The 2023 Philadelphia Phillies come into the season with some raised expectations after last season’s run to the World Series.
Unfortunately, a couple of major injuries may keep the team from rising too far in the MLB standings in the regular season, though another postseason run is certainly a possibility if they can get there.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors in the season and how the Phillies stack up against other MLB teams as we look at the Philadelphia Phillies season odds.
Big Addition
The Phillies made a splash in the offseason by signing shortstop Trea Turner in the offseason. Turner was among the leaders in MLB player stats in 2022, finishing 14th in batting average at .298 and tying for 12th in RBIs with 100 while playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Turner is already among the favorites to win the NL MVP this season, tying for the fourth-best odds heading into the season at +1000. He trails San Diego’s Juan Soto, Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and is tied with San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. and St. Louis’ Paul Goldschmidt, the reigning NL MVP.
Injury Bug Bites
Turner will need to carry the load along with outfielder Kyle Schwarber in the early going, as the MLB injury report features a pair of big-name Phillies. Outfielder Bryce Harper was already known to be missing the early part of the MLB schedule with an elbow injury.
Harper led the Philadelphia Phillies player stats in the postseason with a .349 batting average, six home runs, and 13 RBIs, but he’ll be missing a few MLB games to start the 2023 campaign.
Philadelphia took a major hit in spring training when first baseman Rhys Hoskins was lost with a knee injury that will keep him out of the entire MLB schedule for this season. Hoskins had 30 home runs and drove in 79 runs a season ago, and his loss will certainly hurt the Philadelphia Phillies season odds.
Still Fighting
Despite all of the setbacks due to injuries, the Phillies are still among the top MLB picks for the National League and the World Series title in 2023. Unfortunately, some of the teams above them in those odds reside in their division.
The Phillies are listed with the third-best odds to win the NL East at +300, with the Atlanta Braves (+105) and New York Mets (+165) listed above them. The Braves and Mets are among the four teams tied at +400 odds to win the National League in 2023, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, with Philadelphia next on the list at +750.
The Philadelphia Phillies season odds to win the World Series are the seventh-best in all of baseball at +1600. The Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays from the American League as well as the Braves, Mets, Dodgers, and Padres from the National League, are the teams above Philadelphia.
What Must Work
So what is going to help the Philadelphia Phillies recapture the magic of last fall’s run to the World Series?
Turner and Schwarber getting off to good starts will certainly help, as the Philadelphia Phillies team stats in batting last season had them eighth in baseball in batting average at .253 and seventh in runs at 747. Until Harper can get back hitting the ball, the Phillies will need their other big stars to keep the offensive engine running.
On the mound, Philadelphia will lean on the 1-2 punch of Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. Nola finished with a 3.25 ERA and 235 strikeouts a season ago, though he had a losing record at 11-13. Wheeler led the Phillies with 12 wins, finishing 12-7 with a 2.82 ERA and 163 strikeouts.
It might not be easy in the regular season, but get back to the postseason, and Philadelphia could put things together yet again.
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