For the primary time since 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies are Nationwide League East champions. The Phillies clinched their first division title in 13 years with Monday’s win over the Chicago Cubs (PHI 6, CHC 2). Philadelphia clinched a postseason berth with Friday’s win. Now they’ve the NL East title locked up as nicely.

“Any time you are capable of get into the postseason, it doesn’t matter what the clinch is like, it is enormous,” Phillies star Bryce Harper stated Friday (by way of MLB.com). “This sport is tough. It is onerous to go wire to wire, and I feel our group has achieved an incredible job clearly this complete season. We have greater objectives and issues like that, nevertheless it’s an incredible second.”

The Phillies moved into sole possession of first place on Might 3 and by no means regarded again. Their lead swelled to 10 video games a number of occasions over the summer time, and it was by no means smaller than 5 video games after Might 18. Philadelphia’s division title has been inevitable for weeks. The Atlanta Braves had gained every of the earlier six NL East titles. That reign is over. 

Though they’ve clinched the NL East, the Phillies nonetheless have work to do. They need to end with one of many Nationwide League’s two greatest data, which might safe a Wild Card Sequence bye. Philadelphia is 3 1/2 video games up on the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers, the present No. 3 seed. 

Additionally, the Phillies are a half-game behind the Dodgers for the most effective document in baseball at 93-63. They gained the season collection towards L.A., so the Phillies maintain the tiebreaker. Ending with baseball’s greatest document locks in home-field benefit all through the postseason. The race for the most effective document may go all the way down to Sport 162.

The Phillies are a well-rounded group that entered Monday ranked fourth in runs scored per sport and eighth in runs allowed per sport. Their rotation has been excellent:

Philadelphia’s prime 4 starters — Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Zack Wheeler — are averaging 5.99 innings per begin with a mixed 3.13 ERA, and that is who they will begin within the postseason. The parade of No. 5 starters (Kolby Allard, Taijuan Walker, and many others.) have pitched poorly, however the Phillies gained the division anyway, and people guys will not see the mound in October.

The offense has energy (Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and many others.) and velocity (Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, and many others.), and the Phillies quietly turned themselves right into a strong defensive group. They’re center of the pack in each defensive runs saved (plus-17) and outs above common (plus-14), which is miles higher than the previous couple of years. Prime to backside, the Phillies have been the most effective group in baseball in 2024.

The Phillies final gained the World Sequence in 2008. They gained the Nationwide League pennant in each 2009 and 2022, however misplaced the World Sequence in six video games each occasions. There isn’t any powerhouse group in baseball this season. The Phillies are superb and so they’re additionally wholesome. This could be the most effective probability for his or her present core to parade down Broad Road.