Now, just one win away from clinching the division, the Phillies shift their focus to Citizens Bank Park, where they can capture the crown in front of their home fans during a three-game series against the Cubs starting Monday night.
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Monday through Wednesday.
Pitching Matchups: RHP Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.54) vs. RHP Nate Pearspn (2-2, 4.71) on Monday at 6:40pm. TBD vs. LHP Justin Steele (5-5, 3.03) on Tuesday at 6:40pm. LHP Cristopher Sanchez (11-9, 3.25) vs. RHP Javier Assad (7-5, 3.34) on Wednesday at 6:05pm.
Series: The Phillies lead the season series, 2-1. The Cubs lead the all-time series, 1244-1127.
Phillies Update (92-64): Sunday’s loss not only delayed the Phillies’ champagne celebration but also dropped them a game behind the Dodgers (93-63) for the best record in the National League. At 92-64, the Phillies hold a three-game lead over the Brewers (89-67) for the No. 2 seed, which is effectively a four-game cushion thanks to the season tiebreaker. Philadelphia is aiming to finish tied with or ahead of Los Angeles, as they also hold the tiebreaker against the Dodgers, ensuring home-field advantage through the NLCS.
The Phillies' offense sputtered throughout the road trip. They struck out 81 times, including back-to-back 16-strikeout games for the first time in franchise history in Milwaukee.
The Phillies' offense sputtered throughout the road trip. They struck out 81 times, including back-to-back 16-strikeout games for the first time in franchise history in Milwaukee.
Cubs Update (80-76): The Cubs’ rotation anchored their success this season, with Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, and Justin Steele all making more than 20 starts. Imanaga, in particular, stood out. The 31-year-old led the team in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP while avoiding the injured list all year, showcasing his durability. Steele also delivered, despite two stints on the IL, posting an ERA around 3.00 for the third consecutive season.
Offensively, the team didn’t boast eye-popping numbers, but Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ both made notable contributions. Suzuki surpassed 20 home runs for the second year in a row and added a new dimension to his game with double-digit steals, all while maintaining a high on-base percentage. Happ, meanwhile, set career highs in homers, RBIs, and runs scored, proving to be a reliable presence in the lineup.
Notable Injuries: Phillies -- RHP Spencer Turnbull (shoulder) and OF Austin Hays (illness) are on the injured list.
Cubs -- RHP Julian Merryweather (knee), RHP Ben Brown (neck), and RP Adbert Alzolay (elbow) are on the injured list.
What's Next: The Phillies will close out the regular season with a three-game series on the road against the Nationals.
