The Phillies left Citizens Bank Park quietly after a 4-1 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday, but the clubhouse still has a postseason edge to it. Philadelphia can lock up a National League Wild Card berth on Thursday, which would make it five straight trips to October. The final four games are no longer just a countdown; they are a chance to settle a rotation, test bullpen options and get a few important players pointed in the right direction.
A clinching celebration remains within reach
Philadelphia had discussed what a Wednesday-night celebration might look like if it handled the Brewers. A Phillies victory, coupled with a loss by either Arizona at Colorado or San Diego in Los Angeles, would have secured the Wild Card spot. The loss to Milwaukee ended that particular scenario, so the club departed as it would after any other regular-season defeat.
Interim manager Don Mattingly made clear that earning a postseason berth deserves more than a shrug, even after a 162-game grind.
“You play through a long season, and there is no promise that you will get there,” Mattingly said. “If we are lucky enough to get in, we ought to celebrate it. You cannot battle for more than 160 games, put yourself in position, then act like it means nothing.”
- The Phillies can still secure their Wild Card place on Thursday.
- A fifth consecutive postseason appearance is at stake.
- The remaining regular-season games also carry roster and pitching-staff consequences for the Wild Card Series.
Luzardo’s shoulder and a reshaped October rotation
Jesús Luzardo continued to make encouraging progress from inflammation in his left shoulder, playing catch for a fourth straight day Wednesday. He has not appeared in a game since Sept. 7, when he fired a two-hit shutout shortly after being named the National League Pitcher of the Month for August.
The next checkpoint could come quickly. Luzardo might get on a mound as soon as Thursday, and a simulated game remains possible before the weekend is over. Philadelphia has not closed the door on using him in either a starting role or out of the bullpen during next week’s NL Wild Card Series. Even a short outing from the left-hander would offer the club another meaningful option.
The Phillies have also adjusted their planned starts with October in mind.
- Andrew Painter is set to start Thursday night against Milwaukee.
- The club shifted the bullpen game that occupied Luzardo’s spot from Thursday to Saturday against Tampa Bay, allowing Painter to remain on his usual rest.
- Cristopher Sánchez was moved from Saturday to Friday, positioning him for a potential Game 2 assignment in the Wild Card Series.
- Zack Wheeler is expected to take the ball for Game 1.
Painter could get a bullpen rehearsal
Mattingly would welcome an opportunity to use Painter as a reliever before the postseason begins. Painter could make such an appearance this weekend, giving him a look at entering from the bullpen and working from the stretch. Ideally, the Phillies would hand him a clean inning, but the experience itself could matter if October requires a different role.
Since returning to the rotation on July 31, Painter’s performance has changed sharply depending on whether the bases are clear.
| Situation | WHIP | Opponent line | Opponent OPS | Strikeout rate | Walk rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No runners on base | 1.00 | .155/.259/.248 | .507 | 24.5% | 10.9% |
| Runners on base | 1.37 | .303/.333/.487 | .820 | 22.0% | 4.9% |
Those splits help explain why a low-pressure bullpen look could be useful. Painter has been far tougher when working from the windup than when an inning asks him to operate with traffic already aboard.
Late-inning help and Turner’s on-base need
The bullpen has had a rough stretch lately, but rookie right-hander McFarlane has offered a steadier hand. He entered Wednesday with a 4-1 record and a 2.12 ERA across 17 outings, then followed his 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Tuesday’s win over Milwaukee with another chance to build trust before the games turn urgent.
Bowlan could also become a crucial addition. Before straining his right groin last Thursday in New York, he had emerged as Mattingly’s most dependable late-inning right-handed reliever outside closer Jhoan Duran. Bowlan threw from a mound Wednesday and could return before the weekend. If that timing does not work, the hope is that he will be ready for the postseason.
Philadelphia’s earlier Wild Card Series have not required much bullpen depth: the club used six pitchers in the 2022 series and seven in 2023. Each of those matchups ended in two games. A three-game series next week would demand more usable arms, making McFarlane’s finish and Bowlan’s health especially important.
Shortstop Trea Turner is another player the Phillies need to get rolling. He begins Thursday hitting .238 with a .703 OPS in September, his third-best OPS month of the season behind April (.755) and July (.897). Over his past 10 games, he has hit .270, though with a .697 OPS.
Mattingly’s message is simple: opponents are increasingly trying to keep Turner from getting a pitch to drive, so his patience can change the shape of the lineup.
“More and more, you can see the way teams are handling him,” Mattingly said. “They are largely avoiding the strike zone. The more walks he takes, the more they have to come into the zone. And when he reaches base, his speed creates problems. We need him on base. We are a better club when he is.”
