The Philadelphia Phillies fell 6-3 to the Washington Nationals on Saturday. With this loss, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured the top seed in the National League and the best record in Major League Baseball, guaranteeing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Phillies currently hold the second-best record in MLB at 94-67, with one regular-season game remaining. However, the team has struggled in recent weeks, going 4-8 in their last 12 games, including Saturday’s loss to the 71-90 Nationals.
“We haven’t played our best in the past week or so, but once the postseason starts, all of that is behind us and it’s about competing in the moment. I think we’re ready,” Phillies All-Star shortstop Trea Turner told ESPN.
Turner contributed to Philadelphia’s effort on Saturday by hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning off Nationals reliever Jose Ferrer, tying the game at two. It was Turner’s 21st home run of the season, and his two RBIs brought his total to 62 for the year.
Trea Turner knows the Phillies aren’t playing their best baseball
The Phillies couldn’t hold on to a strong outing from veteran ace Zack Wheeler, who pitched 6.1 innings, allowing only two runs on three hits while striking out 11 and walking two. Reliever Jeff Hoffman, who had been reliable throughout 2024, gave up four runs on four hits in just one inning. Philadelphia tried to rally in the ninth when Nick Castellanos tripled and Alec Bohm drove him in on a ground out, but they ultimately fell short, losing 6-3.
Earlier this week, Philadelphia clinched the NL East, securing their first division title since 2011. While they aimed for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they couldn’t surpass the Dodgers, but did earn a first-round bye. The break might help the Phillies regain form as they enter the postseason for the third consecutive year. In 2022, they won the NL Pennant but lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
The Dodgers, making their 12th consecutive playoff appearance, have reached the World Series three times during this stretch, winning once in the shortened 2020 season. Los Angeles has been dominant since the All-Star break, posting a 40-23 record, the second-best in MLB. Meanwhile, the Phillies have struggled since the break, going 32-33, placing them 17th in the league over that span.
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