NL East Roundup: Phillies and Mets Begin to Fall Behind

The Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins have been the two most consistent teams in the National League East this season. That has continued to be the case over the last few weeks. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets have some significant ground to make up, a hole that may prove to be too large to overcome.

Let’s take a look at how the NL East stands on June 12.

Atlanta Braves (40-25)

Last 10: 8-2

Who’s Hot: Marcell Ozuna, DH

The 32-year-old power hitter had a tough start to the season, as he was hitting .085 with 18 strikeouts and a .397 OPS at the end of April.  Ozuna has looked like a completely different hitter since then, consistently providing the Braves with another impact bat. He is slashing .300/.364/.591 with nine home runs, 22 runs batted in and 11 walks over his last 30 games.

Who’s Not: Matt Olson, 1B

The former Oakland Athletic has hit for a ton of power (18 home runs and 45 runs batted in), but his overall numbers are down. Olson has never been someone who has hit for a high average, but he is 12-for-59 with a total of 17 strikeouts over the last 15 games. The first baseman is slashing .228/.348/.496 in 246 plate appearances this season.

Injury News

Max Fried (forearm) has yet to resume mound work and an official date for that is still unknown, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The left-handed starter last pitched on May 5 against the Baltimore Orioles, and he has thrown just 25 innings so far in 2023. Atlanta continues to move forward without Fried and Kyle Wright (shoulder), who is also on the 60-day injured list.

Miami Marlins (37-29, 3.5 GB)

Last 10: 8-2

Who’s Hot: Luis Arráez, 2B

Luis Arráez is doing something that seemed impossible in this era of baseball, owning a .397 batting average through 61 games. The infielder has been on a tear, slashing .475/.515/.542 with 12 runs batted in over his last 15 games. Arráez has two hits or more in six of his last 10 games, hitting .475 in the month of June.

Who’s Not: Yuli Gurriel, 1B

The former Houston Astro is now 39 years old, but he is playing a pretty significant role for an improved Marlins team. Gurriel had a strong start to the season, but he is 11-for-54 with zero home runs and four RBIs over his last 15 games. Still, the veteran is slashing .261/.318/.395 in 173 plate appearances.

Injury News

Johnny Cueto (biceps/ankle) resumed his rehab assignment with Double-A Pensacola on Sunday, allowing four hits and one walk in 2 2/3 innings. The 37-year-old made one major league start for Miami, all the way back on Apr. 3 against the Minnesota Twins. Cueto signed a one-year contract with a club option for 2024 in the off-season.

Philadelphia Phillies (32-33, 8 GB)

Last 1o: 7-3

Who’s Hot: Trea Turner, SS

The Phillies shortstop did not get off to a good start with his new team, failing to replicate the production he had with the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That has since changed, as Turner is 10-for-29 with two home runs and four runs batted in over his last seven games. He is now up to a .248 batting average and a .687 OPS in 64 games this season.

Who’s Not: J.T. Realmuto, C

J.T. Realmuto has been the best catcher in baseball over the last three or four years, but his production is significantly down so far this season. The 32-year-old is slashing .137/.214/.314 with two home runs and 15 strikeouts over his last 15 games. The Phillies need more from Realmuto, who is hitting .242 with a .709 OPS in 58 games.

Injury News

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Darick Hall (thumb) may not immediately return to the big league team when his rehab assignment is over. The 27-year-old hit .222 with a .541 OPS and a 50 OPS+ in six games prior to the injury. With Rhys Hoskins (torn ACL) out for the season, the team is mixing and matching at first base.

New York Mets (31-35, 9.5 GB)

Last 10: 2-8

Who’s Hot: Tommy Pham, LF

New York does not have many position players who are thriving at the moment, but one who has looked good with the bat is Tommy Pham. The 35-year-old outfielder is 14-for-44 with three home runs and 13 runs batted in over the last 15 games, earning himself a much larger role. Pham has a .817 OPS in 45 games, which ranks third on the team.

Who’s Not: Brandon Nimmo, CF

While he has made some remarkable plays in the field, Nimmo has not looked like himself at the plate recently. The center field is slashing .241/.371/.397 with one home run, seven runs batted in and 22 strikeouts over his last 15 games. Nimmo is now hitting .282 with a .789 OPS in 290 plate appearances this season.

Injury News

Pete Alonso (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday and is set to miss at least another few weeks after being hit by a 96 mph four-seam fastball from Braves starter Charlie Morton last Wednesday. Alonso leads the league with 22 home runs, three more than any other hitter in all of baseball.

Washington Nationals (26-38, 13.5 GB)

Last 1o: 3-7

Who’s Hot: Joey Meneses, DH

He is still not hitting for any sort of power, but Joey Meneses continues to impress in his first full season in the big leagues. The designated hitter is slashing .350/.409/.467 with one home run and 22 runs batted in over his last 30 games. Meneses is hitting .307 with a .749 OPS in 61 games this season.

Who’s Not: Dominic Smith, 1B

The former New York Met hit a towering home run in a 6-2 victory over the Braves on Sunday, but Dominic Smith has struggled in recent weeks. He is 12-for-56 with three runs batted in, nine strikeouts, and a .583 OPS over his last 15 games. The 27-year-old has shown flashes in his first year with the Nationals, owning a .262 batting average and a .654 OPS in 254 plate appearances.

Injury News

Víctor Robles (back) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com. The Nationals center fielder last played in the big leagues on May 6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Robles is hitting .292 with a .748 OPS in 107 plate appearances.