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Tag: NL East

  • Phillies 2026 Offseason Check In – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Credit: Philadelphia Phillies-Facebook

    As the calendar turns to February, the thought of baseball begins to enter people’s minds.

    Pitchers and catchers will report on February 11th, which is just two weeks away.

    While the offseason has been severely underwhelming compared to what fans had expected, the Phillies will still have a formidable roster heading into the 2026 season.

    They took care of business by resigning both Kyle Schwarber to a 5-year, $150 million contract extension and JT Realmuto to a 3-year, $45 million contract. They added a veteran outfielder, Adolis Garcia, who’s spent his entire career with the Texas Rangers, by signing him to a one-year, $10 million contract.

    The Phillies are also hopeful that rookie outfielder Justin Crawford and rookie starting pitcher Andrew Painter will have an immediate impact on the team.

    Credit: Philadelphia Phillies-Facebook

    The problems lie with the fact that they missed out on the big fish in Bo Bichette, who decided that the New York Mets would be a better place for him to win.

    To quote the great movie Dodgeball, “That’s a bold move, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for him.”

    The Mets pretty much outbid the Phillies by offering him a three-year, $126 million contract. Bichette is owed $42 million with opt-outs after the first and second year. The kicker is that he has an opt-out after the first and second year, so it’s very likely this could be a one-year deal.

    The Phillies also lost key starting pitcher Ranger Suarez to the Boston Red Sox, who signed him to a 5-year $130 million contract. Suarez is a great pitcher, especially in the postseason. Still, his injury history and a history of tailing off at the end of the regular season made the Phillies hesitant to offer him that much money, especially when top prospect Andrew Painter will hopefully be on the opening-day roster in 2026.

    Running It Back

    At this point, it feels like the same team that lost in the NLDS last year, and fans are concerned that this season will involve much of the same. The Mets and Dodgers both got significantly better as the Dodgers went out and signed top outfield FA Kyle Tucker, joining an already absurd lineup. The Atlanta Braves will look to have a bounce-back year as well, hoping guys like Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr, Spencer Strider, and Matt Olson can all stay healthy throughout the season. The NL East will be much more competitive this year, and the Phillies are returning most of the same team.

    Rob Thomson did not take kindly to the term “running it back,” as he made it known in his press conference a few weeks ago that this team is different in terms of the bullpen, the addition of Adolis Garcia, Otto Kemp, and the opportunity that Justin Crawford will have this season as well. We got an outfielder to replace losing Kepler and eventually Nick Castellanos, Otto Kemp, who was solid but is most likely a platoon player, and an improved bullpen despite losing Matt Strahm. That’s some real groundbreaking stuff, according to manager Rob Thomson. I beg to differ.

    The consensus among the Phillies fans I’ve spoken to this offseason is that they’re very underwhelmed with how they handled it. Now that’s a take I agree with. Getting Schwarber back is enormous, and they are hopeful that Adolis Garcia can provide a spark for this team as he has in the past for the Rangers, especially in the postseason. I’m also very eager to see how top SS prospect Aidan Miller looks in spring training this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets called up before June if Alec Bohm is either traded or struggles early on.

    One of the last pieces to fall this offseason will be what happens with Nick Castellanos. The Phillies owe him $20 million next year, which is highway robbery on Castellanos’ end. It’s been expected that he would be traded or released all offseason. While neither has yet to happen, the Phillies will most likely be forced to release him, especially after the way he handled things with Rob Thomson last year.

    Spring Is Upon Us

    Pitchers and catchers report next week in Clearwater, Florida, for the start of 2026 spring training.

    It feels like just yesterday we were watching Kerkering throw the ball over JT’s head while the Eagles lost to the Giants that same night.

    I can’t wait to see what heartbreaking thing happens this year.

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    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Phillies clinch berth into NLDS

    By virtue of their dominant 11-1 win over the Marlins Wednesday, the Phillies have officially clinched a spot in the NLDS the first weekend of October. This about a week after they clinched an NL East title in Los Angeles.

    They’ll get some much deserved time off as they await their opponent in the five-game series. They will host the winner of the National League’s 3-vs-6 Wild Card round. The 3-seed is very likely to be the Dodgers. The 6-seed will be the Mets, Reds or Diamondbacks — all tightly contesting the final spot in the bracket. 

    In 2024 they were also the 2-seed, and fell to the Mets in four games to open their playoff run. The Phils are obviously hoping to go much deeper into October this fall.

    While we don’t know their opponent yet, nor the timing of first pitch, we do know the overall schedule.

    Date Location
    Game 1 Sat, October 4 Citizens Bank Park
    Game 2 Mon, October 6 Citizens Bank Park
    Game 3 Weds, October 8 Away
    Game 4* Thurs, October 9 Away
    Game 5* Fri, October 10 Citizens Bank Park 

    *If necessary, best three out of five

    Home-field advantage is a big deal for the Phillies. If you reference the table above, it’s possible that a Game 5 in Philadelphia could involve both teams flying from Los Angeles late the night before, after Game 4. You’d much rather be the home team in that scenario.

    As a whole, the Phillies have been among the best teams at home in baseball, with their 52-25 record as the top mark by total wins and win percentage in the majors. They hit better at home, and pitch better there too.

    The fans for Red October are among the loudest and rowdiest in the world.

    And now, thanks to their latest clinch, we know exactly when and where Red October will begin.

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  • Phillies weekend rooting guide: A lot to play for, and also the nagging Mets

    The Phillies have clinched the NL East, but the next week will be incredibly important to their hunt for the World Series.

    First, they are hoping for healthy returns from infielders Alec Bohm, Trea Turner and Edmundo Sosa prior to the end of the regular season. Shoulder inflammation sent Bohm to the IL, but he is expected to be playing in Arizona. The other two players could follow back in Philly next week.

    Second, they are playing for a first-round bye and for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. They’re also keeping an eye on the pestering Mets, who are fighting to remain the final Wild card team.

    Here’s a look at what the Phillies are still playing for, and then a rooting guide for fans who enjoy scoreboard watching:

    The 2-seed

    The Phillies have a five game lead over the Dodgers for the 2-seed in the National League. With nine games left to play and a regular-season tie-breaker in their back pocket, the Phillies’ magic number is four to earn this important prize.

    They have the best home win percentage (.680) of any team in the majors this season.

    Heading into Friday, here’s a look at some of their numbers at home this season, with six home games left to play:

    Category Stat MLB Rank
    Batting average .280 1st
    Runs scored 410 2nd
    OPS .822 1st
    Home runs 110 4th
     ERA 3.83 15th
    Strikeouts 735 3rd
    WHIP 1.190 8th

    Home-field advantage will be huge for the Phillies in October. They didn’t have it in their World Series run in 2022, when they were the last Wild card team, but they blew home-field advantages in series against the Diamondbacks and Mets in 2023 and 2024, respectively. They were not as dominant at home in those seasons as they have been in 2025.

    The Dodgers play the Giants, Diamondbacks and Mariners to finish their season — three teams in playoff races themselves.

    The 1-seed

    The 1-seed is much less likely, but no less important. Due to the NL being better than the AL in the standings this year, at least up to this point, the Phillies or Brewers are likely to have homefield advantage in the World Series, as both are clear of the AL-best Blue Jays.

    The Phillies are one of the best teams in the sport at home, as we just mentioned, so if they are somehow able to catch Milwaukee, a team that holds a tiebreaker over Philadelphia, it would be extremely helpful.

