Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies are all business as they head into the 2024 season. After losing in the NLCS and World Series in back-to-back years, there's a feeling around the team they know they missed an opportunity.

It'll be their goal in 2024 to not have the same thing happen.

Winning is never easy and it might be the toughest it's ever been for the Phillies this season.

Teams around them improved, and as they saw a season ago when they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks, upsets happen. 

This is a veteran-led roster focused on the present, keeping in mind the feelings they had when they fell short.

The regular season doesn't mean much for Philadelphia, as proven by their performance last year.

However, a better start should be on the horizon as Bryce Harper was injured and Trea Turner had the worst start imaginable. 

Getting right into the swing of things should play in their favor as the season progresses.

This is a good roster but how good can they be?

Were the last two seasons the peak or will they come back and show they're the team to beat in the National League?

Will Leitch of MLB.com has his answer. 

According to him, the Phillies are the fourth-best team in baseball heading into the season. He ranks them as the third-best in the National League, sitting behind the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Leitch's assessment of them is more than fair as, at worst, they should be viewed as a top-five team in baseball.

Philadelphia has a massive season coming up and one that can finally end in a parade for a city desperate to win a championship.

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