Bryce Harper Hypes Phillies' Hot 2024 Start: 'Probably the Best Team I've Been On'

Even though he has played on teams that finished with the National League's best record twice and another that made the World Series, Bryce Harper believes the 2024 Philadelphia Phillies are on a different level.

Appearing on MLB Network's MLB Central before the Phillies' series against the New York Mets in London, Harper said this year's club is "probably the best team I've been on."

Harper has been on several standout teams in his career. During his rookie season with the Washington Nationals in 2012, they finished with the best record in MLB (98-64). Two years later, they posted the best record in the NL (96-66).

The 2014 team had five pitchers who made at least 25 starts with an ERA of 3.57 or better. Stephen Strasburg had arguably the best year of his career with a 3.14 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 242 strikeouts in 34 starts.

Philadelphia is just two years removed from reaching the World Series, but that team only won 87 games during the regular season and looked vulnerable going into the postseason with a 14-17 record over its final 31 games.

There have been no such concerns for the Phillies through their first 63 games this season. Their 44-19 record is 5.5 games ahead of the No. 2 team in the NL. They rank second in MLB in runs scored (320) and ERA (2.92), trailing only the New York Yankees in both categories.

If the Phillies are looking for more reasons to be optimistic, they have done this with Trea Turner having been on the injured list since May 4 with a strained hamstring. He was hitting .343/.392/.460 before suffering the injury.

Edmundo Sosa has stepped in at shortstop during Turner's absence and is basically hitting as well as the two-time All-Star. The 28-year-old has a .294/.357/.539 slash line in 113 plate appearances.

As if that wasn't enough, the rotation has four starters with sub-3.00 ERAs. Aaron Nola is the "worst" pitcher from that quartet with a 2.77 ERA in 13 starts.

While there is still a lot of season left to play, it's not hard to look at the Phillies as the favorite to represent the NL in the World Series based on the depth in their rotation and starting lineup.