The Phillies 3-9 record against the current three NL division leaders — Braves, Dodgers and Brewers — tells a pretty clear story.
Those three clubs are all significantly better than Philadelphia.
It was clear to see on the field in the two series against Atlanta, the series in Los Angeles and in the Phils’ trip to Milwaukee.
Here is how the Phils have fared against clubs currently holding down a playoff spot in the National League:
- Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2)
- Atlanta Braves (1-5)
- Milwaukee Brewers (1-2)
- San Diego Padres (6-0)
- Washington Nationals (2-1)
That’s a collective 11-10 record, although more than half of those victories
came against one team, the Padres.
If you factor in the American League playoff teams they’ve played, it looks like this:
- Chicago White Sox (2-1)
- Cleveland Guardians (1-2)
- Athletics (2-1)
That would improve their record against current playoff teams to 16-14, 10-14 against teams not called the San Diego Padres.
Where the Phillies are doing real damage is against everyone else, which, makes a lot of sense.
- Arizona Diamondbacks (1-2)
- Boston Red Sox (2-1)
- Cincinnati Reds (1-2)
- Colorado Rockies (4-2)
- Miami Marlins (5-1)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (3-0)
- San Francisco Giants (4-2)
- Texas Rangers (1-2)
- Toronto Blue Jays (2-1)
They’ve gone 23-13 against teams that currently do not hold a playoff spot. The Marlins came to town this week and the Phils bludgeoned them by a combined score of 15-2 in the first two games until Miami beat up on a now-demoted rookie starting pitcher, Andrew Painter.
Here’s the good news. The schedule look mighty nice heading into next month’s All Star break.
- 3 vs. NY Mets (33-41)
- 4 @ Washington Nationals (39-36)
- 3 @ NY Mets
- 4 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (37-37)
- 3 @ Kansas City Royals (30-45)
- 3 @ Cincinnati Reds (35-38)
- 3 @ Detroit Tigers (30-44)
Over their next 23 games, they play four games against teams with a winning record, next week in DC against the Nats. Their opponents have a combined record of 204-241 and a winning percentage of .458. The Phillies have a better record than all of them.
It’s a recipe for the success they’ve experienced since Don Mattingly took over as skipper to continue into the All Star Break.
