Phillies Moving Up Power Rankings Thanks to Incredible Stat

Through the first month of the season, the Philadelphia Phillies are hanging in the race for the National League East. The offense is in the top ten in batting average and tied for sixth in home runs. Trea Turner is everything the Phillies hoped for when they signed him to his mega-contract, currently batting a ridiculous .340. Everyone seems to be contributing, but a lot of their success is due to the pitching.

The Phillies' pitching staff continues to shine as one of the best units in baseball. They lead the league in strikeouts, shutouts, and complete games. The bullpen is shutting things down when called upon, but that's not too often.

A new power ranking was released, and the Phillies are ranked highly. The reasoning for their ranking revealed a stat that proves they are primed for another deep October run.

Phillies Starters Doing Remarkable Things

The Athletic's latest MLB power rankings (subscription required) shared a notable stat for each team that helps justify its ranking. The Phillies have made their way up to fifth in the league. The stat shared that the starting rotation averages six innings per outing.

In today's game of baseball, you're lucky to have your pitcher make it through five innings. The fact that this rotation is averaging six should be scary for the rest of the league. That means their bullpen is well-rested and sets an excellent pace for the season.

The piece also makes a great point that Aaron Nola isn't having the best start to the season. However, if Nola is the rotation's "weak" point, you're probably setting yourself up pretty well.

The Phillies have taken advantage of some weaker opponents as of late, but you can only play the team on the other side of the field. They'll have their opportunity soon to step up against better opponents and prove it's not just a coincidence.

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