Having a franchise-record and the most in MLB with eight All-Stars shows what the Philadelphia Phillies have achieved this season, rather than what they hope to achieve in the end. Especially considering how they ended the last two seasons.
“Our goal as a group is clear, and that’s to win the World Series,” reliever Jeff Hoffman said Monday before the All-Star Game workout. “This is a nice honor along the way, but our ambitions are higher than this.”
The Phillies have a 62-34 record, the best in baseball, and their most wins ever at the All-Star break. They lead the NL East by 8 1/2 games over the Atlanta Braves.
“We’ve had a really good first half,” first baseman Bryce Harper said. “I think when you have a good team, you have depth. It’s been a lot of fun as a group, from top to bottom.”
Harper, shortstop Trea Turner, and third baseman Alec Bohm were all chosen by fans as All-Star starters. The Phillies also became the first team to have five All-Star pitchers, including three from their starting rotation, which leads MLB with a 3.22 ERA.
“I don’t think we feel entitled to anything. I think we’re just a hungry group,” Bohm said. “We’ve come close enough two times now that there’s definitely a hunger there.”
In 2022, Philadelphia made its first World Series appearance since 2009, losing in six games to Houston.
Last October, however, the Phillies couldn’t return to the World Series after winning the first two games of the NL Championship Series and returning home for Game 6 with a 3-2 lead, with star pitcher Aaron Nola set to start. They instead lost twice at home to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“No one’s going to remember the eight Phillies who made the All-Star Game unless we win the World Series,” reliever Matt Strahm said. “It will only be talked about when we win the World Series and had eight All-Stars. Our focus is on that goal, and this is just a step along the way.”
Strahm wasn’t on the team when the Phillies played in the World Series two years ago but joined them as a free agent right after.
“Last year, being with the team, you could feel the disappointment from the guys who fell short the year before, and we fed off that,” he said.
“From day one of spring training this year, it wasn’t about greetings; it was about getting to work because we all knew we had something to prove. It’s been a motivating factor for us.”
Neither Zack Wheeler nor Ranger Suárez will pitch in Tuesday night’s game, despite both having impressive records of 10-4. Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (7-4, 2.96 ERA) is a first-time All-Star selection, along with relievers Hoffman and Strahm.
Wheeler opted out of his start on Sunday to recover from ongoing back problems, while Suárez is being cautious due to tightness and spasms in his lower back after his last start on Friday night.
This leaves the Phillies with six players available to participate in the All-Star Game at the home of the Texas Rangers. Last year, the Rangers had six players in the Midsummer Classic before winning their first World Series title in five games against Arizona.
“We believe we’re as good as anyone out there. We carry the grind and determination of our fans and city,” Turner said. “But we also know our abilities; we’re confident and hungry to compete on the biggest stage.”