    The Brewers lead the Phils by three games, and Philly would need to be a game clear of them, so they are essentially four games back with three series left to play. Milwaukee has a magic number of six to boot the Phillies from 1-seed contention. 

    Milwaukee faces the Cardinals, Padres and Reds down the stretch, three teams that are also currently contending for a playoff spot.

    The Mets and the 6-seed

    Thanks to a messy recent eight-game losing streak — with four of them coming to the Phillies in Philly — the Mets are scratching and clawing to hang on to the final playoff spot in the National League. This is of interest to Phillies fans who simply want to relish the schadenfreude of a potential full collapse, or who want to avoid having to play at all in Citi Field in a potential NLDS match up. Philly has been dreadful in Queens over the last few seasons.

    The Mets’ tumble has brought a few teams back into the race, and those teams just happen to be playing the Brewers and Dodgers over the next 10 days. The longer the Mets keep this a lingering race, the more the Reds, Diamondbacks and Giants have to play for. And if those teams play hard, it could indirectly help the Phillies clinch the 2 or even the 1 seed.

    Here’s how things stand heading into the weekend:

    Team GB Remain
    Brewers — STL, SD, CIN
    Phillies 2 ARI, MIA, MIN
    Dodgers 8 SF, ARI, SEA
    Cubs WC1 CIN, NYM, STL
    Padres WC2 CHW, MIL, ARI
    Mets WC3 WAS, CHI, MIA
    Reds 1.5 CHI, PIT, MIL
    Diamondbacks 3 PHI, LAD, SD
    Giants 4 LAD, STL, COL

    The top three teams are more or less locked in as division-winners, though the Padres have an outside chance of catching the Dodgers (three games back) and the Cubs are six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. 

    As you can see from the upcoming slate, there will be a lot of games of interest for seeding purposes over the week and a half.

    So, now the rooting guide — preferred winners in bold:

    Phillies at Diamondbacks 

    Even though the D-backs winning would help the Mets collapse, the Phillies are more interested in homefield advantage.

    Brewers at Cardinals

    The Phillies need at least four Brewers losses, probably more, to get that 1-seed.

    Cubs at Reds

    The Reds winning puts pressure on the Mets. It also keeps them relevant — Philadelphia hopes — until their season-ending series against the Brewers.

    Giants at Dodgers

    The Giants winning this series kills two birds with one stone. It keeps the Giants on the Mets’ heels in the race for the final Wild Card spot. And it also helps the Phillies in their quest for the 2-seed, needing the Dodgers to lose a few more times.

    Nationals at Mets

    The Nats are the second-worst team in the National League and don’t have anything to play for but pride. Hopefully they can give the Mets a test this weekend.

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  • Phillies clinch NL East out west, still have a lot left to play for

    The Phillies won their second straight NL East title Monday while you were sleeping with a 6-5 win in 10 innings over the Dodgers in L.A.

    J.T. Realmuto’s sac fly plated Harrison Bader from third in the top of the 10th for the go-ahead run and David Robertson pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam by getting  Miguel Rojas to pop out and then Max Muncy to end the game on a groundout to Bryce Harper.

    The victory gives the Phils a ridiculous 12.5 game lead over the Mets, with 11 games left to play. The race is over. The Phillies can celebrate.

    On Aug. 27, just two and a half weeks ago, the Phillies were swept in Queens and a seven-game NL East Lead had evaporated to just four. This days before news that Zack Wheeler was finished for the year, and days before Alec Bohm and Trea Turner (a real MVP candidate) were added to the Injured List.

    In the time since, the Phillies have gone 13-4, including six in a row (that included a four-game sweep at home of the Mets). New York has gone 4-13. The Phillies are NL East champs. The Mets are looking over their shoulders at the Giants, Reds Diamondbacks and Cardinals — all four teams are within four games of the last Wild card spot.

    If they miss the playoffs this could go down as one of the all-time collapses.

    Philadelphia overcame inconsistent pitching, a bullpen that was cause for headaches on a nightly basis, and an outfield that took months to finally become productive. 

    However, it isn’t time to start resting and preparing for October yet.

    Though they have the second-best record in the National League by a decent margin (5.5 games over the Dodgers after Monday’s win) they still need to clinch a first-round playoff bye — which means the next magic number to watch is seven, the number they need to eliminate the Dodgers from home-field contention.

    There are two games left in the series in Los Angeles, and winning the series would go a long way toward helping Philly sew up the right to skip a best of three first-round series. The Phillies will most certainly need to keep their foot on the gas for a little longer with meaningful games out west (the Diamondbacks follow the Dodgers).

    The Phillies were two games behind Milwaukee for the No. 1 seed when Monday began, which is another extremely important milestone and one that could help them in their quest to win the World Series next month. Here’s a look at the remaining schedules for these three NL contenders:

    Phillies Dodgers Brewers
     at Dodgers (2) vs. Phillies (2) vs. Angels (3)
    at Diamondbacks (3) vs. Giants (4) at Cardinals (3)
    vs. Marlins (3) at Diamondbacks (3) at Padres (3)
    vs. Twins (3) at Mariners (3) vs. Reds (3)

    The Dodgers have the toughest remaining slate of the three, facing four teams currently in postseason contention (bolded).

    That No. 1 seed could be a big asset if the Phillies want to have their best chance at winning a World Series. They have had incredible play in their friendly confines this season. They have the best home win percentage (.680) of any team in the majors this season.

    Heading into Monday, here’s a look at some of their numbers at home this season:

    Category Stat MLB Rank
    Batting average .280 1st
    Runs scored 410 2nd
    OPS .822 1st
    Home runs 110 3rd
     ERA 3.83 13th
    Strikeouts 735 2nd
    WHIP 1.190 6th

    Home-field advantage will be huge for the Phillies in October. They didn’t have it in their World Series run in 2022, when they were the last Wild card team, but they blew home-field advantages in series against the Diamondbacks and Mets in 2023 and 2024, respectively. They were not as dominant at home in those seasons as they have been in 2025.

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  • Phillies playoff scenarios, magic numbers, potential opponents

    The Phillies have a commanding lead in the NL East and appear to be all but assured not only a berth into the postseason, but also a first-round bye into the NL Divisional Round. 

    Things remain fluid, and scoreboard watching should be part of every Phillies fan’s routine for the remaining two and a half weeks of regular season baseball. It’s entirely possible they finish with the best record in the majors this year. But they have to keep winning.

    Here’s an update on where things currently stand and a look at some potential scenarios:

    Clinching a playoff berth

    The Phillies have a magic number of three to officially punch a ticket into the playoff bracket. The Reds and Giants (more on both in a second) each trail the Phillies by 12.5 games and 13.5 respectively with 14 left to play. Philly needs to either win three of its remaining games, or the Reds and Giants need to lose three of their remaining games for the Phillies to make it official — or any combination of five Phillies wins with losses from those two clubs.

    Here’s a look at the Phillies remaining slate:

    Opponent Record
    vs. Royals (2) 74-73
    at Dodgers (3) 82-65
    at Diamondbacks (3) 73-75
    vs. Marlins (3) 69-79
    vs. Twins (3) 65-85

    Clinching the NL East

    After winning Thursday in come-back fashion over the Mets and a dominating win over the Royals Friday, the Phillies have a massive 12 game lead in the NL East. If everything goes Philadelphia’s way, they can technically clinch Sunday against the Royals, but it would need to be a perfect storm and the Phillies would need to extend their winning streak to seven, with some help from the Mets, who host the Rangers this coming weekend.

