Philadelphia Phillies Need to Start Strong This Upcoming Season

It's time for the Philadelphia Phillies to have a strong start to a season this year.

The Philadelphia Phillies came within two victories of celebrating a World Series title in 2022. Last season, they fell in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.

They were still two deep playoff runs with the fanatical fan base enjoying the ride.

But nothing came easy.

In fact, the Phillies had to overcome slow starts in both seasons just to qualify for the playoffs.

In '22, Philadelphia squeezed in as the third wild card team. In '23, the Phillies were finished first in the wild card standings.

The playoff expansion certainly helped and they got hot at the right time to make those deep runs at a title.

Go back to 2022.

Philadelphia looked completely out of sync at 21-29. Joe Girardi was dismissed and Rob Thomson was named interim manager.

Then last season, the Phillies skidded to a 25-30 record on June 1. Keep in mind that Rhys Hoskins had suffered a torn ACL in spring training and Bryce Harper was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Thomson never wavered from his principles and the team responded in a big way. Those two losses to the Diamondbacks in Games 6 and 7 surely still sting, but they still were able to recover from that rough start to make it that far.

The goal in 2024?

Start strong.

Don't go 21-29.

Don't open 0-4 like last season.

Pile up much-needed victories in April and May to build that cushion.

Even if the Atlanta Braves win the National League East, Philadelphia can still win a World Series by having a wild card berth.

It would be a much easier path with a 35-20 start instead of 20-35.

That's simple math.

"We've proven you don't have to," Thomson told reporters recently of reaching the postseason without winning the division. "But that is a slippery slope. … If you get off to a better start, there is not as much anxiety in August and September."

Without the World Baseball Classic, maybe the Phillies will be better off. They can work together through an entire spring training as a group.

Does it translate to a strong start in '24?

Time will tell.

But it sure would go a long way to help them reach a third straight postseason.