PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia Phillies capped off the opening month of the MLB season with a victory over the Washington Nationals, extending their win streak to four games. They finished April with a 17–13 record, placing them second in the National League East behind the New York Mets, who have gone 7–3 over their last 10 games.
As ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted, “On paper, Philadelphia remains one of the toughest teams in the NL.”
The Phillies’ rotation has been a major factor in their early success. Zack Wheeler ranks second in the league with 57 strikeouts and is tied for 16th with a 1.00 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). A key offseason acquisition, left-hander Jesús Luzardo is pitching at an elite level, boasting a 3–0 record with 41 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA—fifth-best in the league—while showcasing the best form of his career.
Aaron Nola also appears to be rounding into form. In his final start of April, he delivered a vintage performance—allowing just three hits and one run over seven innings while striking out six against the Chicago Cubs. Though he earned a no-decision, the outing marked a promising shift after losing his first five decisions of the season. Collectively, Phillies starters have recorded the second-most strikeouts in baseball, trailing only the Mets.
At the plate, the Phillies are showing a far more disciplined approach compared to last season. They’ve drawn 124 walks—tied for third-most in the league—with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber each tallying 24, placing them in a five-way tie for fourth in the majors. The team’s chase rate has also improved significantly, dropping from 30.3% in 2024 (25th in MLB) to 26.7% this season, now ranking ninth-best in the league.
Philadelphia’s overall contact has been solid, reflected in a .251 team batting average—ninth in MLB. However, the power numbers have not lived up to expectations. The Phillies have hit just 27 home runs so far, tied for 19th in the league. By comparison, they had hit 40 homers by the end of April last year, the second-most in baseball at that point. Former two-time MVP Bryce Harper has yet to fully tap into his power this season, recording a .423 slugging percentage—the second-lowest mark for him through April in his career, just ahead of the .422 he posted in 2014. The figure also sits 97 points below his career average.
Defense has also been a concern for the Phillies this season. While they’ve committed just 13 errors—tied for seventh-fewest in the league—they rank 27th in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at -14. DRS is a metric that quantifies a player’s defensive value by estimating the number of runs they’ve prevented or allowed compared to an average fielder at their position. Among the key contributors, shortstop Trea Turner has been a notable liability, registering a -5 DRS.
Following a recent win over the Nationals in which the Phillies surrendered a three-run lead in the ninth inning, manager Rob Thomson acknowledged the defensive issues, stating, “Right now, we are giving up too many outs. We just need to slow down and get the outs that we need to get. … We’ve got to clean it up. We really do.”
Arguably the Phillies’ most pressing concern through the first month of the season has been the bullpen. The relief corps currently holds a 5.03 ERA—26th in Major League Baseball. Orion Kerkering has struggled to find consistency, posting a 5.56 ERA over 13 appearances, while Jordan Romano owns a team-worst 12.19 ERA across 10.1 innings. Romano has surrendered three home runs during that stretch, the most by any Phillies reliever. Despite these setbacks, José Alvarado has emerged as a dominant force. In 14.2 innings, the left-hander has posted a 1.84 ERA, while converting five saves. He’s striking out 33.9% of opposing batters and walking just 3.2%—a dramatic improvement from his 10.9% walk rate in 2024.
Despite their early-season inconsistencies, the Phillies sit just three games back of the division-leading Mets. With plenty of baseball still to be played, Philadelphia remains well within striking distance—and will look to find their rhythm as they aim to bring Red October back to Citizens Bank Park once again.
Editor’s Note: The statistics referenced in this article reflect games played through April 30. While the Phillies played on May 1, those results are not included. All player and team statistics cited are current as of April 30 and do not account for any outcomes or changes from the May 1 game or later.
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