Philadelphia Phillies Continue March Toward Playoff Berth
The Philadelphia Phillies are on the doorstep of clinching a National League playoff berth and the top seed in the Wild Card playoffs.
Philadelphia beat the New York Mets, 7-5, on Saturday, a game that was delayed by Tropical Storm Ophelia. With it, the Phillies (86-59) further trimmed their magic number to clinch a playoff berth.
The Phillies now have a magic number of two to clinch a playoff berth. Theoretically, the Phillies could clinch a playoff berth tomorrow, if they win and Miami — the first team outside the Wild Card race — loses. To clinch the top Wild Card berth, the Phillies have a magic number of three.
The race behind them got interesting. Arizona saw its game with the New York Yankees rained out due to Ophelia, so they will make up the game with the Yankees on Monday, which was supposed to be an off-day for both teams.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies, so the Cubs are just a half-game behind the Diamondbacks for the second Wild Card berth. That is relevant to the Phillies because they would host the team that clinches the second Wild Card berth.
But, right now, a playoff berth for the Phillies seems almost assured.
The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 24
Saturday’s Results
Philadelphia 7, New York Mets 5
Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado 3
Miami 5, Milwaukee 4
Pittsburgh 13, Cincinnati 12
Arizona vs. New York Yankees, ppd, rain (will be made up on Monday)
Standings
(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)
Philadelphia (86-69): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 2; Magic Number to clinch top Wild Card berth: 3)
Arizona (81-73): — +0.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 7)
Chicago Cubs (81-74): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 7)
Miami (80-75): — 1.0 GB
Cincinnati (79-77): — 2.5 GB
What’s Left?
Philadelphia (7): Sunday: vs. New York Mets (1); Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)
Chicago Cubs (7): Sunday: vs. Colorado (1); Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)
Arizona (8): Sunday-Monday: at New York Yankees (2); Monday-Wednesday: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)
Cincinnati (6): Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (1); Tuesday-Wednesday: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)
Miami (7): Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (1); Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)
