Philadelphia Phillies’ Playoff Hopes in Trouble? Bryce Harper’s Struggles and Losing Form Raises Concerns

The Philadelphia Phillies know a thing or two about slow starts. However, it seems they’re starting to make a habit of consistently starting slowly, much to the detriment of their fans’ health. But this season’s slow start (1-3) has come with some huge warning signs that the team needs to heed as quickly as possible. Especially as one of them concerns their superstar and face of the franchise, Bryce Harper.

Harper’s undying passion for the team has turned him into a cult figure. However, the fact that his bat has remained unusually quiet until now in 2024 has raised a few eyebrows. Is this just a momentary lapse or a continuation of that fated NLCS encounter last season? But then again, many issues are making some fans wonder: Is the World Series still on for this team?

Mixed signals galore as the Phillies find themselves in a pit

The core issue for the Phillies lies in that they’ve been below average on the plate and the mound. For a team that overflows with talent, that is a bad sign. Not only has Bryce Harper failed but so have most of their hitters as is shown by their stats against the Braves.

The silent bat of Bryce Harper and other veterans raises concerns

One thing to notice from the Phillies’ series against the Atlanta Braves was the complete ineffectuality of its hitting staff. According to Inside The Phillies’ Brad Wakai, the collective of Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and J.T. Realmuto went 11–50 in that series. With an RBI of just 5, they were outclassed by the Braves’ hitting staff. 

But then the real shocker here is that if you remove Harper from that list, the number will remain the same. That’s because in 11 at-bats till now, Harper has remained hitless. Add to that, Harper missed the first game against the Cincinnati Reds, and it has raised concerns over the health of the 31-year-old. 

Aaron Nola’s confusing performance that made fans question the mega-deal

The $172 million deal with Aaron Nola was initially celebrated as the ace’s return home. However, it was undeniable that it had many fans a little worried. After all, Nola had fallen off tremendously in 2023. Would he continue that bad form, or would Nola regain her 2022 high point? The game against the Braves gave an uncomfortable answer to that question.

Nola pitched just 4.1 innings and gave up seven earned runs on 12 hits. That included two home runs and was a nightmare for the Fightin’ Phils. The continued bad form of Nola further raises questions on how the City of Brotherly Love will chart its path towards that elusive World Series that they almost won in 2022. An easy April fixture list was seen as a major blessing for the Phillies. But then, they’ve started this month with a loss as well.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Reds loss is a fluke or a sign of things to come

The Phillies and the Reds were equal in Game 1 of their series. And then the 10th inning saw the visitors put four runs past the Phils. That culminated the game with a 6-3 win for the Reds. For the Philadelphia Phillies, that is a disappointing loss, as they were heading into the game as favorites. So, is it time to start panicking? Remember, the Phillies’ 2022 and 2023 weren’t much different.

They began last season with a 1-5 record in the first week, but still, they reached the NLCS. Similarly, in 2022, the team started 4-8 and was 22-29 when they fired manager Joe Girardi. That year, they ended up playing in the World Series. Clearly, there’s always a chance to come back to baseball. Still, with these constant falls, it makes you wonder: when will we see the vintage Phils back in action?

Read more: “You Guys Know How Philly Is”: Why Aaron Nola and Trea Turner Rejected Better Offers to Return Home, Explained by Bryce Harper