The Phillies started the 2023 season with a 1-5 roadtrip and the 2024 season with a 2-4 homestand, which is not the improvement they were hoping for.
Although they gained an extra game in the standings, there were no good feelings after a 4-1 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday night. The 3-hour, 55-minute rain delay was not the cause. There's confusion about what is to blame for the Phillies’ repeated slow starts, despite many offseason discussions about avoiding this.
Pitcher Zack Wheeler accepted the situation and emphasized the need for more consistency to achieve their goals.
The starting pitching is not the problem. Five out of six starters gave the Phillies a chance to win. Wheeler performed well on Wednesday, but the bullpen had its ups and downs.
The batting performance has been average at best, limiting the Phillies early on. Bryce Harper had one outstanding night, while Kyle Schwarber has been consistent. Others, like Nick Castellanos and Johan Rojas, have not been performing well.
The team's order is currently lacking, with some players not delivering as expected.
All these issues appear to be coming together in ways that lead to losses.
Manager Rob Thomson expressed confidence in the team's offensive abilities but acknowledged the slow start. He emphasized avoiding excuses despite the tough conditions.
Some concerns, such as Connor Brogdon being DFA’d, have been addressed, and mistakes like Bryson Stott’s error are seen as unusual occurrences.
Schwarber expressed disappointment after the loss but also highlighted positive aspects of the homestand. He acknowledged the challenge ahead on the road.
The Phillies will have opportunities to improve in the upcoming 30 games, as they will face teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year.
In the next two months, the Phillies will have games with various teams, including those that did not make the playoffs last year.
If nothing else, the Phillies have an opportunity in the next few weeks to perform well enough to get rid of this recent bad-start situation.
“I believe everyone is still focused on performing well and starting off strong,” Thomson said, “and winning the division.”