3 Reasons the Phillies are Built to Win the World Series

After clinching a postseason berth earlier this week, the Phillies have already begun making preparations for the playoffs. While other teams are still scrambling for a playoff spot, Philly can get some rest and be ready to rock when the NL Wild Card Series starts next week.

Making the postseason is a great accomplishment, but it’s not the only goal. The ultimate goal is winning the World Series, of course, and we still have a ways to go.

Fortunately, Dave Dombrowski has assembled a pretty good team, making some great additions to a squad that won the National League last year.

Dombrowski knows how to build championship-caliber squads, and that’s exactly what he’s done here. Here are three reasons why Philadelphia is built to win the World Series.

3 Reasons Phillies Are Built For World Series

1. This Lineup is Insane

A good lineup is the foundation for any winning team. You can’t win if you don’t score runs, after all, and it’s great to have a deep offense in October that can wear pitchers down and put the ball in the seats.

Few teams have a quality hitter at pretty much every position, but we do. Nearly every member of the starting lineup has an OPS+ over 100, indicating a better-than-average hitter after adjusting for league and park.

Looking around the diamond, that definitely checks out. J.T. Realmuto is one of the best-hitting catchers in the game. Bryce Harper is a two-time MVP at first base, and Bryson Stott is solid at the keystone. Shortstop Trea Turner has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the second half, and Alec Bohm just had a career year.

The outfield is just as potent. Kyle Schwarber is one of the best sluggers in baseball, Nick Castellanos is a rock and Brandon Marsh is quietly excellent. And don’t forget about Rhys Hoskins, who could still return from injury in time for the World Series.

Not surprisingly, we rank top 5 in the National League in almost every category, including runs, hits, doubles, homers, batting average, OBP, slugging, OPS and total bases. We can run, too, ranking third in the NL in stolen bases, so we’re not just a station-to-station ballclub of one-dimensional sluggers.

All that power and speed should come in handy next month. Dingers are key to winning ballgames in October, when the tougher pitching and colder weather make it tough to build rallies. With a homer, you just need one good swing to get on the board.

Speed is crucial, too, if you’re in a situation where you need to steal a base and manufacture a run. Remember Dave Roberts and the 2004 Red Sox?

This lineup can beat you in a lot of different ways, and that’s what makes us so dangerous.