Seven weeks into the 2018 season the Phillies have the 2nd best record in the National League, one game behind the Braves for both best record and the NL East division lead.
They’ve been the 4th best hitting team in the league so far by wRC+ (and the 4th highest in scoring), but even so the pitching has been even better, allowing the second fewest runs in the NL.
St. Louis comes into play in a tie for 3rd place with the Cubs in the NL Central, behind the Pirates and Brewers:
The NL West has been lagging behind the other two divisions so far, with the East posting the best record (an 87-win pace per 162 games), while the Central generating the better run differential and Pythagorean projection (also an 87-win pace).