For the second straight year, the Philadelphia Phillies have claimed the NL East title. After securing a playoff spot on Sunday, they clinched the division with a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers (PHI 5, LAD 4) on Monday.
This marks the first occurrence of back-to-back NL East championships for the Phillies since winning five consecutive titles from 2007-2011.
As of August 27, the Phillies led the division by four games, which was effectively three games due to the New York Mets winning the season series and holding the tiebreaker over them. Since then, the Phillies have the best record in the NL at 13-4, compared to the Mets’ 5-12.
Their clinching victory on Monday came in 10 innings, highlighted by a sac fly from J.T. Realmuto that proved pivotal in a closely contested match at Dodger Stadium. Bryce Harper added to the performance by homering to put the Phillies ahead in the eighth, although the Dodgers equalized with a home run from Andy Pages in the ninth inning.
Highlight from the game
BRYCE IN HIS VEINS
Source
Now, the Phillies are looking to extend their lead to secure a No. 2 seed in the NL, giving them a bye for the Wild Card Series. This is crucial as Trea Turner and Alec Bohm are nursing injuries. A bye could provide them with additional recovery time before the NLDS.
Regardless of whether they get the bye, the team will miss their ace Zack Wheeler, who is scheduled for season-ending surgery.
Despite these hurdles, the Phillies are strong contenders for the World Series title, as DraftKings lists them at +425 odds. Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and a robust rotation put them in a favorable position.
They could clinch a bye within the week, after which they may rest key players ahead of the playoffs. This group lost in various stages of the playoffs in the last three years and aims to break the cycle in 2025.
The Phillies become the second team to secure a postseason position this year, following the Milwaukee Brewers. Several other teams, including the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers could secure their playoff spots soon.