    With a magic number of three, the Phillies are more likely to clinch things out west when they play the Dodgers and Diamondbacks next week. 

    The No. 1 seed

    Dominant play of late, despite the injuries of Zack Wheeler, Alec Bohm and Trea Turner, actually have the Phillies in the mix to catch the Brewers for the No. 1 overall seed in the NL. They trail by just two games heading into Friday, so it’s still not super likely, but there are some major advantages if they can keep their feet on the gas and try and catch them.

    In addition to landing home field advantage for the entire playoffs (they lead the top AL team in the standings by two games currently), the Phillies would face the winner of the 4-vs-5 Wild card series, currently the Cubs and Padres. Those two opponents may be more desirable than the winner of the 3-vs-6 series, currently the Dodgers and the Mets, based on the Phillies’ recent struggles at Citi Field. The Dodgers are the defending World Series champions. 

    Here’s a look at the Brewers’ remaining slate of games:

    Opponent Record
    vs. Cardinals (3) 72-76
    vs. Angels (3) 69-79
    at Cardinals (3) 72-76
    at Padres (3) 80-68
    vs. Reds (3) 74-73

    It’s not a cakewalk slate — but with Milwaukee holding the tiebreaker (they won four of six games against the Phillies this season) the Phillies need to finish with three more wins than them down the stretch. So if the Brewers finish 8-6, Philadelphia would need to finish 11-3. 

    The flailing Mets

    Philly’s rivals to the north have become less intimidating this week as they’ve been thoroughly dominated, but fans should still be rooting for their continued demise. The Reds and Giants are hot on NY’s tail. The Giants are just 0.5 games behind the Mets for the final playoff spot and the Reds are 1.5 behind in the NL.  

    Here’s a look at the Mets’ final slate of games:

    Opponent Record
    vs Rangers (3) 78-70
    vs Padres (3) 80-68
    vs Nationals (3) 61-86
    at Cubs (3) 84-63
    at Marlins (3) 69-79

    It’s been well documented that the Phillies are just a total disaster in Queens. And while the team will definitely welcome a chance to fight those demons in October, avoiding it might be a smart move if the have the chance to.

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  • The New York Mets Come to Town in September Division Showdown for Phillies – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Credit: John Jones/Imagn Images

    The Phillies took 2/3 from the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins last week, helping them maintain a seven-game lead in the NL East.

    The New York Mets (76-67) come to town for a four-game series that can make or break their season.

    The Phillies have an opportunity to make up for what happened in New York just a few weeks ago and bury the Mets.

    The Final Sprint

    The Phillies enter Monday night with their magic number sitting at 13 and the Mets coming to town for a four-game series. To say this series is the most important so far this season is an understatement, especially after the Phillies were swept in New York just two weeks ago. Luckily, the Phillies won’t have to deal with the horrors or parabolic microphones that Citi Field brings. They will have to deal with being without their top hitter, Trea Turner, as he is currently undergoing MRI scans on his right hamstring after he left the game early Sunday. They are unsure how serious the strain is, but it’s not ideal for the Phillies to be without their leadoff hitter for the next few games and possibly even weeks.

    If Trea does end up on the IL, I am curious who Rob Thomson will end up batting leadoff. With the year Kyle Schwarber has had, I feel like you have to keep him at the second spot in the order. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bader or even Stott bat leadoff if Trea misses an extended amount of time.

    Revenge Time

    PHOTO: John Jones/Imagn Images

    As the Phillies enter this series against the Mets, I am feeling confident this team will win at least 2/4, if not 3/4, over the Mets at home. After getting swept on the road a few weeks ago, I would like to think this team has the firepower to get there get back in some way. This is a series where the Phillies need Bryce Harper to tap into some of that postseason energy and deliver some big hits. If Turner is out for this entire series, which is likely, the Phillies will need their big bats in Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to show up. Schwarber was in the midst of a 0-17 stretch the last time he played the Mets, so I’m hopeful that won’t be happening again this series.

    I’m also looking for Alec Bohm and Harrison Bader to stay consistent as well. Bader has been a great addition to this team as he has made some great plays in centerfield while also coming up with some clutch hits.

    The Phillies will also need a better pitching performance from Aaron Nolan in game one compared to the last time he pitched. Nola has been shaky since returning from the IL, and without Zach Wheeler for the rest of the season, the Phillies desperately need Nola to get back on track. If Nola can have a solid start tonight, that would give both him and the Phillies a much-needed confidence boost heading down the stretch.

    Upcoming Week

    After the Phillies complete their four-game series against the Mets, they jump right into a weekend series matchup against the Kansas City Royals (73-70), a team that is also fighting for a playoff spot. This team is targeting a playoff spot in the American League.

    As of Monday, the Royals are two games back of the final wild card spot in the American League. The Phillies have a big week ahead with a chance to not only bury the Mets but take full control of the NL East with 19 games remaining.

    Weekly Prediction: Bryce Harper has one of those signature series where he crushes the ball and powers the Phillies to a series win against both the Mets and Royals.

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  • Phillies take another series from Marlins, but Trea Turner exits with hamstring injury

    The Phillies took another series down in Miami. 

    They lost to the Marlins, 5-4, on Sunday, but still took two of three for the set to make it three straight series wins ever since that disaster of a trip up to Queens a couple of weeks ago. 

    The bats piled on Friday night while Cristopher Sánchez was stellar again in the first win; Bryce Harper homered, Harrison Bader stayed hot, and Jesús Luzardo held strong for the second on Saturday; then Taijuan Walker bounced back from a bad first frame on Sunday to fight through six innings and afford the Phillies a chance to climb back. They just couldn’t manage that last hit in their lone loss. Otto Lopez’s second homer of the day, a seventh-inning solo shot off José Alvarado, put the game just out of reach despite one last push and a run knocked in by Kyle Schwarber in the ninth.

    The Phillies left the field at LoanDepot Park on Sunday at 83-60. They’re still holding a healthy lead over the Mets in the NL East race, which now stands at 7.5 games, but that lead is about to be put back up to the test again – and with a scare now that they might have to go without Trea Turner for it, who pulled up lame running out a ground ball on Sunday (more on that below).

    They’re returning home to Citizens Bank Park next, and the Mets will be meeting them there for a four-game set beginning Monday night at 6:45 p.m. ET.

    Last time at Citi Field, the Phillies got swept in a rivalry matchup they looked largely unprepared for, and the rest of the season series to this point hasn’t looked much better for them. 

    The Mets are 7-2 against the Phillies to this point in 2025. They have the Phillies’ number, and the Phillies need that to change quickly. 

    Because one good showing this week can effectively put the division away…or create the space for it to be a wide-open race again if it goes south the other way. 

    Aaron Nola is expected to go up against New York’s Nolan McLean to open the series. The season hasn’t been kind to the Phillies’ veteran right-hander, through injury and then a rough return from it, but there would be no better spot for a return to form. He needs it, and the club needs to see something from him as it begins to form its postseason rotation. 

    Ranger Suárez goes Tuesday night against Sean Manaea in a battle of lefties, and then it’s Sánchez’s turn against right-hander Clay Holmes on Wednesday. 

