Which Phillies should make the 2024 MLB All-Star Game? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The 2024 Phillies season was one for the record books. They own a share of the best record in the game since the second week of the regular season. Several players have played head and shoulders above everyone else in their respective positions.
Voting for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game opens today at noon. Let’s take a look at the Phillies players who deserve All-Star consideration, in no particular order.
SP ranger Suarez
You could make the argument that not only is Suarez a longshot to make the roster, but he should be given the ball as the starter of the game for the National League. So far this season, Suarez leads all NL pitchers in wins (nine), ERA (1.70), WHIP (0.80), opponents batting average (.167) and opponents OPS (.485). The opponent’s OPS mark is the lowest of any NL qualifier since Hall-of-Famer Greg Maddux posted a .482 in 1995.
SP Zack Wheeler
Not to be outdone, Suarez’s top partner in the rotation is in the midst of his own eye-catching season. While he leads the NL in innings pitched (80.2), Wheeler ranks in the top five in the NL in strikeouts (91), ERA (2.23), WHIP (0.97), opponent’s BA (.181) and Opponent’s OPS (.549). ).
Last night’s gem against the Brewers (7 IP, 1 ER) was Wheeler’s tenth this season, allowing two earned runs or fewer, the most in the National League.
1B Bryce Harper
Amid all the hype surrounding the starting rotation early on, a typical very good/great season from Harper has flown a bit under the radar. I think the cat jumped out of the bag when the man won NL Player of the Month for May.
Harper is in the top five in the NL everywhere. He is tied for second in home runs (14), tied for third in RBI (44), third in SLG (.522) and fifth in OPS (.898).
One side note – how strange is this – Harper has been a Phillie for six seasons now. He won an MVP, two Silver Sluggers, but only made the All-Star game once? Within a few weeks that will be twice.
3B Alec Bohm
If an All-Star Game were to be played during the shortened 2020 season, Bohm likely would have been there. He’s back to the level he played at as a rookie four years ago, when he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, and should be included in his first Midsummer Classic.
Bohm leads all NL third basemen in batting average (.298), hits (68), RBI (49), doubles (23) and SLG (.474), and ranks second in OBP (.353) and OPS ( .827). ).
RP Matt Strahm
Do you remember the Open Day? Me neither. The Phillies lost to the Braves 9-3, with the bullpen allowing all nine runs in the final three innings. Among those pitching that day, Matt Strahm allowed two runs on three hits.
He has not allowed an earned run in the 24 games he has pitched since Opening Day. 23.2 innings, 11 hits, three walks, 33 strikeouts. Unreal. For the season, he ranks third among NL relievers in WHIP (0.71), K/BB ratio (11.33), K% (39.1) and ERA. (0.75).
RP Jeff Hoffman
A little over a year ago, any team could have had Hoffman after he was released by the Twins. He was among the best relievers in the National League and could be among the Phillies’ representatives in Arlington next month.
Like Strahm, it’s been a minute since Hoffman updated. In his last 22 appearances, he has allowed just one earned run (0.42 ERA) and struckout 27 batters. Overall, he has a minuscule 1.01 ERA and 34 K in 26.2 IP.
