The Phillies head into Sunday trying to do two things at once: stop the bleeding against the Braves and keep their playoff math moving in the right direction.
It’s been a rough weekend in Atlanta. Philadelphia dropped the first two games of the series, slipped six games back in the NL East, and now looks like a long shot to catch the Braves.
The bigger concern in the short term is the skid itself. Three straight losses have nudged the Chicago Cubs ahead of the Phillies for the top wild card spot, while the San Diego Padres have closed the gap a bit behind them.
Still, Sunday gives them a chance to steady things. If the Phillies beat the Braves and get a little help from the Texas Rangers, their magic number to make the playoffs could fall to nine. That’s the kind of number that matters this time of year, even when the game in front of you feels like the whole season.
Saturday was a mess. The Phillies were beaten 12-2, and Jesus Luzardo was scratched.
Now they’ll turn to Andrew Painter, who has looked much better since returning from the minors. His last start, though, was rocky, and Philadelphia could really use him to settle things down.
After Sunday, the club gets a day off Monday before the schedule keeps rolling. The road trip continues with two games against the Washington Nationals, followed by four against the New York Mets.
Even with the recent slide, the Phillies remain in a strong position to clinch a playoff spot. The bigger target now is the top NL Wild Card seed, which would give them home-field advantage for that series.
In Other News...
Phillies Face A Crucial October Debate As Mattingly Weighs Final Tweaks
With the calendar turning toward October, the Phillies are already treating their upcoming series against the Braves like something more than just another late-season checkpoint. The roster has been expanded to 28 in September, giving the club a little extra flexibility after reinstating catcher Rafael Marchn and adding reliever Grant Holman, and those moves have reopened the conversation about how the group should look when the games matter most.
The real intrigue now is less about who is here than who might not stay once the playoff roster picture sharpens. Philadelphia has to sort through lineup combinations, bench depth and bullpen balance while knowing two players eventually need to be optioned back to the minors before the postseason, a decision that can shape how the club handles tight games in October. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Get A Bullpen Boost Just In Time For The Stretch Run
The Phillies got a needed bullpen addition back on the active roster Monday, reinstating left-hander Tanner Banks from the 60-day injured list as the club pushes through the final stretch of the regular season. Banks had been sidelined by a forearm strain, and his return gives Philadelphia another left-handed option as the games tighten up and every arm in the bullpen starts to matter a little more.
Christian Cairo was designated for assignment in the corresponding move, while right-hander Grant Holman was sent to Triple-A to clear space. For the Phillies, the timing matters just as much as the transaction itself: Banks is expected to be available for the final two weeks, giving the bullpen a fresh piece at a point in the schedule when there is little margin left for error. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Saw A Phillies Rookie Become A Bigger Problem
Andrew Painters path back into the Phillies rotation has been anything but linear, but the rookie right-hander is giving Philadelphia a reminder of why his name has carried so much weight in the organization. After being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley while working through rough stretches, Painter returned to the majors looking more settled, and his latest outing against the Braves showed how far he has come. He worked five innings and allowed one earned run, a step forward for a pitcher the Phillies continue to count on as the season tightens.
He did not get the win, but the bigger takeaway for Philadelphia was the stability he provided in a game that mattered in the National League Wild Card race. The Phillies have stayed in strong position, and Painters ability to turn in a competent, composed start gives them another arm that can help them hold that spot. For a rookie who has already been through a demotion and a reset, the encouraging part is not just the result against Atlanta, but the sense that he may be becoming a tougher problem for opponents to solve. [Read more 🡒]