    For those two, it’s simple: Keep pitching lights out, all while the bats try not to get fooled again. 

    It’s a pivotal point in the season for the Phils, that could really help to set the tone for October. Make it count. 

    Trea-Turner-Homer-Phillies-MArlins-9.7.25-MLB.jpgSam Navarro/Imagn Images

    Trea Turner homered earlier in Sunday’s loss to the Marlins.

    A few other notes from Miami…

    • Trea Turner went 4-for-5 in Friday’s win to continue on as the Phillies’ most consistent hitter this season. He got the day off on Saturday, then on Sunday, he hit a solo homer in the sixth, but exited quickly in the seventh after running out a ground ball that was misfired to first.

    The immediate diagnosis is a hamstring strain, per the Phillies (via The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber). Then The Athletic’s Jayson Stark chimed in with the following observation from last season:

    There will be more to learn once the Phillies get back home, and of course, they’ll hope that Turner’s injury isn’t that severe. But it’s not the kind of precedent anyone wants to hear this late into the year. 

    • Nick Castellanos tripled in the second inning on Sunday after hitting a fly ball to center field that Miami’s Jakob Marsee missed the diving catch attempt on. Brandon Marsh scored from the first, and that marked the start of the Phillies’ gradual climb back to making it close. 

    Castellanos finished Sunday 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, he’s slashing .200/.253/.321. He wasn’t in the lineup through the first two games of the Marlins series, and at this point, he isn’t an everyday player anymore.

    Brandon Marsh, Harrison Bader, and Max Kepler seems to be the leading combo in the outfield now. Castellanos should still see time in right field, but it’s being heavily cut into now. He has to play a different role, and he has to find a way to leave an impact with it.

    • Walker Buehler started for the IronPigs in Triple-A on Saturday. The Phillies picked him up last week, and intend to add him into a six-man rotation to close out the regular season. For a club with uncertain right-handed starting depth, they need to see what might be there.

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  • Phillies Weekly Recap: Zach Wheeler Out 6-8 Months, Phillies Prepare For NL East Showdown – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    May 23, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

    On Saturday, the Phillies announced that Zach Wheeler would be missing the remainder of the season with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, an injury that requires surgery and has a timetable of 6-8 months for a full recovery. The good news, Wheeler had the blood clot successfully removed. The bad news, the Phillies need to find a way to replace their Cy Young caliber ace for the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs.

    Win It For Wheeler

    No MLB team ever wants to lose its ace, especially a team that has World Series aspirations. For the Phillies, this situation is a new one. Since Wheeler signed with the Phillies, he has been a staple of the rotation, especially in the playoffs. Over the last three years, Wheeler has been great in the playoffs and was the best thing we had to ensure a win in a series. You knew if Wheeler was taking the mound, the Phillies had a decent chance to win the game. Now, with Wheeler gone for the season, it’s going to be extremely hard to replace an arm like his. Luckily for the Phillies, they have three arms I would trust in a playoff series, which is more than a lot of other teams have.

    With Wheeler being gone, I could see the Phillies rolling out a staff of Christopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Aaron Nola for a playoff series. Getting a first-round bye is massive for this team, as the National League gets the extra day off in between games this year (the leagues alternate each year). With that extra day, the Phillies will only need three arms for the NLDS. Game one starter is easily Christopher Sanchez, with game two belonging to either Ranger Suarez or Aaron Nola. If Rob wants back-to-back lefties, he will go with Ranger. If he wants to mix a righty in there, he will go with Nola. Despite his injuries and inconsistency, I trust Nola to show up and perform in the postseason. Like Wheeler, he has pitched well in the playoffs, and let’s not forget he was our ace at one point. My stance may change by season’s end, but I wouldn’t mind if Nola got the ball in a game two scenario.

    Ranger Suarez is cool, calm, and collected every time he steps on the mound, no matter the game. Having him pitch in a game two or three is not a terrible situation to be in. The Phillies are very fortunate this year to have a plethora of starting pitching, and if the offense can pick up the pitching, this team can still make noise in the postseason. If Suarez can close out an NLCS to send us to the World Series circa 2023, I would absolutely trust him starting a playoff game for us. He has found his groove in his last two starts, striking out 10+ in both. If that’s the Ranger, the Phillies get in the postseason, I will feel extremely confident this team could win a series even without Zach Wheeler.

    Offense Steps Up

    Losing your ace means you’re going to need more contributions from key players on offense. JT Realmuto has been on fire since June, leading all catchers in batting average since then. Bryce Harper has been swinging a hot bat, and Bryson Stott has been thriving in the nine hole. Rob Thompson moved Stott to 9th in the order a few weeks ago, and I have loved it ever since. Not only is Stott hitting more, but Trea Turner has been great since having Stott before the order turns around to him. Turner is hitting .300 and is the current NL leader in hits with 160. On top of Turner playing great defense this year, he is having his best season as a Phillie so far.

    Kyle Schwarber had a down weekend against the Nationals, but still has 45 homers and 109 RBI. He is second in home runs in baseball and leads the majors in RBI. Schwarber has been elite this year, and the Phillies will need his offense to remain consistent as we head down the stretch.

    Upcoming Week

    The Phillies have a massive week coming up, starting tonight against the divisional rival New York Mets (69-61). The Phillies are currently 7 games up on the Mets as we enter play this evening. The Phillies have an opportunity to bury the Mets this week if they can take 2/3 or even sweep them. It’s the biggest series of the season for this team, right off the heels of the Zach Wheeler news. I would like to think this Phillies team has the toughness and resilience to take at least 2/3 from the team that ended their season last year. It’s also ironic that it’s against Wheeler’s former team. After a three-game series against the Mets, the Phillies head back home for a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves (59-71). Another division rival that will be gunning for the Phillies despite being 10 games out of a playoff spot. The Braves would love to play spoiler and take some games from the Phillies.

    This Philadelphia Phillies team enters the biggest week of the season without its ace. It’s time to see what this team is made of and how battle-tested this team truly is. If the Phillies could take 5/7 games overall, it would be an extremely successful week.

    Prediction of the week: Who else picks up this team other than Bryce Harper? Harper and Schwarber power the Phillies this week, both clubbing 3 home runs apiece. A big week means I get to predict big.

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    Matt Saglembeni

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  • How Should the Phillies Use Ranger Suarez in the Postseason? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    How Should the Phillies Use Ranger Suarez in the Postseason? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    It’s 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning against the Washington Nationals in the 160th game of the regular season.
    In the previous four games, the lowly Nationals have scored a combined four runs–tonight, they’ve matched that total over 42 meandering pitches from Ranger Suarez.
    Sep 21, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
    PHOTO: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images

    One of those pitches, in a pivotal 3-2 count, was taken 432 feet to left-center by designated hitter Stone Garrett in his very first at-bat of the season. In total, Suarez would scatter 59 pitches over two innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks in his last start of the season. 

    Just three months ago, Suarez was on top of the world—a leading candidate for the N.L. Cy Young Suarez owned a dominant 10-2 record with a 1.83 ERA in 16 starts through June 25, landing him a spot on his first All-Star team.

    It was a coronation of one of the sport’s top young arms–Suarez had come into the season uncharacteristically healthy and was the team’s best pitcher from Opening Day–no more was he just the team’s best-kept postseason secret; he was a legitimate, top-five starting pitcher in the National League. 

