With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the National League East and the Philadelphia Phillies:
Philadelphia Phillies
2018 record: 80-82, 3rd in NL East
Projected Lineup:
SS Jean Segura
C JT Realmuto
RF Bryce Harper
1B Rhys Hoskins
FL Andrew McCutchen
3B Maikel Franco
CF Odubel Herrera
2B Cesar Hernandez
Pitcher
Starting Rotation:
RH Aaron Nola
RH Jake Arrieta
RH Nick Pivetta
RH Vince Velasquez
RH Zach Eflin
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH David Robertson
RH Hector Neris
RH Pat Neshek
LH James Pazos
RH Juan Nicasio
Key Bench Pieces:
INF Scott Kingery
OF Aaron Altherr
INF Trevor Plouffe
OF Nick Williams
Like the Braves, the Phillies surprised people in 2018 with 80 wins and a 3rd place finish in the division. Had it not been for a bad April start and September ending, they could have easily won the division. They just needed to add some pop to compliment Rhys Hoskins, which they certainly did. Jean Segura was a very good pickup for them this offseason as he is quietly impactful and consistent with 3 straight seasons of a .300 average or more, 6 years of 20+ stolen bags, and has averaged 183 hits a season for his career. They also traded for the best all-around catcher baseball has to offer in JT Realmuto. Realmuto hits for average, has pop, and gets on base. He immediately becomes one of the best hitters in that Phillies lineup. They sign Andrew McCutchen, the former NL MVP who, although is not the same player as he once was, can still hit for average and power as well as get on base. Am I missing some one? I think he plays outfield. Oh yeah, Bryce Harper. With that left-handed swing in Citizens Bank Park, I’m expecting a potential 40 home run season from Harper in 2019.
Aaron Nola shined in 2018, finally digging deep and reaching his true potential to be an ace. He posted a 10 WAR, which led the team by far, a 2.37 ERA, 224 strikeouts and a 0.975 WHIP in 33 starts. Unfortunately, after Nola the rotation drops off a bit. They still have Arrieta, a former Cy Young winner but he has not come close to similar production since 2015. He is still a solid veteran to have as your number 2, but the following three in Pivetta, Eflin and Velasquez are a bit underwhelming. All three finished 2018 with ERAs above 4 and WHIPs over 1.300. If the Phillies want to run away with the division like many of their fans want, they need the back end of that rotation to step up.
The offense has immensely improved to help give the Phillies a shot at a division title. What will make or break them is their starting pitching after Nola (and Arrieta). It’s gonna be a fight all year long and the Phillies will be right there from the start.
2019 prediction: 2nd in NL East
