Where: Nationals Park, Friday through Sunday.
Pitching Matchups: LHP Ranger Suarez (12-7, 3.15) vs. RHP Trevor Williams (5-1, 2.19) on Friday at 6:45pm. RHP Zack Wheeler (16-7, 2.56) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (10-12, 4.04) on Saturday at 4:05pm. RHP Aaron Nola (13-8, 3.52) vs. RHP Cole Irvin (10-13, 4.22) on Sunday at 3:05pm.
Series: The Phillies lead the season series, 8-2. The Phillies lead the all-time series, 494-451
Phillies Update (94-65): If the playoffs started today — and they don’t — the Phillies would face the winner of the 3-vs.-6 Wild Card series. They’ve already locked up the NL East and secured a bye into the NLDS. The Dodgers, with the other bye, loom as a likely opponent in the NLCS if the Phillies get that far.
As of now, that Wild Card winner would be either the Diamondbacks or Brewers, but there’s still plenty of time for the standings to shift before the postseason begins.
The Phillies are within striking distance of the top seed, which would set up a series against the winner of the 4-vs.-5 matchup — likely an easier path.
The Wild Card race itself remains fluid, and it could stretch into Monday with a potential doubleheader between the Braves and Mets to decide the final playoff spot. This weekend, the Brewers will face the Mets, while the Braves meet the Royals. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks and Padres will fight it out to close the regular season, though San Diego has already clinched, leaving Arizona with everything still to play for.
The Phillies could face any one of these teams in an NLDS series, which is set to begin in South Philly on Saturday, October 5. Looking ahead to a potential NLCS, the Phillies would hold home-field advantage over every team except the Dodgers, who enter Friday with a one-game lead over the Phillies. If the two teams finish with identical records, the Phillies own the tiebreaker and would claim the No. 1 seed, meaning the NLCS would go through Citizens Bank Park.
The Dodgers are in Colorado for a three-game set against the Rockies, but for the Phillies, the message is clear: don’t take your foot off the gas just yet. There’s still more to secure.