    Unfortunately, Suarez must have flown too close to the early summer sun, and with his innings totaling higher than ever, he began to crash and burn.

    In four starts from June 30 through July 22, Suarez went 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA before landing on the IL with a back injury. Since returning from the IL on August 24, it’s been much of the same: an uninspiring 2-3 record with a 5.74 ERA in seven starts. His velocity has been down. His signature command has wavered. He hasn’t logged a quality start since June 25.In the wake of Suarez’s disastrous second half–and with the emergence of Cristopher Sanchez–the Phillies have demoted Ranger to being the fourth starter in the upcoming NLDS. A decision is to be made as to whether or not Aaron Nola or Sanchez will start Game 2, but regardless, it is known that if the series comes to a fourth game, Ranger Suarez will make the start. 

    Is that the right move?

    I’m not sureif even the Phillies can admit

    that it is at this point. It’s incredibly strange to say that, given just how clutch Suarez has been in the postseason the last two years. It is, however, perhaps the only move that the Phillies can make when your Weapon X turns into a hot mess down the stretch. Behind Suarez–who will assuredly have the shortest of leashes in October–there isn’t much in the ‘pen to eat innings. Taijuan Walker won’t make the postseason roster, and long-man Spencer Turnbull, out since June 26, will attempt to pitch in the team’s intrasquad game this week but hasn’t exactly faced Major League competition in his limited rehab stints in Lehigh Valley.

    While the chances of Suarez making a complete 180 in time for the postseason are unlikely; however, it isn’t all doom and gloom. The depth of the starting rotation, in theory, can allow for one of the team’s top pitchers to not play to the best of their ability while still having success.

    If Ranger can be just 80% of his potential, if he can provide three to five innings of two-run ball and save the bullpen just a little bit, then the Phillies will have a shot.
    And if we’ve learned anything over the last two years, it’s that one chance is all that this team needs to go all the way.

    PHOTO: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images

    Dylan Campbell

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  • Should the Phillies Bring Back Hector Neris? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Should the Phillies Bring Back Hector Neris? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Former Phillie Hector Neris was DFA’d by the Chicago Cubs earlier this week. Neris, now 35 years old, has pitched to a 3.89 ERA in 46 games with Chicago this season before clearing waivers and subsequently released for the Cubs 18th overall prospect. Neris left Philadelphia in free agency for the Houston Astros where he would beat his former club in the 2023 World Series. In light of the Phillies recent bullpen struggles, does it make sense to bring back the former closer?

    The answer is clearly yes. The issue with Neris’ in Philadelphia was the high leverage innings. Neris isn’t the typical closer and does not have typical closer stuff. It was clear very early in a Hector Neris outing what you were getting. Most nights it was the devastating splitter with a ton of tumble but some nights it was the sinker that had little to no movement which would result in a lot of hard contact. It always seemed as if Neris was walking a tightrope which is not at all something you want in a closer.The veteran right hander could fill the Yunior Marte or Max Lazard role as a low leverage right handed option but with plenty of experience. If you replace Marte, Lazard or Jose Ruiz with a pitcher of Neris’ caliber, it makes the bullpen that much longer.While Neris’ tenure in Philadelphia was certainly a rollercoaster, it was overall a success. He pitched to a 3.44 ERA and is currently 8th in Phillies franchise history in Saves. By all accounts Neris seems to be very well-liked by players, staff, and media. It’s very likely there would be mutual interest in a reunion, so why not take a chance?

    Photo via Getty Images

    Evan Carroll

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  • The Race for the First-Round Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Race for the First-Round Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Philadelphia Phillies started the 2024 season at an incredible pace. It seemed like Rob Thomson’s team couldn’t lose.

    Phillies fans are wondering what happened to that team because lately, it seems like all Thomson’s team can do is lose.

    The Phillies had a 61-32 record through July 11, including two seven-game win streaks, one six-game win streak, and only seven series losses. They held the title of the best team in baseball for quite some time and had a large lead in the NL East. All was good in Philadelphia.

    Teams are Catching Up to the Phillies

    Then, just before the All-Star break, the Phillies lost a three-game series to the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park. Not only did they lose the series, but they lost it badly. The Phillies were outscored 29-16 in their home ballpark against one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball. Little did the team and the fans know what would come after that.

    The Phillies came out of the All-Star break playing sloppy baseball. They lost five straight series to start the second half of the season, including a six-game losing streak during that stretch. They were able to win the series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and the first game in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. It looked like the Phillies were getting back on track and playing winning baseball again. They fooled us.

    After taking the series opener against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies lost three straight games to lose yet another series. Two of those three games were complete blowouts. The Phillies were looking to start fresh against the last-place Miami Marlins back at home after a long 10-game road trip out west.

    Taijuan Walker took the mound in the series opener against the Marlins after returning from the IL. This was his first major league start since June 21. He let up two runs in the first inning and only made it through four innings, allowing three total runs. The Phillies’ offense couldn’t get anything going, and they lost their fourth straight game.

    The Importance of a First-Round Bye for the Phillies

    The Phillies have 42 more games left in the regular season. Their schedule is favorable from here on out. They have two big series against the Atlanta Braves and an important series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Braves are just six games back in the NL East and are creeping up on the struggling Phillies for the top spot.

    The Brewers are just two games back of the Phillies in the National League standings. The Phillies are 3-0 against the Brewers this season, with three games left to play. If they finish with identical records at the end of the season, the Phillies need to win at least one more game against them to guarantee potential home-field advantage and the better seed in the playoffs.

    As of today, the Dodgers hold the top spot in the NL. The Phillies are 5-1 against them, so the Phillies will have home-field advantage and the better seed if both teams finish with identical records. This is also true with the San Diego Padres, who are two games back of the Phillies in the NL.

    One team to worry about is the Diamondbacks. The Phillies are 3-4 against them this year and don’t have any more games against them. The Diamondbacks are two games back of the Phillies in the NL.

    The top two division winners at the end of the regular season get a first-round bye in the playoffs. If the season ended today, the Phillies would be the No. 2 seed and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs unless they would end up facing the Dodgers in the NLCS.

    It’s also important to have the best record in the majors come playoff time. Home-field advantage in the World Series is determined by the team with the best regular season record. If both teams finished with identical records, the tiebreaker would go to the head-to-head record. The Phillies are the fifth-best team in the major leagues and are 1 ½ games back from having the best record as of today.

    The Phillies need to figure things out collectively as a team and get back to playing winning baseball. This slump has lasted too long.

    They’ll look to build on their 9-5 victory over the Marlins last night.

    It’s important to have a home-field advantage in the playoffs, especially with the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park.

    PHOTO: ClutchPoints

    Mike Hennelly

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  • Five thoughts: Phillies drop first series since March to lowly Rockies

    Five thoughts: Phillies drop first series since March to lowly Rockies

    The Phillies bats cooled off in the thin Colorado air this weekend, as they dropped just their second series of the entire season to the Rockies. A few big mistakes — on the field and on the mound — cost the team in their two losses in the three-game set, but it was their lack of offense that ultimately decided this one.

    After leading the majors in runs during the best ever 51-game start to a season, 37-14, they mustered only two runs Friday and two runs Sunday. And that was really that as they dropped those games this weekend.

