The Philadelphia Phillies have one thing in mind for the 2023 MLB season. It’s about winning the World Series.
The Phillies front office, led by Baseball Operations President Dave Dombrowski, has made some of the most aggressive moves in baseball to strengthen its roster for the season.
The addition of shortstop Tre Turner, starter Tyhuan Walker, reliever Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto made it blatantly clear that Philadelphia were no joke. Wildcard spots are no longer goals.
But the National League East did better, too. The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves never rested on their laurels. Justin Verlander is currently in the division and he is probably one of the most impactful free agent contracts in the division.
That said, the new scheduling scheme implemented by MLB means fewer divisional games. Each game has more weight, but the overall schedule is fairer. The strength of each division no longer matters so much.
Had the Phillies been in NL Central last year, they might have won more than five games.
With a deep and strong rotation, better defensive infielders, and a beefed-up bullpen, Philadelphia is perfectly positioned to win more games than its 87-win 2022 MLB season.
Given winter gains, the intensity of the schedule, and losses like Bryce Harper to injury, we did our best on our way to early record projections.
Phillies overall 2023 record: 93-69
That record should be enough to at least secure the first wildcard spot, but if either the Braves or the Mets fail and the Phillies all go well, the division race could be wide open.
More about SI’s Inside The Phillies:
- Phillies star Bryce Harper doesn’t hesitate to think about Joe Girardi
- How Mike Trout Joins the Phillies
- Could Bryce Harper’s favorite MLB player join the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023?
- Can the Phillies play at Wawapark anytime soon?
- Japanese baseball star obsessed with Bryce Harper wants to play for Phillies
- Six Philadelphia Phillies players declare free agency
- Rumored Phillies free agent Target just opted out of deal
- Jimmy Rollins explains disrespectful treatment by Ryne Sandberg
- Phillies Release 2023 Regular Season Schedule
- Pick the best single-season line-up in Phillies history
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