Last week, the Phillies had the finest possible start to a road trip to the West Coast.
They defeated the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium last Monday to secure their second straight NL East championship. That evening, they opened bottles of beer and champagne. They were cigar smokers.
The Phillies played five more games after that. They lost to the Diamondbacks 9–2 at Chase Field on Sunday afternoon, part of a 3–3 trip record. Starting Tuesday night against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, the Phils will begin a six-game homestand to wrap off the regular season.
This week, keep an eye on and consider the following:
Goodbye
The Phillies need two victories or two Dodgers defeats to secure a first-round bye. As a result, Philadelphia will host Game 1 of the NL Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 4.
“I definitely want to clinch the bye,” Bryce Harper stated. “For all of us, that is the most important thing.”
The Phillies fell to the Mets in the NLDS after receiving a bye the previous season. The Braves fell to the Phillies in the NLDS after having the bye in the two years before that.
Harper acknowledged that the playoff format has its critics but made it clear he doesn’t think the Phillies will be one of them.
“It’s worked out for some clubs and others have complained,” Harper said. “But that won’t be us. It wasn’t last year, and I’m actually glad to have it. Sure, a few days off would be nice, but whether you have a bye or not, whether you play in the Wild Card Series or skip it, I don’t think it changes much. I can’t stand when teams say, ‘Oh, if only we had played … ’ That’s just an excuse.”
If the season ended today, Philadelphia would face the winner of the Dodgers-Reds Wild Card Series. Cincinnati currently holds the final Wild Card spot, edging out the Mets with the tiebreaker, while Arizona sits just one game behind.
Trea Turner update
Turner is closing in on a return. He hasn’t played since Sept. 7 due to a strained right hamstring but is set to face live pitching Tuesday and Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. If he isn’t cleared to run at full speed by Thursday’s finale against Miami, he should still get at least one game in against the Twins next weekend.
Turner, who leads the National League with a .305 average, is in line to become the Phillies’ first batting champ since Richie Ashburn in 1958. Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner follows at .299.
“I hope he gets it,” Harper said. “He’s been one of the league’s best players all year. The fact he wasn’t an All-Star was a snub, and now he’s proving just how good he is.”
Lineup notes
Alec Bohm had a huge Sunday, going 4-for-4 with a double and a walk. Since returning from the IL, he’s 8-for-13 with two doubles, a homer, a walk, and four RBIs.
Manager Rob Thomson hinted at moving Bohm up in the order, saying his presence deepens the lineup. Harper agreed: “When he gets going, he’s one of our best hitters. Having someone like that behind you is big—he sees pitches, puts the ball in play, and gets on base.”
Rotation outlook
Walker Buehler is scheduled to start Thursday, while Taijuan Walker will likely be paired with another starter over the weekend. The Phillies are still evaluating how both might factor into their postseason pitching plans, along with Aaron Nola.
Nola remains the leading candidate for the No. 4 spot if the club advances to the NLCS. On Saturday, he gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings against Arizona. A misplay by Bohm contributed to an early run, and Nola held strong through five, but back-to-back doubles in the sixth fueled a rally.
One lingering question is whether he’ll be trusted to pitch deep into playoff games. This season, opposing hitters’ success rises dramatically the third time they face him:
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First time: .269/.331/.408
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Second time: .266/.329/.484
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Third time: .333/.385/.667
Across his career, that third-time-through slash line is .251/.311/.426.
Manager Thomson noted that Nola is still building up after not logging a full season, which might explain some fatigue. “Sometimes that’s a good thing, fewer innings,” he said. “But I liked where he was at on Saturday.”