Phillies Struggle Early in 2025 Season, Aim to Rebound

The Philadelphia Phillies have had a mixed start to the 2025 season, echoing their performance at this stage last year with a 10-8 record and similar struggles in both offense and bullpen effectiveness. Despite recent disappointments and a sluggish offense, there are signs of improvement, such as a higher slugging percentage compared to last year and the addition of key players like Jordan Romano, Max Kepler, and Jesus Luzardo to address roster weaknesses. The team remains just one game behind the Mets in the NL East, and their starting rotation is viewed as a major strength, signaling potential for a strong regular season and playoff run. However, bullpen depth and early slumps by players like Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh continue to be concerns. Team leadership and fans remain cautiously optimistic, emphasizing the Phillies' track record of overcoming slow starts and the potential for key players to rebound. Ultimately, expectations are high, with anything short of a World Series appearance likely being seen as a disappointment given recent near-misses.