It was one other brutal loss for the Philadelphia Phillies, as their bullpen sputtered in what was a 12-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Phillies star slugger Bryce Harper spoke concerning the loss on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia’s postgame protection.
“We obtained to play higher baseball,” mentioned Harper. “If we don’t, we’re not going to be in.”
The Phillies are nonetheless in a comparatively good place for clinching a postseason berth. They’re nonetheless two video games forward of the San Diego Padres and three forward of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They personal the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Padres.
Nonetheless, Harper isn’t centered on what the opposite Nationwide League Wild Card contenders are doing proper now.
“Obtained to play higher baseball and never fear concerning the Cubs, not fear concerning the Diamondbacks, not fear about San Diego. We obtained to maintain enterprise as a workforce. If we don’t, then we’re not going to be there.”
Prior to now 9 days, the Phillies went from making a run at a Nationwide League East title to doubtlessly backing into the postseason.
Phillies Implode in Blowout Loss to Braves
There was some hope at the beginning of the sport, as Harper took Tyler Mahle deep within the prime of the primary. Nonetheless, the Braves took management of the sport with an eight-run fourth inning.
A Bryson Stott throwing error on what ought to have been the ultimate out of the inning opened the floodgates for Atlanta. Grant Holman, who was making his first MLB look of the season, surrendered 5 extra runs.
It was a microcosm of how the final 10 video games have gone for the Phillies. They’ve misplaced seven of their final 10, and their NL East deficit has grown to an nearly insurmountable six video games.
“As a workforce, we obtained to look within the mirror, perceive what we obtained to do on a nightly foundation,” mentioned Harper. “Guys obtained to have the ability to throw huge innings for us, do their job, and get hits when they should, and I’m the identical means.”
Harper had a very brutal at-bat with an opportunity to pad a 1-0 lead. Within the second at-bat in opposition to Mahle, he struck out on three splitters to strand runners on the corners.
The Phillies wouldn’t rating once more till the highest of the eighth, when a Justin Crawford solo house run made it 9-2 Braves.
What’s Subsequent for the Phillies?
The loss places the Phillies at 82-67. Their possibilities of clinching a postseason spot are nonetheless very excessive, at 94.2% in response to FanGraphs’ Playoff Odds.
At this level, the Phillies’ possibilities of successful the NL East are just about zero. They’ve misplaced 4 of their final six in opposition to Atlanta, with the Padres and Diamondbacks prepared to shut on them.
At this level, it’s about stacking wins and securing a postseason spot. Then they will fear about the place they’re going within the Wild Card spherical. Even when they end above .500 for the remainder of the season, which is a 7-6 report, that ought to be sufficient wins to clinch a postseason berth.
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