The Philadelphia Phillies season didn’t start until April 7.
Yes, there were a group of 26 players wearing gray “Phillies” uniforms who looked like the Phillies, but they were merely imposters, holdovers until the real Phillies could arrive for the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds.
Since that date the Phillies are 10-7 with a plus-14 run differential. They’ve played exactly as one would expect for a team missing their two best hitters — Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins — and the best number three starter in baseball in Ranger Suárez.
Chiefly, the bullpen has also performed as expected since the real Phillies arrived.