#994: Kyle Schwarber Is A For Real MVP Candidate

On Episode 994 of Hittin' Season, powered by WHYY, John Stolnis of SB Nation's The Good Phight, Justin Klugh from Baseball Prospectus and SABR's Liz Roscher discuss the Phillies' series win over Detroit and their Monday night 13-3 blowout of the Baltimore Orioles, highlighting key players like Kyle Schwarber and Christopher Sanchez. They delve into the MVP candidacy of Schwarber, compare his stats with Shohei Ohtani, and analyze the outfield situation, particularly the struggles of Max Kepler. The conversation also touches on Zack Wheeler's recent performance and injury updates for the Phils. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Game Overview 02:46 - Phillies' Performance and Player Highlights 05:27 - Kyle Schwarber's MVP Candidacy 08:37 - Comparing Stats: Schwarber vs. Ohtani 11:34 - Contract Talks and Future Considerations 14:30 - Outfield Dynamics and Player Decisions 21:09 - Max Kepler's Struggles and Stats 23:31 - Outfield Decisions and Roster Moves 25:56 - Power Surge: Phillies' Offense in the Second Half 29:29 - The Importance of Comeback Wins 33:42 - The Jhoan Duran Effect: A New Closer's Impact 39:26 - Christopher Sanchez: Rising Star in the Rotation 47:13 - Concerns About Zach Wheeler 54:28 - Injury Updates and Final Thoughts