The Philadelphia Phillies are certainly thanking their lucky stars. They clinched their third straight postseason spot Friday night by defeating the New York Mets behind a strong win. This thrilling feat is only the third time in team history they have made the postseason for three straight years. They had streaks both from 1976 through 1978 and from 2007 to 2011. How did they end up here and what does this mean for the team moving forward?
A Rocky Start After the All-Star Break
Despite sporting the best record in Major League Baseball at this point, it hasn’t been a cakewalk to the playoffs. Just a month ago, the Phillies were bottoming out, sporting a 9-17 mark after the All-Star Break. They went into the break sporting a shiny 62-34 mark but things became pretty rocky in the second half. The Atlanta Braves trimmed that lead back down to five games by the end of August.
One area where the Phillies struggled was on the pitching side, which seemed to hit a rough patch during this time. Their overall ERA swelled to 4.73. They could not hold a comparison with their first half performance, which featured a very impressive 3.41 ERA. It was at this point that the team needed a quick turnaround if they were going to maintain any hope of making a deep playoff run.
A Balanced Attack
Since August 18, though, the Phillies are winning again. The team is 19-11 over the last 30 games, proving that it can bounce back when it counts. That crucial spurt of victories has helped seal the playoff spot and energized the team and its fans.
The Phillies have overcome this year with a team effort. Their offense has been outstanding, ranking fourth in team OPS (.751). They have also gotten outstanding contributions from the starting rotation, which ranks fifth in ERA (3.73). They have not gotten the same production from the bullpen, ranking 14th in ERA (3.87). More of an effort has to be exerted if the team is to advance in the playoffs.
Takeaways From Last Year
In the postseason last year, the bullpen has been very bad. When Closer Craig Kimbrel struggled against the Arizona Diamondbacks, it taught the team invaluable lessons about producing in high-pressure situations. This is something the team hopes to build upon this year.
At home, the Phillies were incredible once more. Inside Citizens Bank Park, the team was 52-26. The home-field advantage is something crucial with this team, especially when thinking about the lengthy postseason run they hope to embark on. The team plays its best at home, and the electric atmosphere within the stadium can pay off.
The Philadelphia Phillies are ready to make a serious run in October. With tools such as strong offense, steadily improving pitching, and the added advantage of playing at home, they will be a formidable threat. Fans are hopeful and excited to see how far this team can go. After all that work and determination, here is the Phillies chance to go on a chase for its championship dreams.
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