# Rizzo Retires, Phillies Secure NL East Title & Pursue Playoff Advantage
A celebrated career ends as Anthony Rizzo, a cornerstone of the Chicago Cubs for many years, has announced his retirement from Major league Baseball after 14 seasons. Concurrently, the Philadelphia Phillies are making headlines for their on-field success, having clinched their second consecutive National League East title.
The Phillies officially secured their playoff berth on Sunday, September 14, following a thrilling 6-5 extra-innings victory over the los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, September 15.This marks the third consecutive season the team has achieved 90 or more wins, a testament to their consistent performance.
Phillies’ Late-Season Surge
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Philadelphia’s recent success is fueled by a dominant stretch, winning eight of their last ten games. This included a decisive four-game sweep of the New York Mets at Citizens Bank park from september 8-11, solidifying their position atop the division. the team is now setting its sights on a larger goal: surpassing the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the national League.
Securing the top record would grant the Phillies home-field advantage throughout the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and potentially the World Series. Currently, Philadelphia trails Milwaukee by 1 1/2 games with 11 games remaining on their schedule.
The Path to a First-Round Bye
With the current MLB playoff format – established in 2022 – the top two teams in each league receive a first-round bye. The Phillies are well-positioned to earn this advantage, but face competition from the Dodgers.
Here’s a look at their remaining schedule:
- September 16-17: at Los Angeles Dodgers
- September 19-21: at Arizona Diamondbacks
- September 23-25: vs. Miami Marlins
- September 26-28: vs. Minnesota Twins
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Playoff Timeline
The MLB playoffs are scheduled to begin with the wild-card round on Tuesday,September 30. Should the Phillies secure a first-round bye, their first playoff game will not be untill Saturday, October 4, providing valuable rest and preparation time.
