Sep 29, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) walks back to the dugout after a visit to the mound against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Welcome to Red October... sort of.
The Phillies wrapped up the regular season with a 6-3 win over the Washington Nationals Sunday, finishing with a record of 95-67, the sixth-most wins in a season in franchise history.
There were some notable moments in the game, and we'll get to them in a bit, but the thing that's most interesting as we head into the postseason is, nobody in the National League knows who they are playing yet.
That's because the most chaotic situation that could have possibly occurred on the final day of the regular season, happened.
The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Diego Padres 11-2. The New York Mets defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0. And the Atlanta Braves lost to the Kansas City Royals 4-2.
That means the last two wild card spots are still up for grabs. The Braves and Mets have to make up not one, but two games that were washed out last week because of Hurricane Helene. They will be part of a doubleheader in Atlanta on Monday, beginning at 1PM.
Here are the scenarios.
It's especially chaotic for the Mets who played in Milwaukee Sunday (central time zone), flew to Atlanta Sunday night and could have to fly again as long as they win at least one game Monday night either back to Milwaukee or all the way across the country because both Wild Card Series' start on Tuesday.
Add in the fact that both teams will have to use a bunch of pitchers Monday and suddenly, that impacts them going forward into the playoffs.
So, as of Sunday night, the Phillies can still play any one of three possible teams in the NLDS. The only two playoff teams they know they won't play in that round are the Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They can't play the Braves in the first round because the Braves can only finish NO. 5 or miss the playoffs altogether.
It's crazy.
But the Phillies will take it. They are going to take the day off Monday, have a full-team workout on Tuesday, play an intrasquad game Wednesday, have an optional workout Thursday and a workout Friday before they host one of those four teams in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday.
It will do well to get a number of guys some rest and time to heal up after the 162-game grind.
Got 'em 💪@SEIInvestments x #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/OQtwkCTATf
Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto sat on Sunday. Nick Castellanos got one plate appearance to guarantee he started all 162 games, and then was lifted. Trea Turner was also pulled early. The Phillies tried to get Aaron Nola to 200 innings and 200 strikeouts, but he came up just short in both finishing with 199 1/3 innings pitched and 197 strikeouts. He started to leak oil in the fifth inning, after taking a line drive off his lower back/rib cage area and Thomson pulled his after he allowed three runs to ensure it didn't get worse.
Thomson tried to get Turner to have a 20/20 season, but he ended up coming one steal short as he was caught stealing in the seventh inning. Thomson challenged the call at second, but it stood. He played both Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm the entire game to try to get them to individual milestones as well, however Schwarber finished two homers shy of reaching 40 and Bohm three RBI short of 100.
Jose Ruiz earned his first save of the season, which was a nice bonus for a guy who flew under the radar as a useful bullpen arm, but he almost blew the opportunity were it not for a great catch by Kody Clemens to end the game and the season.
KODY CLEMENS ARE YOU JOKING pic.twitter.com/S8Cuhm4TLa
One other note, Weston Wilson replaced Castellanos and had an RBI double. He also played some centerfield on Saturday. It's likely that he will be on the playoff roster as a bench bat along with Clemens, Garrett Stubbs, Edmundo Sosa and whichever one of Brandon Marsh, Austin Hays and Johan Rojas is not in the lineup.
Bring 'em home, Weston!! pic.twitter.com/JMAcX2rZU6
It was a heck of a season for the Phillies, but the entire season was all about getting to where they are now and getting there healthy. And it looks like that's exactly what they'll be as Red October commences. Now, they have to deliver, and it'll start against.... somebody. We'll narrow the list to two teams by dinner time on Monday.
