The 2021 Phillies season is here!
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Phillies' over/under win total is 81.5. In arguably the toughest division in baseball, the Phils are +300 to make the playoffs and -400 to miss the playoffs. They are +3500, or 35-1, to win the World Series.
Bryce Harper is +1500, or 15-1, to win NL MVP.
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It's safe to say, the Phillies are entering the season as underdogs.
Here are some bold predictions from the folks at SportsRadio94WIP.
Joe DeCamara: Bryce Harper will not finish in the Top 10 of MLB home runs for the 9th time in his 10 year career (he has only been in the Top 20 two times in his first nine seasons.)
James Seltzer: Alec Bohm will be the best hitter on the team.
I'm not even sure this is that bold to be honest. He's that good of a hitter already. Bohm is going to bat .300+ for this team for years to come, and I think it starts immediately.
Jon Ritchie: Phillies are making the playoffs
Angelo Cataldi: The Phillies will finally break through the .500 barrier after a decade of failure. It’s a no-brainer. They have flirted with winning seasons for the past three years, and now they have finally fixed their biggest flaw — the bullpen. The Phils are solid in all major areas: hitting, pitching and managing. They will win 89 games, and yes, they will go to the playoffs.
Jack Fritz: My bold prediction is that the bullpen is better than the starting staff. Sure the Phillies have pretty good options in Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin, but I'll need to see more before I'm sold on Matt Moore and Chase Anderson as my 4-5.
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With the bullpen, I have talent up and down that will be able to consistently get outs on a night-in-night-out basis. Hector Neris, Archie Bradley, Jose Alvarado and Connor Brogdon provide four guys that you can rely on each night to get outs. Sprinkle in Brandon Kintzler, Jojo Romero and Sam Coonrod into the mix for more weapons if one of those guys falter.
Finally, there's the major wildcard that is Spencer Howard. Adding Howard to this bullpen would be a huge boost. Armed with a fastball that reaches the upper-90's, with a good change-up and slider—Howard in the bullpen would be electric.
Joe Giglio: Season record: 84-78
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For the first time in a decade, the Phillies will post a winning record. Bryce Harper hits 37 HR, Alec Bohm makes the NL All-Star team, and Aaron Nola takes home Cy Young votes. Defense and injuries hold this team back from October, unless MLB wisens up and expands the playoffs before Opening Day. Dave Dombrowski’s big trade deadline move: An impact outfielder with team control and center field ability like, say, Kentel Marte, Ramon Laureano, or Harrison Bader.
Jon Marks: I believe by the end of the season, we will be talking about Alec Bohm as the Phillies best offense of player. He isn't a guy that is going to hit 40 home runs (at this point), but he has such an advanced approach at the plate that you can plug him in the middle of the order and he’ll give you great at-bats. And his stats in his rookie season weren’t empty, leading the league with a .452 batting average with runners in scoring position. Bohm is easily the best Phillies positional prospect since the golden years of Utley, Howard, and Rollins. Expect to see it this season.
Ike Reese: Most exciting Phillies season since 2011. Bryce Harper finishes in the Top 3 NL MVP voting, but the team comes up a little short of making the playoffs in the toughest division in MLB. Phillies finish 87-75 in 3rd place behind the Braves (1) and Mets (2).
Tucker Bagley: Jose Alvardo will not make it through July.
Alvarado turned heads at times during Spring Training, but has struggled with control in his recent outings and has a history of injury-shortened seasons. Outside of his stellar 2018, Alvarado has been unreliable and oft-injured. Still listed at a hefty 245 lbs, Alvarado claims to have lost 50 lbs from a year ago, but if his body doesn't betray him again, his lack of command will.