5 things to watch over the final 2 weeks of the Phillies season
Despite their 6-2 loss to the Brewers in their series opener in Milwaukee, the Phillies remain in a great spot.
They have a two-game lead (a one game cushion with the tie-breaker) over the Dodgers for the best record in baseball, a three-game lead over these same Brewers for the No. 2 seed and a wild card round bye, and a Magic Number of just five to clinch their first division title since 2011.
The team is also playing quite well, seemingly hitting a nice little stride here in September. They’re 10-4 this month, getting contributions from up and down the roster.
Cal Stevenson? Buddy Kennedy? Weston Wilson?
Yep, just as we drew it up back in April.
At 90-60, the Phillies have just 12 games left in the regular season, so other than what their seeding will be for the NL playoffs, here’s what else I’m watching over the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Real Ranger
In his fifth start since coming off the IL with back spasms, Suarez finally threw more than 100 pitches, but lacked the ability to put hitters away with two strikes, resulting in a middling performance against the Brewers. He lasted just five innings, the sixth straight start in which he failed to pitch at least six innings, and in those five starts since coming back he has a 4.44 ERA in 24 1⁄3 innings, with just 23 strikeouts and nine walks. Going back to June 30, he has a 5.96 ERA in his last nine starts.
Obviously, his 1.83 ERA through his first 16 starts was an aberration as well, but the Phillies definitely need a bit more from their veteran southpaw. At the moment, it’s hard to envision Rob Thomson using him as a starter in a divisional round game, although he could be a valuable weapon out of the bullpen in a short series. If the Phils were to make it to the NLCS, he’d likely be the team’s Game 4 starter, unless there is a dramatic uptick in his performance and a drop in Cristopher Sanchez’.
Suarez will have two more starts this year — Saturday night against the Mets at Citi Field, and Sept. 27 in Washington against the Nationals. If he can look a little more like early-season Ranger, it would give the Phillies four legitimate All Stars in the rotation entering the playoffs.
Harper’s Power
It was great to see
Suarez will have two more starts this year — Saturday night against the Mets at Citi Field, and Sept. 27 in Washington against the Nationals. If he can look a little more like early-season Ranger, it would give the Phillies four legitimate All Stars in the rotation entering the playoffs.
Harper’s Power
It was great to see Bryce Harper hit those two home runs against the Mets last Saturday night. Many of this team’s great moments from the last two years have been playoff dingers hit by their MVP. His elbow and wrist injuries seem to allow him to continue being productive at the plate, and it’s good to know he can hit home runs in his current condition.
That said, I’ll be watching to see if we get any additional Harper homers over these last 12 games. Getting Harper in a home run groove as postseason baseball begins would make scoring a heck of a lot easier come October. If he has another drought at the end of the regular season, a little bit of that doubt will creep in. So I want to see at least another two bombs over these last two weeks, just to know that last Saturday night wasn’t a fluke.
hit those two home runs against the Mets last Saturday night. Many of this team’s great moments from the last two years have been playoff dingers hit by their MVP. His elbow and wrist injuries seem to allow him to continue being productive at the plate, and it’s good to know he can hit home runs in his current condition.
That said, I’ll be watching to see if we get any additional Harper homers over these last 12 games. Getting Harper in a home run groove as postseason baseball begins would make scoring a heck of a lot easier come October. If he has another drought at the end of the regular season, a little bit of that doubt will creep in. So I want to see at least another two bombs over these last two weeks, just to know that last Saturday night wasn’t a fluke.
