Phillies stay hot, sweep weekend series with Padres

A month or so into the 2024 season, the red-hot Phillies look like a team that can win in a variety of ways. Their rotation can out-pitch the opposition, their lineup can win a slugfest, their defense ranges from solid to incredible at most positions, and their bullpen can close games out.

The Phils put all of those skills on display in a three-game sweep of the Padres in San Diego this weekend.

The rotation? Aaron Nola pitched eight innings on Friday, walking one and striking out ten. Ranger Suarez threw eight innings on Saturday, walking none and striking out eight. Taijuan Walker, making his season debut on Sunday, pitched reasonably well through six innings before allowing a three-run home run in the seventh. “I thought [Walker] was good,” said manager Rob Thomson. “I was encouraged by the velocity.” Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, and Spencer Turnbull didn’t pitch in the Padres series but have been dominant overall.

The lineup? They picked Walker up on Sunday, mashing three home runs in an 8-6 win. Two of the long balls were off the bat of Bryson Stott, who acknowledged the team’s versatility after the game: “Every day, every night, it’s a new pitcher shutting down an inning,” said Stott. “It’s a new hitter driving guys in. That’s what you need as a team . . . winning all types of different games.” The offense averaged over seven runs/game during the series, scoring nine on Friday and five on Saturday. Alec Bohm, in particular, has impressed. His 1.056 OPS was third among all qualified hitters in Major League Baseball as of Sunday evening, just ahead of Shohei Ohtani.

The defense? It’s hard to find a glaring weak spot. Trea Turner has struggled a bit at shortstop. But the days of Kyle Schwarber regularly patrolling left field or Rhys Hoskins butchering balls at first base are over. You can find two or three gold glove candidates in the rotation alone: Zack Wheeler won one last season, Ranger Suarez doesn’t have one yet but probably should, and check out this play from Walker on Sunday:

That leaves us with the bullpen. It’s not quite firing on all cylinders yet, but it’s been really strong, allowing a grand total of zero runs in San Diego over the weekend. After Nola exited Friday’s game, Seranthony Dominguez pitched a clean ninth. On Saturday, Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth to preserve Suarez’s gem. Hoffman, Yunior Marte, and Jose Alvarado threw 2.2 scoreless innings on Sunday.

It doesn’t take a deep statistical dive to find the reasons behind the team’s success. Looking at some of the most basic numbers, Phillies pitchers lead the majors in strikeouts and lead the National League in ERA. Phillies hitters lead the NL in home runs. Only eight MLB teams have fewer errors. Only six MLB teams have more steals.

Going just a touch deeper, the pitchers lead the majors in quality starts and they lead the National League in WHIP. The offense is top-ten in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

It’s a recipe for success. “Everyone’s pitching well and the team’s rolling,” Walker said after Sunday’s game. “I just want to be part of it and be out there with the guys. I just want to go deep in innings and do my part. I don’t feel I did that all the way today, but the offense did really well, the defense did well and the team’s hot right now.”

Sometimes it’s the pitching, sometimes it’s the offense, sometimes it’s the defense, and very often this season it’s all three. The team’s 19-10 record is their best start in years and represents a 106-win pace over 162 games.

The Phillies will try to keep rolling as they begin a three-game series with the Angels on Monday at 9:38 p.m. Sanchez (1-3, 2.96 ERA) will face Angels RHP Griffin Canning (1-3, 7.50 ERA). Turnbull and Wheeler, two of three Phils starting pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA, will follow Sanchez on Tuesday and Wednesday.