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Phillies Stars Elite vs. Fastballs
23 Sep
Summary
- Harper and Schwarber excel against fastballs, nearing playoff clinching.
- Schwarber leads MLB with 27 home runs against fastballs.
- Harper boasts a .778 slugging percentage vs. fastballs in postseason.

The Philadelphia Phillies are close to securing a playoff spot with six games remaining in the regular season. While they hold a significant lead, they still need a Magic Number of three to clinch their postseason position.
Key to their playoff aspirations are sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, who have shown exceptional performance against fastballs. Schwarber ranks second in MLB with a batting run value of +30 against fastballs and leads the league with 27 home runs against this pitch type.
Harper is also a formidable hitter, ranking third with a +28 runs created value and 18 home runs against fastballs. When facing fastballs 97 mph or faster, Schwarber has a .525 slugging percentage with six home runs, leading the league.
Encouragingly, both players elevate their game in the playoffs against fastballs. Since 2022, Harper boasts a .778 slugging percentage with eight home runs, making him the top fastball hitter in the MLB postseason during that span.