a good start offensively. He had a 1.033 OPS last postseason. The shortstop is a threat on the basepaths for the Phillies as he has demonstrated his speed over his MLB career.
Alec Bohm looked like the Phillies' best hitter for most of the regular season. However, he struggled in September. Following his return from a left-hand strain, the infielder had a line of .170/.204/.298. His below-average performance on offense last month contributed to him finishing seventh with a .681 OPS.
Philly will benefit if Bohm can break out of his slump at the right time. He did not perform consistently for the team last postseason either, so fans need to hope for the best and that he can get on a roll beginning in the NLDS.
Rojas finished eighth with a .674 OPS. The young outfielder, who has demonstrated his ability defensively, will be in a platoon role. He has usually hit in the ninth spot. While more experienced hitters in Philadelphia's lineup have more pressure on them to do well than the center fielder, he could find himself with an opportunity to make an impact offensively this postseason.
Thomson may see Bryson Stott as a full-time player at second base, but the infielder has not performed as such offensively in over a year. The 26-year-old saw his playing time reduced, and he could be in a platoon role with infielder Edmundo Sosa during the playoffs. The Las Vegas, Nevada native totaled a .663 OPS, finishing ninth. The Phillies may take advantage of matchups, as the two infielders hit on opposite sides of the plate.