It’s easy to highlight all the things that have gone wrong with the 2021 Philadelphia Phillies. Injuries have decimated their positional depth. The hitters who are healthy can’t stop striking out. The bullpen has faltered in the later innings. The defense is the worst in the majors. It’s June 4 and the Phillies have to win 61 of their final 106 games to reach 87 wins to at least give themselves a chance to win the NL East.
If anyone is going to revive the Phillies’ October dreams, it’s the starting rotation — specifically the top three of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin.