The Phillies’ surge in August changed the feel of their season in a hurry. After opening the second half sluggishly, Philadelphia ripped off a 20-7 record entering the final day of the month and pushed itself firmly into the National League playoff mix.
The club sits in the No. 2 Wild Card spot, and the Braves are back within reach in the NL East race.
That’s the good news. The harder part is still ahead, and September is loaded with series that will tell the story of where this team is headed.
One of the biggest tests comes right away, with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay lining up in what looks like a tough closing stretch. The Brewers own the best record in baseball and will face the Phillies for three games at Citizens Bank Park before the Rays, who currently have the best record in the American League, come in next.
Those matchups will give Philadelphia a chance to measure itself against two of the league’s elite clubs. They also offer a preview of the kind of opponents the Phillies could see in the postseason during the final week of the regular season.
A different kind of pressure comes on the West Coast, where the Phillies finish their nine-game trip with a stop at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks. That series matters because Arizona is one of the teams chasing Philadelphia in the Wild Card race, along with the San Diego Padres. The only other team over .500 in that race right now is the Miami Marlins.
Philadelphia enters that series with a 4.5-game cushion over Arizona, which gives it a real chance to put some distance between itself and one of its pursuers. The Phillies also dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks in their first meeting back in April, so there’s an obvious incentive to at least split the season series.
If Arizona takes the set, it would win the tiebreaker and make the stretch run more complicated for Philadelphia. A 2-1 series win or a sweep would put the Phillies in a much stronger spot.
Then there’s the one that could define the NL East chase: the Braves. If Philadelphia is going to reel them in, the cleanest path is beating them directly.
That starts with a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7, followed by another meeting at Truist Park in Atlanta from Sept. 11-13.
The math is simple enough. Entering play on Aug. 31, the Phillies are five games back.
If they’re going to make a real run at the division, they likely need to go at least 5-2 against Atlanta in those seven games. Anything less, and the gap becomes much harder to close.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Face A Bigger Torey Lovullo Question Than The Playoff Push
As the Diamondbacks keep pushing through a playoff race, the conversation around Torey Lovullo has started to drift beyond the standings. MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided wrote that Arizona is expected to keep Lovullo in place for another season, pointing to the managers strong relationship with the general manager, his standing with players and the fact that his clubs have generally remained competitive.
The bigger question now is less about whether Lovullo has support and more about how the organization chooses to frame his future if this stretch ends without the finish it wants. Murrays read is that even a change would not leave Lovullo without options for long, but for now the speculation is just that, with no official decision from the team. [Read more 🡒]
Gabriel Moreno Has Changed What Arizonas Lineup Can Be
Gabriel Morenos breakout season has given Arizona something it has been looking for behind the plate: a catcher who can change the shape of the lineup, not just hold it together. His work at the plate has taken a clear step forward, with better power and contact showing up in the underlying numbers and in the results, as he has driven the ball with more authority and cut down on the empty swings that used to undercut his at-bats.
The bigger difference for the Diamondbacks is how often they have had him available. Moreno has stayed healthier this season, getting into 110 games and giving Arizona a steadier presence in the middle of its order. For a club that values depth and balance, that kind of production from catcher changes the conversation, and it has put Moreno in the conversation as one of the better players at his position. [Read more 🡒]
Former D-Backs Outfielder Just Got Another Shot To Revive His Career
Dominic Fletcher is getting another chance to climb back into the big leagues, this time with the Reds after signing a minor league contract and heading to Triple-A Louisville. For Arizona fans, his name still carries a little weight because he broke into the majors with the Diamondbacks, where he made his MLB debut before his career started to bounce around from club to club.
Fletchers path has already included stops with the White Sox and, most recently, a minor league stint with the Pirates before he elected free agency after triggering a release clause in that deal. Now he lands in another new organization with a familiar goal: prove he still belongs in the conversation for a return to the majors, even if the route back will have to start in Louisville. [Read more 🡒]