The beauty of predictions is that they are all right until they are not. As the Phillies gear up for the 2026 season, expectations are once again sky-high. A loaded roster, a tightening National League, and a fanbase that is clamoring for the team to get things done in October.
So before the games begin and the answers reveal themselves, the Philly Sports Network staff stepped in to offer their best guesses: who leads the team, who takes home the hardware, and how far this group can actually go.
Some picks were predictable. Others, not so much.
Here is where the PSN staff landed.
Lineup:
The top three of the Philadelphia Phillies' order will not change after Opening Day. With Trea Turner leading off, the only question is whether Rob Thomson prefers Kyle Schwarber to hit before or after Bryce Harper.
Thomson prefers a righty/lefty split in his lineups. He will follow the L/L with Schwarber and Harper with a rotating cast of Alec Bohm, Adolis Garcia and J.T. Realmuto in the 4-hole. Followed by either Marsh or Stott in the 5-slot. The remaining players will trickle down until you get to the ninth batter in the Phillies lineup, Justin Crawford. The rookie will make his Major League debut on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers.
Team record: 92-70
How far will they go?: The Phillies will lose in the NLDS to the San Diego Padres.
World Series winner?: Detroit Tigers.
Team MVP: Trea Turner
Team Cy Young: Jesús Luzardo
Hot take: Phillies acquire Seiya Suzuki at the trade deadline in a deal with the Chicago Cubs.
Lineup:
Facing a right-handed starter on Opening Day gives the Phillies the best version of their lineup. Brandon Marsh has the 30th best OPS in the majors since joining the Phillies, giving him the leg up over Garcia for the 5 spot. With Harper needing some additional protection, today's analytics saying your best all-around hitter should bat 1 or 2, and his public comments indicating he needs to focus on walking more, I think they start the season with Harper hitting in front of Schwarber. How long that lasts will depend on how well it goes.
Team record: 92-70
How far will they go?: The club's history of health, especially in the starting rotation, will once again be the difference maker for this club. I actually think they could win more than 92 games, but you cannot ignore that much of their National League opponents have gotten at least a little better. Overall, I think they win the National League East once again. Getting to the NLCS feels like an easy expectation, but as we saw last season - it's luck of the draw come the postseason.
World Series winner?: Seattle Mariners
Team MVP: Bryce Harper
Team Cy Young: Cristopher Sánchez
Hot take: Aidan Miller makes his Major League debut this season—not because someone else is struggling, but because he forces the organization to make a tough decision.
Lineup:
This will be the lineup against right-handed pitching most days, with Otto Kemp swapping out with Marsh against lefties.
If Garcia gets on a hot streak, there's a chance he will move into the cleanup spot. Crawford should be a mainstay at the bottom of the lineup, where the rookie won't have additional pressure at the plate and can focus on turning the lineup over by getting on base and stealing bases.
Team record: 91-71
How far will they go?: The Mets have made some big moves to bolster their roster, and if the Phillies stumble while having to deal with some peaks and valleys with the rookies in Crawford and Painter, I see the Phillies falling just short of an NL East title.
World Series winner?: Los Angeles Dodgers
Team MVP: Otto Kemp
Team Cy Young: Jesús Luzardo
Hot take: Justin Crawford will finish in the top 3 in NL Rookie of the Year. This is a loaded NL ROY class with the likes of Nolan McLean, Konnor Griffin, JJ Wetherholt and Sal Stewart. Crawford holds his own and hits .265 with a .320 OBP and steals 25 bases.
Lineup:
I'm aware we'll likely see Turner leading things off come Opening Day, but the Phillies have tried this experiment before: Schwarber is the answer. Same goes for Alec Bohm, who will likely hit from the cleanup spot. Personally, I'd like an extended look at Garcia in the four-hole. His power is just a bit too tantalizing.
Stott's speed will serve him well in the 6-hole, and a veteran like Realmuto behind him should offer some protection. I have Marsh in left field, for now, but I think Otto Kemp may be a real possibility as the season progresses. And finally, Crawford will need to prove his offensive gumption before I slot him any higher than the final spot in this order. All told, this should remain one of the more intimidating lineups in baseball.
Team record: 90-72
How far will they go?: Phillies remain NL East champs, and it has to be World Series or bust. There isn't much time left with this core.
World Series winner?: Seattle Mariners (or the Phillies)
Team MVP: Trea Turner
Team Cy Young: Jhoan Duran
Hot take: Otto Kemp finishes the season as the Phillies' everyday left fielder with 25+ home runs.
Lineup:
Since I imagine many of these lineups will be similar, I am going with Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff spot. No, I don't think Rob Thomson will do that... it'll probably be Trea Turner. But man, it was so fun starting games off with a 1-0 lead due to a leadoff Schwarbomb, wasn't it?
The Phillies' lineup should be good enough to get them into the postseason party in fall 2026. Schwarber should flirt with 40 homers again, and Harper breaks the 90-RBI plateau for the third time in his career. Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott need to step up to lengthen this lineup. Justin Crawford starts the season in the nine hole, but he finishes batting near the top of the order by the end of September.
Team record: 93-69
How far will they go?: N.L. East Champions—#2 seed behind Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series winner?: Seattle Mariners (why not?)
Team MVP: Bryce Harper
Team Cy Young: Cristopher Sánchez
Hot take: Phillies make an in-season trade to acquire an outfielder by sending a roster outfielder (Otto Kemp or Brandon Marsh). If I were Dave Dombrowski (and I'm not), I would be looking at Boston's Wilyer Abreu or Baltimore's Heston Kjerstad as potential candidates looking for a change of scenery from their current situations.
Lineup:
This is the lineup Rob Thomson revealed in the final days of Spring Training, this will be the lineup come Opening Day. You can expect Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa to get plugged in against left-handed pitching, but this should be the primary lineup.
Until such a time as Adolis García or J.T. Realmuto gets on a hot streak, Alec Bohm will be relied upon as the protective threat behind Bryce Harper. Bohm clocked in his best full year at the plate last season with a .287 average, though there was a drop in slug. After the four-hole, it is a classic left-right-left-right pivot lineup with the fast rookie Justin Crawford serving as a second leadoff in the nine-hole.
Team record: 94-68
How far will they go? The Phillies will be NL East Champions, though they will need to fight tooth-and-nail for that title and likely make it back to the NLCS.
World Series winner?: Los Angeles Dodgers (prove me wrong, Phillies)
Team MVP: Bryce Harper
Team Cy Young: Zack Wheeler returns.
Hot take: Watch out for Alec Bohm this year. It’s a contract year, and if Aidan Miller can get healthy, Bohm needs to prove his worth to even guarantee he is still on the Phillies after the trade deadline.
The offseason is over. The last Spring Training pitch has been thrown. From here on out, everything matters.
The time for predictions has passed. Now, it is up to the Phillies to show whether they have what it takes to bring home a World Series title.
