The Phillies’ lead in the National League wild-card race has fallen to one game with two remaining, leaving Philadelphia under pressure to finish ahead of an Arizona team that owns the tiebreaker.
Philadelphia lost 2–0 to Tampa Bay on Friday, while the Diamondbacks beat San Diego 11–4 for their sixth consecutive victory. The Phillies stood at 87–73 and Arizona at 86–74, with two games remaining for each team.
The Phillies can guarantee their place by winning both remaining games against the Rays. A Philadelphia victory combined with an Arizona loss Saturday would also settle the race, but matching records at the end would send the Diamondbacks through.
The teams split their six head-to-head games, leaving intradivision record as the next tiebreaker. Arizona owns that advantage, so Philadelphia must finish ahead rather than level with the Diamondbacks to claim the berth.
Arizona’s sixth consecutive win came after a three-game sweep in Colorado. Lars Nootbaar homered on the first pitch Friday, and Brandon Pfaadt worked 7⅔ innings, giving the Diamondbacks a rested bullpen for Saturday after Corbin Burnes was placed on the injured list.
Philadelphia has scored only twice across its last three games and gone 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position during that stretch. The lineup managed four hits Friday despite seven innings of two-run pitching and 10 strikeouts from Cristopher Sánchez.
A sixth-inning opportunity summed up the missed chances, with Trea Turner and Bryce Harper opening with singles before the next three hitters were retired. Interim manager Don Mattingly had held a hitters’ meeting before the game, giving players an opportunity to speak.
Philadelphia also played without Luis Arraez after he sprained his left ankle Thursday. Kyle Schwarber argued that several good at-bats had gone unrewarded, although the Phillies again left scoring chances unused against a Rays team that had already secured the American League’s top seed.
The race also affects Philadelphia’s pitching plans for a possible Wild Card Series. Zack Wheeler is lined up for Sunday if the berth remains undecided; clinching Saturday would allow the Phillies to hold him for the opening playoff game instead.
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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with CBS Sports: standings and clinching scenarios.
Read at CBS Sports: standings and clinching scenarios
