Why the Phillies Will Win the 2022 World Series
We always see bizarre things happen when it comes to October baseball, and this year is certainly no exception.
The top-four seeds in the National League (Dodgers, Braves, Mets, Cardinals) have all been eliminated at the hands of the underdogs — the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies.
Both of these Cinderella stories would be the perfect script to end the season, but no team is more deserving than the Phillies.
After knocking out the division foes and defending-champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, the Phillies undoubtedly have the arsenal to cap off a postseason with a trophy, one where they barely even made the cut.
Here is why the Phillies will be crowned champions of the 2022 Fall Classic:
The Atmosphere
Playoff baseball is back in South Philadelphia for the first time in 11 years, and Citizens Bank Park was absolutely rocking.
After Bryson Stott broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third in Game 3, Kyle Schwarber was intentionally walked to put two runners on with Rhys Hoskins coming up.
Hoskins crushed the first fastball he saw from Spencer Strider, spiking his bat down into the dirt as the fans went into a frenzy. Two batters later, Bryce Harper belted a two-run shot into the right field bleachers giving Philadelphia a 6-0 advantage — and I don’t think frenzy is the appropriate word to describe the crowd after Harper’s home run.
After a 9-1 blowout win on Friday night, the Phillies came back on Saturday with an 8-3 victory, winning the series 3-1 and sending the Braves packing.
It was remarkable to witness, as eliminating the defending-champions could not have come at a better time or a better way.
Fans were seen on their feet throughout the majority of both games, giving the Phillies a huge advantage, especially after being able to split the first two games in Atlanta.
Philadelphia sports fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and to say they are stoked heading into the NLCS would be an understatement.
These fans will always back their team, and they’ll be even more crazy as we are all witnesses to what the Phillies have been able to achieve thus far.
The Pitching
Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler have been bottomline outstanding for the Phillies.
Serving as a potent one-two punch, the duo went into St. Louis and single-handedly carried the team through the Wild Card.
Continuing in Atlanta, Ranger Suarez took the bump in Game 1 and looked sharp for the first few innings. After Philadelphia got out to a comfortable 7-1 lead, Suarez’s job proved to be adequate enough.
Wheeler got the call in Game 2, but didn’t look as sharp as he did in St. Louis. With little to no offensive support, Wheeler got shaken up a bit, but it wasn’t until the sixth inning.
Nola has always been dominant against the Braves, and he continued that in Game 3 when just about everything was going right. Nola pitched six innings, allowing five hits while striking out six — a performance that’ll forever be etched in the memories of this improbable run.
Noah Syndergaard, whom the Phillies acquired at the trade deadline, is definitely not his old self and hasn’t looked incredibly sharp since putting on the red pinstripes. However, his performance in Game 4 against the Braves is everything a fan could’ve hoped for and more. Syndergaard went three innings only giving up one hit, a solo home run, and struck out three.
Syndergaard hitting his spots will serve as the icing on the cake to bring a championship to Philadelphia, as this is not uncharted territory for a once lights-out starting pitcher.
Key Players Stepping Up
If you’re an athlete on any professional sports team in Philadelphia, you better give 150 percent all the time.
After a subpar regular season from outfielder Nick Castellanos, he is finally catching fire and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Castellanos shined in Game 1 of the NLDS, going 3-for-5 while collecting three RBIs and a sliding catch in the 9th inning that pretty much sealed the deal.
Castellanos returned home in Game 3 and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as well.
Outfielder Brandon Marsh, also acquired at the trade deadline, is subtly becoming a fan-favorite in South Philadelphia.
Marsh warmed his welcome when he caught the final out in Houston to send the Phillies to the playoffs. In Game 4 of the NLDS, he set the tone early after crushing a three-run home run off Charlie Morton.
In addition, rookie infielder Bryson Stott and catcher JT Realmuto are slowly beginning and continuing to find the peak of their talent. Stott is the future of this franchise, and Realmuto is a real team player, the backbone of the squad.
Realmuto hit an inside-the-park home run in Game 4 against the Braves, and is easily the most reliable behind the plate. He is a leader, and like many on this team, possesses the capability to bring teammates together and finish as a unit.
Connor Fenix is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cjf5726@psu.edu.
