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Where Do the Phillies Fall on FanGraphs' 2022 Projected Standings?
While the cloud of Major League Baseball’s lockout continues to loom above the heads of fans everywhere, some minds are thinking ahead and looking to the finish line of the 2022 MLB season. FanGraphs released their 2022 standings projections on Sunday, which place the Phillies third in National League East with an 82-80 record.
The full projection can be seen below:
It may seem no surprise to see the reigning World Series champion, Atlanta Braves, on the top of the division in these projections. It also should not come as a surprise to see the Mets right behind them, as they have already added Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, and others to help bolster an already star-studded roster.
The Phillies only noteworthy acquisition this off-season has been Corey Knebel, and while he can certainly help the team, he won't boost the Phillies to a legitimate contender.
It is important to stress that these projections are extremely early, and the Phillies roster, as with every team in baseball, is not yet complete. There are several impactful free agents still available which could have a major impact on projections as time goes on.
It is also worth mentioning that these projections are historically more moderate with team records. The Dodgers are projected for the most wins in the league at 94 with five teams having eclipsed that mark just last season.
That being said, the Phillies finished the 2021 season with an 82-80 record, the same as their projection for 2022. Yet, Fangraphs predicts at all other NL East teams will have improved records in 2022.
Regardless of how the rest of free agency unfolds once the lockout ends, these projections are useful as a baseline. They provide an adequate picture of where Phillies stand right now and how much enhancement is needed to make a run at division title.
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