The Philadelphia Phillies might have misplaced to the Kansas Metropolis Royals on Sunday (field rating), however they nonetheless turned the second workforce to clinch a spot within the postseason because of some assist from the workforce they’re going to play subsequent. Certainly, the Phillies secured a playoff berth when the Los Angeles Dodgers took down the San Francisco Giants by a 10-2 closing (field rating) on Sunday.
Whereas the Phillies at the moment are assured a spot within the event, they had been denied their second consecutive division title for at the very least yet one more day. Philadelphia would have wrapped up the Nationwide League East crown with each a win and a New York Mets loss. The Mets defeated the Texas Rangers, nevertheless, snapping their very own eight-game shedding streak in walk-off trend.
The Phillies and Dodgers will start a three-game set on Monday that has apparent playoff implications. The Phillies will enter 4 1/2 video games in entrance of the Dodgers for the second seed within the NL playoff subject — an essential place given the highest two seeds each get first-round byes, and the compromised state of the Phillies roster.
Not solely is Philadelphia with out ace Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet decompression surgical procedure), however they’re going to additionally need to go at it with out high-leverage reliever Jose Alvarado (injured and ineligible for the playoffs due to a suspension earlier this yr) and with each shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) and third baseman Alec Bohm (shoulder) coping with bodily illnesses.
“Everyone knows what’s at stake,” slugger Kyle Schwarber informed reporters. “I do not suppose that is going to make us wish to attempt tougher or something like that. We’ve got to remain inside ourselves and play our fashion of baseball.”
As famous above, the Phillies are the second workforce to safe a playoff berth. The Milwaukee Brewers turned the primary earlier this weekend. The Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays are all in place to affix these golf equipment over the course of this week.