    Before they head further west to play the Giants for a trio of games starting Monday at 5 p.m., here’s a look at five thoughts to be mindful of as the Phillies leave Denver:

    1. Suarez is human after all… but still awesome

    Ranger Suarez has been superhuman this season and had the chance to get to 10-0 against the worst team in the National League. So of course he had his worst start of the season, walking four and struggling through the first two of his six innings. 

    He was still solid, however, tossing four perfect frames after relenting five runs in his first two. He struck out nine Rockies hitters too, flashing the nearly unhittable stuff he’s used to feast on hitters this year. Suarez bent but didn’t break which is admirable. There will be starts like this all season long. No one pitches seven shutout innings every five days. 

    Personally I am quite interested to see how he’ll perform the next time out — likely back at home against the Cardinals next weekend. Will he be wobbly and have control issues like he did against the Rockies? Or will he show that this outing was a simple fluke. A true ace — a guy like Zack Wheeler — can forget a bad start. That’s one of the characteristics the Phillies hope to see from Suarez this summer.

    2. Stay the course

    It’s interesting to me that when the Phillies struggle, it’s the offense that is stuck in neutral, not the starting pitching. They never take a night off. On Friday, Cris Sanchez grinded through 5.1 innings and allowed a lone run. On Saturday, it was Aaron Nola who battled through six innings with two earn runs (and one unearned) blemishing his line. Each hurler kept the Phillies in their respective games and each actually lowered their ERA in the no decisions.

    And even Sunday, with Suarez showing struggles for the first time, the starter was able to keep his pitch count low in his last few innings to give the bullpen some rest. But the run support wasn’t there — proving that getting reliable and consistent offense is much more variable.

    Phillies hitters only struck out three times in the middle game of the series, an unusual occurrence in this day and age. And yet through the first seven innings Saturday night their scattering of six hits produced two runs. There is always an element of luck in baseball and Philly’s offense has had a lot of it so far. 

    3. Open the floodgates

    There was an eerie, familiar — yet unfamiliar feeling in the early part of the Phillies series in Denver, with the offense mustering just four total runs through 19 straight innings (including an 11-inning extra innings loss in the opener). Bryce Harper was controversially ejected in Game 1, and things just felt off. 

    But then in the eighth inning Saturday, Edmundo Sosa hit a triple, scoring Brandon Marsh from first and the floodgates opened in a six-run frame that kept the Phillies from potentially losing back-to-back games for the first time in a month’s time.

    There will be stretches where this team falls asleep. It’s inevitable. The season is really long. But having them remind everyone why they’re the best team in baseball in a comeback win a mile high is also something that fans can expect. 

    4. A Turner setback

    On the road in Colorado, the Phillies had Trea Turner with them and were hopeful the star shortstop would be close to making a return to the field from a hamstring injury. But a setback might be pushing back that date.

    After running the bases Sunday he felt stiffness and soreness in the leg for the first time. The Phillies will understandably err on the side of caution with their $300 million man — thanks in large part to the extremely solid play the team has exhibited in Turner’s absence. 

    Backup infielder Edmundo Sosa is hitting .324 this season and has been a very solid bat at the bottom of the lineup over the last few weeks.

    5. An unexpected test?

    Much has been written about the Phillies easy schedule, and how they haven’t technically played a team above .500 since the season started in March with the Braves in town. It’s possible an unexpected challenge awaits in San Francisco, as the Giants are suddenly red hot, fresh off winning eight of their last ten games. They are exactly at the .500 mark.

    The Phillies dominated San Francisco in four games in Philly earlier this season but since then they have started to figure it out and are right in the middle of the NL Wild Card race. 

    This could be a welcomed test. Next week the will host the first place Brewers before playing the Mets in London. They’ll return home to face the contending Red Sox and first place Orioles in mid June. The Padres and Diamondbacks are also not far ahead on the ledger. We’ll learn a lot more about this baseball team over the next few weeks.

    Follow Evan on Twitter:@evan_macy

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    Evan Macy

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  • Is Jose Alvarado the Closer? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Is Jose Alvarado the Closer? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    It’s been quite an April for the Phillies who vowed to get off to a hot start. The team is keeping that promise, they are 9 games above .500, a milestone that they did not reach until the month of July last season. 

    One thing that has been noteworthy is that Jose Alvarado seems to be getting the opportunity to close games on a pretty consistent basis. Outside of the first game of the season against the Braves, Alvarado has been outstanding this year. The Phillies have been very clear dating back to the Gabe Kapler era that a solidified closer is not necessarily something that they believe in and Rob Thomson specifically has made mention on more than one occasion that the 9th inning will largely be left up to matchups, but it doesn’t seem that way right now. 

    The Phillies flame-throwing lefty notched his fifth save of the season this afternoon in San Diego. Alvarado has previously been used as the team’s “fireman”, coming into games in big spots and stomping out the fire, something he did very well at. The emergence of Gregory Soto and Matt Strahm pitching in high-leverage spots have obviously given the Phillies confidence that they could save Alvarado, who is perhaps their best arm in the pen, for the ninth.

    It’s very unlikely that the Phillies will ever have a set closer perse, even someone with as much experience as Craig Kimbrel fell victim to circumstances where he would not get the final three outs last season. However, Alvarado has gotten the bulk of the opportunities (5) and has made the most of it thus far. Only Jeff Hoffman has more than one (3) in the rest of the Phillies pen. 

    It’s assumed that Orion Kierkering could work his way into some save opportunities this season and could serve as the closer of the future but with the job that Alvarado has done this year, that could now be up for discussion.

    Photo via Photo by Todd Kirkland of Getty Images

    Evan Carroll

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  • Alvarez blasts Baker, Astros to World Series title vs Phils

    Alvarez blasts Baker, Astros to World Series title vs Phils

    HOUSTON — Yordan Alvarez hit a moon shot that sent Space City into a frenzy, and the Houston Astros to their second World Series title.

    While the stain on Houston’s first championship might never completely fade, Alvarez’s majestic three-run homer helped fashion a fresh crown for the Astros — and the first for Dusty Baker as manager — in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Saturday night.

    “What happened before, it doesn’t ever pass over completely,” said Baker, the veteran manager hired by the Astros in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal. “But we have turned the page and hopefully we’ll continue this run.”

    Alvarez blasted a ball over the 40-foot batter’s eye in center field during the sixth inning immediately after Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was pulled with a 1-0 lead.

    As Alvarez’s 450-foot shot sailed, Astros starter Framber Valdez jumped and wildly screamed in the dugout while the crowd of 42,958 went crazy waving orange rally towels.

    “When I was rounding second base, I felt the whole stadium moving,” Alvarez said through a translator.

    The 73-year-old Baker finally got his first title in his 25th season as a manager. He’s spent the past three with the Astros after they hired him to help the team regain credibility after their trash can banging scheme cost manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs, and made Houston the most reviled team in baseball.

    “I wasn’t here in 2017, but it’s definitely a weight off of everybody’s shoulders. Ain’t nobody can say (anything) now,” said closer Ryan Pressly, who finished the Series with another scoreless inning.

    Baker, who won a World Series as a player with the Los Angeles Dodgers and had been to the Fall Classic twice before as a skipper, is the oldest championship manager in any of the four major North American sports. The win came 20 years after a near-miss, when he came within five outs of taking the title while guiding the San Francisco Giants.

    “What’s next? I said if I win one, I want to win two,” Baker said afterward.

    Houston’s coaching and training staffs circled around Baker after Nick Castellanos flied out to end it, jumping up and down, and chanting “Dusty! Dusty! Dusty!” in the dugout before they joined the players on the field.

    Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña was the World Series MVP after getting another key hit, a single to set up Alvarez’s homer.

    The 25-year-old star born in the Dominican Republic also won a Gold Glove award and AL Championship Series MVP — Peña is the first hitter to win those three awards in a career, and he did it all in his first season, per OptaSTATS.

    Jerseys worn by Peña and Baker during the Series were headed to the Hall of Fame.

    A year after watching the Atlanta Braves clinch the World Series title at Minute Maid Park, Justin Verlander and the Astros went 11-2 in the postseason and became the first team to seal the championship at home since the 2013 Boston Red Sox.

    Alvarez homered for the first time since going deep in the first two games this postseason. Christian Vázquez added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 4-1.

    Valdez earned his second win of this Series. He had been in the dugout only a few minutes after throwing his 93rd and final pitch while striking out nine over six innings.

    But the lefty had walked off the mound with the wild-card Phillies up 1-0 on Kyle Schwarber’s homer leading off the sixth.

    Schwarber, who hit his third homer in the past four games, rounded the bases waving his raised empty hand in the same motion as the fans with their towels.

    But by the time Schwarber batted in the eighth, the NL’s home run leader was reduced to bunting, trying for a hit to stir a dormant Phillies offense. His bunt went foul with two strikes, resulting in a strikeout.

    In the sixth, Houston got two runners on base against Wheeler for the first time in the game, when Martín Maldonado was hit by a pitch, Jose Altuve grounded into a forceout and Peña singled.

    Phillies manager Rob Thomson went to left-handed reliever José Alvarado to face the lefty slugger for the fourth time in the series — Alvarez had popped out twice and been hit by a pitch the first three times.

    “I thought Wheels still had really good stuff. It wasn’t about that. It was just I thought the matchup was better with Alvarado on Alvarez at that time,” Thomson said.

    And Alvarado had allowed only three homers to lefty hitters in his six big league seasons, until his 2-1 pitch, when Alvarez crushed the 99 mph sinker.

    “It’s kind of a dirty inning and I thought, I mean, going into the series it was always kind of Alvarado on Alvarez,” Thomson said. “It was the sixth inning and I felt like the normal back end of the bullpen guys could get through it.”

    Alvarez hadn’t homered since Game 2 of the AL Division Series against Seattle, when his two-run shot in the sixth inning put them up to stay. That came after his game-ending, three-run shot in Game 1 for an 8-7 win.

    Houston won an American League-best 106 games and reached its fourth World Series during a span in which it made it to the AL Championship Series six seasons in a row. The Astros made their only other World Series appearance in 2005, while still in the National League, and were swept in four games by the Chicago White Sox.

    This was their third ALCS and second consecutive World Series since former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers revealed after the 2019 season, when he had gone from Houston for two years since being part of their 2017 championship, that the team had used a camera in center field to steal signs and signal hitters on which pitches to expect by banging on a garbage can.

    “That will probably never go away but I think this just proves how good this team is and how good it’s been for a long time,” Astros owner Jim Crane said on the field afterward.

    Philadelphia was 22-29 when Joe Girardi was fired in early June and replaced by bench coach Thomson, the 59-year-old baseball lifer getting his first chance a big league manager — he was on the Yankees big league staff for 10 seasons with Girardi, and was part of their last World Series and title in 2009.

    The Phillies finished the regular season 65-46 under Thomson, their 87 wins good for the sixth and final spot in the NL playoffs, on the way to their first World Series since 2009.

    UP NEXT

    Phillies: In less than five months, the Phillies will be back in Texas to begin their 2023 regular season, about 250 miles away for the opener of an interleague series March 30 against the Texas Rangers.

    Astros: Whether or not Baker and/or general manager James Click are back — neither is signed past this season — the World Series champs will play their 2023 season opener at home March 30 against the Chicago White Sox.

    ———

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Astros’ Peña 1st rookie hitter to win World Series MVP

    Astros’ Peña 1st rookie hitter to win World Series MVP

    HOUSTON — Jeremy Peña’s key to success was keeping his head dry.

    Capping a freshman season like no other, he became the first rookie position player to win a World Series MVP award Saturday night after hitting .400 in the Houston Astros’ six-game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

    “The hardest part was just blocking everything that’s not part of the game,” Peña said. “There’s a saying that you can’t sink a ship with water around. It sinks if water gets inside. So I just try to stay strong and keep the water outside my head.”

    Peña also won a Gold Glove and was the AL Championship Series MVP. The 25-year-old shortstop became the first hitter to win those three prizes in a career, according to OptaSTATS — and he did it all in his rookie season.

    “It has a lot to do with my family, my upbringing,” he said.

    Peña praised Dusty Baker, the Astros’ 73-year-old manager. When Baker made his major league managerial debut for San Francisco on April 6, 1993, the leadoff hitter for the other team was Peña’s father, St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Gerónimo Peña.

    “Dusty Baker’s a legend in the sport,” Jeremy Peña said. “Not just because he’s been around. He’s had success at this game. He brings the best out of his players. He gives you the confidence to just go out and play hard and let the game take care of itself.”

    Peña singled to chase Phillies starter Zack Wheeler in Game 6, giving the Astros two baserunners for the first time. Yordan Alvarez followed with a go-ahead, three-run homer that sent Houston to a 4-1 victory.

    Peña finished the postseason with a .345 batting average, four homers, eight RBIs and a 1.005 OPS. He also became the first rookie shortstop to win a Gold Glove, as well as the first to homer in the World Series.

    Just 24 when he was handed the starting job at the beginning of the season after Carlos Correa left as a free agent, Peña became the third rookie at any position to earn World Series MVP, joining a pair of right-handed pitchers: the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Larry Sherry in 1959 and Miami’s Liván Hernández in 1997.

    Peña’s 18th-inning homer completed a Division Series sweep at Seattle and he hit a go-ahead drive off Noah Syndergaard in Game 5 of the World Series. His Game 2 jersey is headed to the Hall of Fame.

    “You have to make tough decisions in this job, and Jeremy’s making it look like it was an easy decision, and it wasn’t,” Houston general manager James Click said. “Carlos is a great player, and he’s been a huge part of this franchise. But to do what Jeremy did, to step in and elevate his game in the playoffs, it just speaks to his hard work, his character and the talent that he has. There’s not that many special guys on the planet that can do what he just did.”

    Peña became the ninth player to win MVP of a League Championship Series and the World Series in the same season. He batted .353 with two homers and four RBIs against the Yankees in the ALCS.

    The only other player to win an LCS MVP award, World Series MVP and a Gold Glove during their career was pitcher Orel Hershiser, who took all three prizes with the Dodgers in 1988.

    Peña hit .291 with 22 homers and 63 RBIs during the regular season and likely will finish high in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Seattle outfielder Julio Rodríguez is the favorite.

    Others to win LCS and World Series MVP in one year were Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell (1979), St. Louis’ Darrell Porter (1982), Hershiser (1988), Hernández (2003), Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (2008), the Cardinals’ David Freese (2011), San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner (2014) and the Dodgers’ Corey Seager (2020).

    Only four other rookies were LCS MVPs: Baltimore right-hander Mike Boddicker in 1983, Hernández in 1997, St. Louis right-hander Michael Wacha in 2013 and Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena in 2020.

