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Our 2023 predictions for the Phillies and MLB: Will there be a World Series victory parade in Philly?

The Inquirer’s baseball insiders make their predictions for the Phillies, the division, the playoffs and World Series along with individual awards.

Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies are improved from last year but still have to contend with the Braves and Mets in the NL East.
Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies are improved from last year but still have to contend with the Braves and Mets in the NL East.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
    by Staff Reports
    Published 

A year ago at this time, no one, including us, predicted what was ahead for the Phillies for the 2022 season.

A fired manager (OK, some saw that one coming). An epic revival under an interim skipper that led to the Phillies’ first playoff appearance since 2011. And a postseason run that energized the city and came within two wins of a World Series title.

So what’s in store for the encore?

The Inquirer’s baseball insiders make their predictions for the Phillies, the division, the playoffs and World Series along with individual awards.

How many games will the Phillies win?

  1. Scott Lauber: 90

  2. Alex Coffey: 91

  3. Matt Breen: 92

  4. David Murphy: 91

  5. Marcus Hayes: 95

Will the Phillies make the playoffs?

  1. Lauber: Yes. It will take another second-half push, fueled this time by Bryce Harper’s return and Andrew Painter’s arrival, but they will snag a wild card and get back to the dance.

  2. Coffey: Yes. They won’t finish first in the division, but once Harper and Painter return, they’ll make a push to finish second in the NL East.

  3. Breen: Yes. Once again, the expanded playoffs make the road to October easy to see.

  4. Hayes: Yes. They’ll stay close until Harper returns, then they’ll bury the Mets for second place in the NL East.

  5. Murphy: Yes. The big difference between this year’s teams and previous years will be them taking care of business against the teams they should beat all season.

» READ MORE: Third place in the NL East? Phillies not buying computer projections for 2023

If so, will they win the NL East?

  1. Lauber: No. The Braves are still the Braves, and until further notice, they remain the class of the division.

  2. Coffey: No. The powerhouse Braves will take first place. But the Phillies have a legitimate shot at second place, especially now that the Mets are down a closer in Edwin Diaz.

  3. Breen: No. They win their most games since 2011, but that’s just enough to finish second in the division behind the Braves.

  4. Hayes: No. The Braves will win 100 games again, but the Phillies will take the second wild-card slot.

  5. Murphy: No, but they have a better shot at this year as they’ve had since 2011.

If so, how far will they advance?

  1. Lauber: NLDS. They will outduel the Mets in an epic wild-card series, but the loaded Padres will avenge last year’s NLCS loss in the divisional round.

  2. Coffey: World Series. The mantra in the clubhouse this year has been “two more wins,” and the Phillies are built to win those two games better than they were last season.

  3. Breen: Broad Street. Last year’s National League champions are even better. They need the back of their rotation to hold up through the year and then the rebuilt bullpen will carry them in October. If so, they’re the world champs.

  4. Hayes: Divisional round: They will lose to the Dodgers after sweeping the Brewers in the wild-card round.

  5. Murphy: NLCS. Repeating is hard.

» READ MORE: Sizing up Phillies betting markets ahead of the 2023 MLB season

Which Phillies starting pitcher will have the most strikeouts?

  1. Lauber: Aaron Nola (225)

  2. Coffey: Aaron Nola, 235

  3. Breen: Aaron Nola, 230

  4. Murphy: Aaron Nola, 216

  5. Hayes: Zack Wheeler, 240

Who will have the lowest ERA among Phillies regular starters?

  1. Lauber: Zack Wheeler (2.76)

  2. Coffey: Zack Wheeler (2.70)

  3. Breen: Aaron Nola (2.75)

  4. Murphy: Zack Wheeler (3.01)

  5. Hayes: Ranger Suárez (2.25)

» READ MORE: Top 10 things to know about the 2023 Phillies

Who will lead the Phillies in home runs?

