So, what happens if the Philadelphia Phillies are only now heating up?
The Atlanta Braves would rather not ponder that question, certainly. The Phillies, who knocked NL East champion Atlanta out of the playoffs the past two years did so only after suffering through grim and discouraging Aprils.
This month has been anything but.
The Phillies are closing out the month on a heater, winners of eight of their last 10, including a stirring sweep at San Diego. At 19-10, they’re barely off Atlanta’s major league-best 19-7 pace.
It’s a stark contrast to 2022, when the Phillies were a .500 team after a month, and last year’s 25-30 start that included significant struggles from new shortstop Trea Turner. Well, Turner is producing at an MVP clip already, and no club is getting better starting pitching.
Little wonder that the Phillies are making moves in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
A look at this week’s rankings:
1. Atlanta Braves (-)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (+2)
3. Baltimore Orioles (-1)
4. New York Yankees (-1)
5. Cleveland Guardians (-)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)
7. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
8. Cincinnati Reds (-)
9. Chicago Cubs (+1)
10. Texas Rangers (+1)
11. Seattle Mariners (+2)
12. Toronto Blue Jays (-3)
13. Boston Red Sox (-1)
14. Kansas City Royals (+2)
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
16. New York Mets (+1)
17. Detroit Tigers (+1)
18. Tampa Bay Rays (-4)
19. San Francisco Giants (+2)
20. San Diego Padres (-1)
Manny Machado has returned to third base after offseason surgery.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)
22. Houston Astros (-)
23. Washington Nationals (+2)
24. Minnesota Twins (+2)
25. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)
26. Los Angeles Angels (-3)
27. Oakland Athletics (+1)
28. Miami Marlins (-1)
29. Colorado Rockies (-)
30. Chicago White Sox (-)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Red-hot Phillies on the rise in NL East standings
