The Phightin' Phils Are Back! The Philadelphia Phillies have just won their eight-game in a row! They have swept the NY Mets and are 2 games ahead of Atlanta. Zack Wheeler's complete game was apt for a day honoring the late and great Roy Halladay on #34 Day.
This has been an unbelievable stretch of wins for this team. Above all else, it seems this fanbase and the city are rejuvenated from a tough playoff run by the 76ers. This ballclub is finally living up to the hype and learning how to thrive in this city.
The trade deadline and the series against the Pirates seemed to be a wake-up call for the players. The whole team seems to be working better, smarter, and more cohesive than ever before. This stretch of games feels like it is 2007 or 2008 again.
Goosebumps
Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler are playing like MVP and Cy Young caliber players for the Phils and they are getting the crowd chants to back it up! Who knows? This duo could do something that not many teams and the Phillies have not done in over four decades.
The Phillies need certain players to keep up the great work in the final two months of the season so that the Phillies can clinch this NL East Title for the first time in a decade.
1. Zack Wheeler and the Rotation
Zack Wheeler has been lights out for the better part of the season and he needs to and will keep it up. The rest of the rotation is suspect in certain areas because Aaron Nola has become more unreliable at times. Kyle Gibson's new addition has really sky-rocketed his confidence pitching for a contender.
Moving Ranger to the Starting Rotation was a brilliant move because he started his career out as a starter and now the Phils have a dominant lefty in the rotation which is something they needed.
Hopefully, the return of Zach Eflin will increase the Phillies' fervor going forward. As a result, the starting rotation will be a threat to all teams throughout the rest of the season.
2. Bryce Harper and the Hitting Core
Bryce Harper is a monster masher of baseballs! The signing of him has been nothing but successful since he became a Phillie and he is being rewarded with a hot bat and a better performing supporting cast.
The hitting core of Rhys Hoskins, Didi Gregorius, J.T. Realmuto, and Andrew McCutchen will be this offense's make or break going forward.
These five ballplayers need to finish brilliantly and continue going towards the playoff goal at the end of the season. Once McCutchen returns and the Phillies can be fully healthy there is no stopping the Phightin's from taking the NL East Crown and maybe even more…
3. The Bullpen's Tenacity
The Bullpen has been rough this season. The most repetitive phrase about this mediocre Phillies performance until that last few series. The Bullpen was gifted the support of Ian Kennedy at the deadline.
With the support of Hector Neris, Archie Bradley, JD Hammer, and Jose Alverado, there is hope to end the catastrophic late-game relief Phillies Phans have become accustomed to.
The confidence that this 8-game stretch has provided might be the clutch gene that gets added to this bullpen to take them into the post-season. With Luck, the Phillies bullpen will be able to push through confidently and perform at levels the Phans and the city believes them to do.
Optimistically
The city of Philadelphia is looking for its next win and the Phillies have the best opportunity of giving it. Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler can lead this team to a playoff birth and greater postseason glory. The confidence and heat on this ball club are high, Go Phillies and Get that crown!
Photo: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports
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