An Amazing Stat Regarding the Philadelphia Phillies Recent Hot Streak
Don't look now, but the Philadelphia Phillies are one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last month.
And they've become that in a way you might not anticipate: with Bryce Harper being devoid of power.
This stat from Jared Carrabis of Draftkings explains:
The Phillies have the second best record in baseball since June 3 having won 17 of their last 22. And they’ve done all of that during a Bryce Harper homerless drought that dates back to May 26.
Harper is contributing, of course, as he's hitting .278 this season. He has three homers in total, 18 RBI and has stolen five bases. He missed much of the first two months of the season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He's come back and has only played designated hitter as he still can't play defense.
The good news for the Phillies is that they've done all this without his power. If Harper starts to produce at the level he's capable of, the Phillies could get real interesting again in the National League. They made the World Series last year and were expected to contend for it again after acquisitions of Trea Turner, Taijuan Walker and Gregory Soto.
Philly is 42-37 and in third place in the National League East. They trail the first-place Braves by 10.5 games and the second-place Marlins by four games, but they are just 2.0 games out of the last wild card spot at this point.
The Phillies will finish out a series in Chicago against the Cubs on Thursday. First pitch is 8:05 p.m. ET.
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