  1. Lauber: Kyle Schwarber (42)

  2. Coffey: Kyle Schwarber (47)

  3. Breen: Kyle Schwarber (40)

  4. Murphy: Kyle Schwarber (35)

  5. Hayes: Kyle Schwarber (52)

Who will lead the Phillies in batting average?

  1. Lauber: Trea Turner (.336)

  2. Coffey: Trea Turner (.330)

  3. Breen: Trea Turner (.337)

  4. Murphy: Alec Bohm (.305)

  5. Hayes: Nick Castellanos (.310)

» READ MORE: Baseball is speeding up in 2023, and new Phillie Trea Turner shows no signs of slowing down

Who will lead the Phillies in OPS?

  1. Lauber: Bryce Harper (.985)

  2. Coffey: Bryce Harper (.970)

  3. Breen: Trea Turner (.980)

  4. Murphy: Trea Turner (.910)

  5. Hayes: Kyle Schwarber (1.002)

Who will have the best season — Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, or Brandon Marsh?

  1. Lauber: Bohm

  2. Coffey: Bohm

  3. Breen: Stott

  4. Murphy: Bohm

  5. Hayes: Bohm

» READ MORE: Why Stott, Bohm and Marsh are keys to the Phillies making a big jump in 2023

Who will lead the Phillies in saves?

  1. Lauber: Craig Kimbrel

  2. Coffey: Seranthony Domínguez

  3. Murphy: Seranthony Domínguez

  4. Breen: Craig Kimbrel

  5. Hayes: Craig Kimbrel

Which Phillie will finish highest in MVP voting?

  1. Lauber: Trea Turner

  2. Coffey: Trea Turner

  3. Murphy: Trea Turner

  4. Breen: Trea Turner

  5. Hayes: Kyle Schwarber

» READ MORE: Kyle Schwarber’s MVP window just opened with Trea Turner’s arrival to the Phillies

Who will be the NL MVP?

  1. Lauber: Trea Turner

  2. Coffey: Trea Turner

  3. Murphy: Fernando Tatis Jr.

  4. Breen: Trea Turner

  5. Hayes: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals

Who will win the NL Cy Young?

  1. Lauber: Julio Urías, Dodgers.

  2. Coffey: Spencer Strider, Braves

  3. Murphy: Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

  4. Breen: Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

  5. Hayes: Justin Verlander, Mets

» READ MORE: Our favorite American League win total predictions

Who will be the NL rookie of the year?

  1. Lauber: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks.

  2. Coffey: Jordan Walker, Cardinals

  3. Murphy: Kodai Senga, Mets

  4. Breen: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks

  5. Hayes: Jordan Walker, Cardinals

Who will be the AL MVP?

  1. Lauber: Shohei Ohtani, Angels

  2. Coffey: Shohei Ohtani

  3. Breen: Shohei Ohtani

  4. Hayes: Shohei Ohtani

  5. Murphy: Yordan Alvarez, Astros

» READ MORE: Will the Phillies top 87 wins for the first time in 12 years? Bet on it.

Who will win the AL Cy Young?

  1. Lauber: Alek Manoah, Blue Jays

  2. Coffey: Jacob deGrom, Rangers

  3. Breen: Gerrit Cole, Yankees

  4. Murphy: Gerrit Cole, Yankees

  5. Hayes: Shohei Ohtani, Angels

Who will be the AL rookie of the year?

  1. Lauber: Anthony Volpe, Yankees

  2. Coffey: Anthony Volpe, Yankees

  3. Murphy: Anthony Volpe, Yankees

  4. Breen: Gunnar Henderson, Orioles

  5. Hayes: Anthony Volpe, Yankees

» READ MORE: MLB preview: Which teams offer the most enticing odds to win their respective divisions?

Who will win the World Series, over which team?

  1. Lauber: Padres over Astros

  2. Coffey: Phillies over Astros

  3. Breen: Phillies over Yankees

  4. Hayes: Yankees over Dodgers

  5. Murphy: Dodgers over Astros