The Phillies were on the brink of checking off their first major goal Wednesday night, but a 2-1 loss in Milwaukee delayed the celebration. In what could be a preview of an October matchup, the Phils came up short in a tense series finale against the Brewers.
A win would have clinched a playoff spot, but the Magic Number remains at one.
The Phillies will punch their postseason ticket with either their next win or a loss by the Braves or Mets, and their upcoming four-game series at Citi Field against the Mets provides a chance to wrap up more than just a playoff berth. The Phils can clinch their first NL East title since 2011 as early as this weekend.
Despite the walk-off loss, the Phillies secured the head-to-head tiebreaker over Milwaukee, an important accomplishment as the postseason looms. At 91-61, they hold a two-game lead over the Dodgers for the top seed in the National League and are four games ahead of the Brewers. With 10 games remaining — four in New York, three at home against the Cubs, and three on the road against the Nationals — the Phils are poised for the stretch run.
Taijuan Walker, back after a three-week absence from the rotation, will take the mound Thursday night to open the series in New York.
Where: Citi Field, Thursday through Sunday.
Pitching Matchups: RHP Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29) vs. RHP Luis Severino (10-6, 3.77) at 7:15pm on Thursday. LHP Cristopher Sanchez (10-9, 3.24) vs. LHP David Peterson (9-2, 2.85) on Friday at 7:10pm. LHP Ranger Suarez (12-7, 3.13) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.26) on Saturday at 4:10pm. RHP Zack Wheeler (16-6, 2.56) vs. TBA on Sunday at 7:15pm.
Series: The Phillies lead the season series, 6-3. The Phillies also lead the all-time series, 554-522.
Phillies Update (91-61): Bryce Harper’s power surge couldn’t have come at a better time. After enduring a 30-game homerless stretch, Harper has launched three home runs in his last four games, including two on Sept. 14 against the Mets to snap the drought and another on Tuesday night to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning against the Brewers.
Since the calendar flipped to September, Harper has been on a tear, hitting .368 with a 1.078 OPS. His season OPS now sits at .911, ranking 10th among qualified hitters across the majors. If the season ended today, his .911 OPS would be the third-highest of his career, trailing only his two MVP campaigns (minimum 500 plate appearances).
But as Harper heats up, the lingering effects of elbow and wrist soreness are still a concern with October just a couple of weeks away. Even on the day he crushed two homers against the Mets, Harper had to step out of the box during his final at-bat after an awkward swing. With the Phillies likely to clinch a postseason berth, the final series of the season against the Nationals—and possibly a few games in the Cubs series—could offer Harper, along with other regulars, a chance to rest before the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Spencer Turnbull (right lat strain) threw live batting practice in Clearwater, Fla., on Tuesday as the Phillies map out his next steps. He could either throw a simulated game or make a rehab appearance in Lehigh Valley this weekend.
Mets Update (84-68): October baseball is now a real possibility for the Mets, a team that has saved some of its best performances for mid-September. They know what's at stake, and they’re feeding off the urgency. With their playoff push in full swing, they’re looking for every bit of support down the stretch.
The Mets, who seemed to rise from the dead earlier this summer to become legitimate NL Wild Card contenders, showcased their potential to do more than just sneak into the postseason with a nine-run explosion in the fourth inning. They sent 12 batters to the plate, piled up seven hits, and put together their most dominant half-inning of the season. It was the kind of offensive outburst that turns heads—and propels their “OMG” dugout sign into overdrive.
On the mound, José Quintana continued his brilliant stretch on Wednesday, throwing seven shutout innings and extending his scoreless streak to 22 2/3 innings. His ERA over his last five starts? A minuscule 0.28. Quintana has become a rock in the rotation at exactly the right time.
But the Mets' surge comes with a major question mark: Francisco Lindor. The team’s star shortstop remains sidelined with a lower-back injury, and his status for the upcoming 10-game gauntlet against two division leaders—along with an Atlanta team that has haunted the Mets for years—remains uncertain. With so much on the line, any stumble now could prove costly. The Mets know they can’t afford one.
Notable Injuries: Phillies -- RHP Spencer Turnbull (shoulder) and OF Austin Hays (illness)are on the injured list.
Mets -- OF Jeff McNeil (wrist), RP Dedniel Nunez (forearm), SP Paul Blackburn (hand), SP Kodai Senga (calf), RP Sean Reid-Foley) are on the injured list.
What's Next: The Phillies will return home to open a three-game set with the Cubs on Monday.