    Peña thought back to last year’s Game 6 loss to Atlanta at Minute Maid Park, where he joined the Astros but was inactive.

    “These guys were left with a bitter taste in their mouth last year,” he said. “Me being in the dugout last year, I didn’t want to experience that again.”

    ———

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Astros rookie star Peña delivers again in World Series win

    Astros rookie star Peña delivers again in World Series win

    PHILADELPHIA — Jeremy Peña trotted around third base, looked toward the Houston dugout and gave the most casual two-handed shrug you’ll ever see on a ballfield.

    Like it was any routine game in May.

    Only this was November. In the World Series. In the biggest game of his life.

    Yep, this Peña postseason just kept getting better and better.

    Showing the polish and poise of a proven veteran, the 25-year-old Peña put on quite an all-around performance Thursday night. He became the first rookie shortstop to homer in the World Series, added two key singles and made a critical leaping catch in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5.

    “Rookie or not rookie, it doesn’t matter,” Peña said. “We’re in the World Series. You just go out and play. Go compete and let the best man win.”

    Having already won the AL Championship Series MVP award and a Gold Glove in the last two weeks, the emerging star from the Dominican Republic helped Houston move one win away from the ultimate prize — the World Series trophy.

    Ahead 3-2 in the matchup with the Phillies, it’s hard to imagine now the Astros started the season with many fans wondering how in the world they would replace All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa, who signed with Minnesota as a free agent.

    “I never saw it as having to fill shoes,” Peña said. “I just had to come in and be myself, play my game. But at the end of the season, once we accomplish our goal, which is to go all the way, then I’ll sit down and reflect on the journey. But there’s still work to do and we’ve got to lock in.”

    Again proving the biggest moments in baseball aren’t too big for him, the expressive and exuberant Peña grounded a hard RBI single up the middle in the first inning, then reached high to spear Nick Castellanos’ liner to thwart a potential rally in the third.

    In the fourth, Peña lofted a go-ahead, solo drive into the left-field seats for a 2-1 lead and chased Phillies starter Noah Syndergaard.

    “It felt good off the bat but I didn’t know if it was enough,” Peña said. “I was running normal and then when the umpire signaled, that’s when I started jogging.”

    Peña pointed his right index finger high as he approached second base and slapped his hands together after crossing the bag. He gave a shrug moments later — shades of Michael Jordan, maybe — and put his hands together to form a heart after touching home plate.

    No wonder manager Dusty Baker and the Astros love him so much.

    “Well, he came into camp as a young player. He had his eyes open. He always paid attention. You could tell he was very attentive and confident, but quiet,” Baker said. “Boy, he’s played remarkably well. Boy, I mean, he’s really carried us for a while here through this postseason, and that’s especially tough for a young player, a young shortstop. And I’m just glad we have him.”

    Peña showed he could play small ball, too, adeptly delivering a hit-and-run single that set up a much-needed insurance run in the eighth.

    The three-hit show made Peña 8 for 21 (.381) with a pair of doubles to go along with the homer in the World Series.

    That’s all come after he was 7 for 16 (.353) with two home runs and two doubles in the four-game sweep of the Yankees in the ALCS.

    “I just go out and enjoy it, have fun, play hard, play my game, and then just trust my preparation,” Peña said. “There’s a lot of preparation that’s gone into this.”

    He credited his Houston teammates for helping him keep his composure under pressure in close games this time of year.

    “They prepare for every single game. It rubs off on you. They have a sense of calmness because they have been here I guess four years out of the last six,” Peña said. “So you just gravitate towards them and just go out and compete and have fun.”

    The Astros thought they saw something special as Peña batted .253 with 22 home runs during the regular season while excelling on defense.

    This October — and November — the Astros and the baseball world have seen just how special.

    “I talked to him earlier in the year about being ready, especially in a clutch situation, and to remain aggressive. And he works at it. He works at his game,” Baker said.

    “Every once in a while these guys come along — not that often. But it just goes to show you, I mean, his future is very, very bright.”

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    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • AP source: Schumaker hired as manager of Miami Marlins

    AP source: Schumaker hired as manager of Miami Marlins

    MIAMI — Skip Schumaker was a candidate to take over as manager of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets in recent years, only to see those clubs pick someone else.

    The Miami Marlins didn’t let him get away.

    Schumaker has been hired by the Marlins to become the 16th manager in franchise history, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the Marlins had not announced the hiring.

    He comes to Miami from St. Louis, where he spent this season as the bench coach. Schumaker had been a first-base coach and associate manager for San Diego from 2018 through 2021, then joined the Cardinals’ staff.

    The 42-year-old Schumaker takes over in Miami for Don Mattingly, who managed the Marlins for seven seasons. Mattingly went 443-587 with Miami, winning the NL Manager of the Year award after leading the Marlins to the playoffs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

    Mattingly’s contract expired when this season ended, and he and the Marlins’ front office — owner Bruce Sherman and general manager Kim Ng — agreed it would be best for both sides not to enter into a new deal.

    That prompted a search by Miami, and Schumaker became the pick.

    Schumaker played in the majors for 11 seasons, mostly with the Cardinals, and now gets his first managerial opportunity with Miami — which shares a spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida, with St. Louis.

    Schumaker was a starter for the Cardinals team that won the 2011 World Series. The California native batted .278 in 1,149 games while primarily playing second base and the outfield. He retired in March 2016 while in camp with the Padres on a minor-league deal.

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    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Nationals-Mets game rained out, doubleheader Tuesday

    Nationals-Mets game rained out, doubleheader Tuesday

    NEW YORK — The scheduled game between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets was postponed by rain Monday night and will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader Tuesday at Citi Field.

    The first game is set to begin at 4:10 p.m., though the forecast Tuesday is similarly soggy.

    New York (98-61) began the day two games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East with three to play. The playoff-bound Mets have led the division for 175 days this season, but their chances of winning it all but disappeared last weekend when they were swept in three games at Atlanta.

    The only way the Mets take the NL East and bypass a best-of-three wild-card series this weekend is by sweeping three games from the last-place Nationals while Atlanta loses all three at Miami.

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  • AP source: Mets calling up top prospect Álvarez vs Braves

    AP source: Mets calling up top prospect Álvarez vs Braves

    NEW YORK — The first-place New York Mets are calling up top prospect Francisco Álvarez for their pivotal weekend series against the Atlanta Braves, according to a person familiar with the decision.

    The person confirmed the move to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the Mets had not yet announced the transaction.

    The 20-year-old Álvarez is rated the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball by MLB.com, which reported his promotion earlier. He batted .260 with 27 home runs, 78 RBIs and an .885 OPS combined at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season.

    New York leads the NL East by one game over the defending World Series champion Braves heading into their three-game series in Atlanta that begins Friday night. Both teams are headed to the playoffs and have six games remaining in the regular season.

    The division winner earns a first-round bye, while the second-place finisher will be the top NL wild card and host a best-of-three postseason series starting Oct. 7.

    Álvarez, a catcher and right-handed hitter, figures to be used as the Mets’ designated hitter against left-handed pitching — including Friday’s scheduled Braves starter, Max Fried.

    New York has received little production from right-handed hitters Darin Ruf and rookie Mark Vientos at DH since sending J.D. Davis to San Francisco at the Aug. 2 trade deadline.

    Left-handed hitter Daniel Vogelbach is New York’s regular DH against right-handers.

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