The Philadelphia Phillies were carried to the top of the National League East Division standings over the season’s first four months by their starting pitching rotation.
All season long the team had struggled to score runs on a consistent basis. They played shoddy defense on an individual and team basis. And for the first three of those months the bullpen struggled to close out victories or keep the Phillies in ball games.
But that starting rotation competed hard and kept the Phillies competitive. Aaron Nola became a true ace and a National League all-star.