The Dodgers and Braves entered the season as the only strong teams in the National League.
Nearly two months into the season, they have company.
After a historic start, the Phillies have established themselves as one of the best teams in baseball.
The Phillies improved to 37-14 with their win over the Rangers on Thursday, moving them into the elite league of teams.
The Phillies are the 24th team since 1901 to win 37 of their first 51 games. Nineteen of those teams have appeared in the World Series, and 11 have won the championship.
The Phillies entered the season as heavy underdogs in the division against an Atlanta team that has won six straight championships, but they are six games behind the Braves in the National League East heading into Friday’s game.
They beat the Yankees by 2.5 games, and the Yankees were 35-17 ahead of their series opener against the Padres in San Diego.
But they have proven they can compete on par with star-studded teams like the Braves and Dodgers, and oddsmakers are starting to take notice.
On FanDuel Sportsbook’s World Series odds board, the Phillies (+700) are currently trailing the Dodgers (+280), Braves (+480) and Yankees (+550).
They are just behind their rivals at +390 in the race for the National League title, compared to Los Angeles at +135 and Atlanta at +260.
Despite Philadelphia’s strength, oddsmakers still project the NL East as a even chance, with the Phillies and Braves tied at -110 to win the division.
Everything you need to know about MLB betting
The Phillies had high hopes heading into the 2024 season after making deep playoff appearances the past two seasons, but few expected an outcome like this.
FanDuel projected the Phillies at an over/under of 89.5 wins before the season, making them significant underdogs in their division.
Their odds of winning 100 or more games are currently rated at -174, and their odds of finishing the season with the best record in baseball are +300, second only to the Dodgers at +115.
