Red Hot Phillies Sweep Three Game Series From Rangers

The hottest team in Major League Baseball right now is the Philadelphia Phillies. On May 23rd, Philadelphia beat the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers 5-2 in Philadelphia behind home runs by J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos . The Phillies, the leaders in the National League East standings, improved to 37-14 on the season, which is also the best record in the majors.

The Phillies lead the majors with 272 runs scored and on base percentage (.337), and are in the top ten in most offensive categories. Third baseman Alec Bohm is following up his breakout season in 2023 with an even better one this year, hitting .323 with five homers and 46 RBIs in 50 games. Bryce Harper leads the club with 12 homers. The Phillies success has continued despite shortstop Trea Turner going down for a minimum of six weeks for a hamstring injury May 3rd. He was hitting .343 in 30 games; the club’s offense will be even more potent when he returns.

Philadelphia’s pitching has been part of the equation for success as well. Left hander Ranger Suarez is 9-0 with a 1.36 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Zach Wheeler (6-3, 2.53 ERA, 76 strikeouts) and Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.05, 69) complete the Big Three of the starting rotation. Phillies pitching is third in ERA in the majors at 3.17, and leads in strikeouts with 466.

Two years ago, the Phillies lost the World Series to the Houston Astros; last season they lost the National League Championship Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks. There’s plenty of incentive to put those disappointments in the rear view mirror and take it all the way to the top, and they have the talent to do so.