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With activity in the 2025 MLB season intensifying, the Philadelphia Phillies are back amid another war in one of the league's most rugged divisions — the National League East. They are currently 15-13, trailing only the red-hot New York Mets (18-7). But a costly sweep at the hands of the Mets helped raise questions about the Phillies and their credentials as true challengers for the divisional crown. However, even with the early-season missteps, Philadelphia is far from out of the picture in the NL East.

Management Woes

The Phillies have struggled with many things this season, but one of their biggest issues has been consistency, particularly in the bullpen. They have the third-worst mark in the league with a 5.81 ERA among relievers and have been plagued by late-game collapses. The fragility of the Phillies' relief corps was on full display during their most recent defeat, a courageous comeback victory for the Miami Marlins, where the Phillies surrendered a 4-1 lead. Manager Rob Thomson changed the bullpen, removing Jordan Romano as his closer and handing the ball to the left-hander Alvarado more frequently, as he has sizzled under the heat.

Mets Setting the Pace in the NL East

Their division rivals, however, have been hot to capitalize. The Mets' rotation has been the best in baseball, with a 2.33 ERA across their first 13 games, helping to fuel a strong start under first-year manager Carlos Mendoza. Their pitching staff went the equivalent of 12 games without allowing a home run — a modern MLB record — an impressive feat. Tylor Megill began busting out of nowhere with some strong starts, Clay Holmes has turned into a lights-out incredible reliever, and just like that, the Mets are the early team to beat in this division. It is time for betting fans to seize the opportunity by getting the latest free bets from online sportsbooks in New Jersey to use for all upcoming matches.

Philie Firepower

The Phillies didn’t need the home runs to come through this time, but the fans have plenty of reasons to keep their chins up. The foundation of Philadelphia's lineup — Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto remains one of the most fearsome in baseball. Particularly, Harper still gets timely hits, and then Turner's elite speed and defensive flexibility offer immense benefits.

Betting Outlook: You Cannot Count the Phillies Out

From a betting perspective, the Phillies are the biggest threat to challenging the Mets for the NL East crown. Bookies have updated the near-term odds, and the Phillies' chances of winning the division sit at +260, or 27.8 percent. That means their playoff odds are still at about -195, an implied 66.1% chance of making the playoffs. With how competitive this division is, injuries, slumps, and streaks can shift standings quickly, but the Phillies' odds say that there is a team—perhaps a team bettors, if not analysts, aren't ready to write off yet.

Experience could be the Difference

This group is familiar with the pressure of playoff races. The Phillies showed they know how to catch fire heading into a postseason after making it to the World Series in 2022 and then battling through the playoffs again in 2023. Guys like Harper and Schwarber come up big in high-leverage spots, and over the last few seasons, this team chemistry has been one of the biggest things in their favor.

The road ahead is not exactly easy for the Phillies. Once they complete their brutal April, they'll have a pivotal May full of games against division rivals such as the Atlanta Braves, whose offense is deadly even if they aren't firing on all cylinders early in the season, and crucial sets against serious wild-card contenders from other divisions. Winning these games could be key to whether Philadelphia can stay in front of the Mets or end up wild-card hunting.