After clinching a playoff berth for the third straight season, the Philadelphia Phillies kept their partying to a minimum last night. The true party could begin as early as tonight as the Phillies look to secure their first National League East title since 2011.
In order to do so, the Phillies will have to get through the New York Mets, who are clinging to a 2.0 game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the final NL Wild Card slot. Should the Phillies claim victory tonight, they will celebrate in front of a sellout crowd, only the fourth such crowd the Mets have mustered this season.
The Pitching Matchup
The 4:10 P.M. matchup features a southpaw showdown between Ranger Suarez and Sean Manaea. Since returning from the Injured List on August 24th, Suarez has posted a 4.44 ERA over five starts. Experiencing a bit of a decline in pitch velocity, Suarez either is still feeling the effects of his back injury or has otherwise hit his limit this late into the season. Suarez has a history of success against some of the Mets’ biggest threats such as Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, but has also struggled against Jose Iglesias and Starling Marte, who just happen to be batting first and second respectively against Suarez on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Phillies face Manaea, who has posted a 3.26 ERA on the season with 177 strikeouts. Most of the Phillies’ batting contingent has had minimal experience against Manaea, but those who have seen him have had success. Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos have posted respective batting averages of .385 and .333 against Manaea while Bryce Harper has gone 3-for-7 with a home run against Manaea.
Phillies Playoff Implications Galore
With a playoff spot secured, the Phillies have high hopes of clinching the NL East title, and need only one more win to do so. The Phillies’ aspirations, of course, do not stop there however. Currently holding the best record in baseball, the Phillies own a magic number of 4 to earn a bye in the NL Wild Card (over the Milwaukee Brewers) and 8 to clinch the top slot in the National League (over Shohei Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers). The Phillies also need to balance clinching those spots with resting a very weary assortment of players including Suarez and Harper.
Meanwhile, the Mets are hoping to return to the postseason after missing out in 2023. Owning a 2.0 game lead over the Braves, they currently have the inside track for the final wild card slot. However, they also own a difficult schedule in the final week as they have the final two games of this four-game set versus the Phillies before traveling to the Braves and Brewers for their final six games of the season. Despite currently owning a Wild Card slot with eight games remaining, it is likely the Mets may find themselves watching the postseason from the golf course with the hand they have been dealt for the final week of the season.
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
