MLB handed down its Wild Card schedule before the Phillies had even clinched, and the result is the same old headache: 2 p.m. first pitches on Tuesday, Wednesday, and, if necessary, Thursday.
That setup was announced on September 27, 2026, and it immediately drew the same reaction it always does when baseball puts October games in the middle of the workday. Playoff baseball is supposed to be the sport’s best stage, yet MLB keeps burying it in a time slot that makes no sense for the people who actually watch it. Weekday afternoons are a brutal fit for fans with jobs, families, dinner plans, pickups, and everything else life throws in the way.
The schedule leaves no mystery about the frustration. Two o’clock on a weekday means the league is not aiming for the broadest possible audience, and it certainly isn’t making life easier for fans trying to follow along. MLB could have built these windows around prime time, but instead the games sit in the middle of the day, as if baseball fans are all free to spend Tuesday afternoon staring at a television.
For the Phillies, the matchup comes with a familiar setting. This is the third time in five years that they’ll head to Atlanta, the NL East winner, and they’ve won Game 1 in both of the previous trips.
But there’s a wrinkle this time: Zack Wheeler will not be available to pitch early in the series. The expectation is that he could be an insurance policy for Game 3, or possibly work on short rest because he had to pitch Game 162.
The pitching plan, as noted, should become clearer soon.
There’s also the calendar oddity that comes with this series. Since the first two games are in September, calling it Red October doesn’t quite fit.
Happy Red September!
In Other News...
Phillies Fans Are Livid And The Backlash Just Got Worse
The reaction around the Harry the Ks deck at Citizens Bank Park has only gotten louder since the Phillies moved to rename and sell the area to a corporate sponsor. What might have been a routine business decision quickly turned into a sore spot for fans, and the conversation spilled onto social media when Phillies supporters began directing their frustration at Dan Lourenco, the founder of Ghost Energy, even though the branding move was not directly initiated by his company.
Lourenco did respond to some of the criticism, but his later comments were taken by many fans as dismissive, which only deepened the backlash. For a fan base that is usually quick to defend the look and feel of its ballpark, the exchange has become about more than a deck sign, with the tone of the response now drawing as much heat as the rebrand itself. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Still Have One Major Game 1 Pitching Decision Left
The Phillies got the final-day push they needed to lock up a Wild Card spot, riding Zack Wheelers effort in a win over the Rays and setting the stage for a quick turnaround into October. With the postseason now here, the club is sorting through its Game 1 pitching plan, and the choice carries real weight because Philadelphia has already lined up Cristopher Sanchez for Game 2.
One possibility still on the table is a bullpen game that would lean on Jess Luzardo and Andrew Painter, while Aaron Nola is expected to take the ball on short rest. It is the kind of October decision that can shape an entire series, especially for a Phillies team that wants to get off to a strong start and avoid asking too much of its staff right away. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Rookies Just Made The Playoff Push Feel Bigger
The Phillies latest playoff push has also turned into a first taste of October for three young pitchers and hitters who have spent much of the season learning what it takes to stick. Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter and Alex McFarlane all found their way onto the postseason roster, a notable milestone for players who arrived with promise and then had to earn trust along the way. Crawford settled in after a midseason jump in performance and embraced his role, Painter sharpened his pitching after a minor league stint, and McFarlane emerged as a dependable bullpen option.
For a club built to chase a deep run, the rookie presence adds another layer to the story. These are not just extra bodies on the bench or in the bullpen, but players who helped the Phillies get here and now get to experience the postseason for the first time together. Their celebration reflected how much the moment meant, even if the bigger challenge is still ahead and the real test of what they can handle is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]