Call to the pen
Fansided

3 National League teams facing a make-or-break June

By Scott Roche

May 15, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
May 3, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) runs home to score against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) runs home to score against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia Phillies

Last season the Phillies struggled in April and early May, however, they turned things around following the firing of Joe Girardi when they were 22-29 and on their way to missing the playoffs again. They inserted bench coach Rob Thomson into the manager’s seat the rest was history.

Philadelphia turned things around and finished the season 65-46 to claim the final NL wild-card spot. This season, they find themselves in a similar situation at 27-32 and seven games back in the NL East and 4.5 games back in the wild card, behind six teams.

Like last season, the Phillies have not been able to sustain any consistency. They began the season without Bryce Harper after he underwent Tommy John surgery, missing the first 30 games. His quick recovery in just six months from a surgery that tends to take a year to recover from was remarkable, but Harper and his teammates continue to spin their wheels in medoricity in the National League. Kyle Schwarber recorded his 223rd career multihomer with two and six RBIs in an 11-3 win over the Washington Nationals Sunday.

This season, they are going to have to deal with more teams than they did last season just to climb into a postseason spot. The in-state Pittsburgh Pirates are having a good first two-plus month, while the Miami Marlins are riding the hot bat of Jorge Soler and currently are 4.5 games ahead of Philadelphia.

June is a tough month for Thomson’s crew with series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Mets, while a visit to the tester to play the Arizona Diamondbacks is not going to be easy. This feels like a make-or-break month for the Phillies.

Home/Philadelphia Phillies