The Philadelphia Phillies have hit a bump within the street as July nears its shut. However is that this merely a hunch or a cause to panic for the most effective workforce in baseball?
On the floor, it does not look nice. The Phillies fell 4-3 on Sunday after blowing an early three-run lead in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians, leaving Philly with its fourth consecutive collection defeat.
Since finishing a formidable sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 11, the Phillies are simply 4-8, dropping two of three to the Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins and now Guardians. Over that stretch, they’ve struggled with consistency on the mound and on the plate.
The Phillies is probably not taking part in properly, however speak of a monumental collapse is a bit untimely. As an illustration, they’ve had the lead in seven of their final eight losses and, whereas being outscored 60-51, a giant chunk of these runs got here in an 18-3 bashing by the hands of the A’s.
Briefly, the Phillies merely aren’t ending. Whether or not the offense goes quiet after a sizzling begin or the bullpen flounders, lately, nothing has gone proper.
All-Star first baseman Bryce Harper did not sound apprehensive in regards to the workforce’s play, telling reporters on Sunday that “it is simply a part of the sport.”
“You understand, because the season goes, you are going to have your ups and downs, clearly,” Harper said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “We have had possibilities to win video games, and we have been in leads and have not been capable of get the job carried out — simply acquired to show the web page and perceive we have a protracted season to go.”
Regardless of their current downtrend, there isn’t any cause for concern. Not but, anyway.
The Phillies nonetheless personal MLB’s greatest report at 65-40. Likewise, they’ve misplaced little, if any, floor within the Nationwide League East, main by 8.5 video games over the second-place Atlanta Braves (56-48).