Phillies Defeat Mets in Challenging Conditions, Setting Up Potential Clinch Scenario
PHILADELPHIA — Despite challenging weather conditions at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon, the Philadelphia Phillies managed to secure a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets. The win puts them in a position to potentially clinch a postseason spot in the upcoming series finale on Sunday.
The game was played amidst sustained winds of around 20 mph, with gusts nearly twice as strong, and intermittent rain showers. However, the rain subsided long enough for the Phillies to secure the win. Both Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm hit home runs, defying the gusty winds that made every ball hit in the air an adventure.
Avoiding a postponement was crucial not only for the Phillies’ playoff aspirations but also for establishing Zack Wheeler’s pitching schedule. By sticking to the original plan and allowing Wheeler to make his start on Saturday, he will be able to pitch on regular rest next Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This lines him up perfectly to start Game 1 of a potential NL Wild Card Series, also on normal rest.
Manager Rob Thomson expressed the importance of playing the game, saying, “Yeah, I mean, it’s always good to get the games in. But it does help us out a little bit. We could always move stuff around, but it definitely helps us out that we played today.” Pushing back Wheeler’s start even by a day would have caused complications for the team.
Using Wheeler, their top pitcher, in Game 1 is a favorable scenario for the Phillies. Harper acknowledged this, saying, “Any time you can set things up to have your best guys going, that’s always good. Especially in a three-game series against whoever it’s going to be, any time you can have your No. 1 guy going, that’s huge for us.”
Wheeler has been exceptional on regular rest this season, boasting a 1.86 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in nine starts on four days’ rest. In comparison, he has a 4.46 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 21 starts after taking five or more days of rest. Staying on schedule will allow him to maintain his consistency and contribute to the team’s success.
Despite being charged with five runs, three of which were unearned, over seven innings on Saturday, Wheeler’s performance was commendable. He has been hitting his stride at the perfect time, pitching at least six innings in 13 of his past 14 starts and allowing three earned runs or fewer in 12 of those outings. His second-half ERA stands at an impressive 3.12, compared to a 4.05 ERA in the first half.
Wheeler’s progress is especially significant considering his struggles at this time last year. He had to work hard to regain his form after a late-season stint on the injured list due to right forearm tendinitis. Additionally, the Phillies were in a tight race to secure a postseason spot, which they ultimately accomplished in their final series of the regular season.
This year, however, things are looking more favorable for Wheeler and the Phillies. They have the opportunity to secure a postseason spot earlier and achieve better positioning thanks to their improved performance. Wheeler expressed the team’s determination, saying, “Just try to win as many games as we can and take care of what we need to and control what we can control.”
As they head into the final stretch of the season, the Phillies will rely on Wheeler’s consistency and the team’s determination to secure a spot in the playoffs and make a strong postseason run.