Home / Sports / Phillies Playoff Push: Wheeler's Start Dilemma
Phillies Playoff Push: Wheeler's Start Dilemma
26 Sep
Summary
- Phillies hold a two-game lead for a Wild Card spot.
- Zack Wheeler might have to start Sunday to clinch.
- This start would impact his Wild Card round availability.
The Philadelphia Phillies are navigating a tense playoff race, with their Magic Number for clinching a Wild Card spot remaining at two. They currently hold a two-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who possess the tiebreaker. This means the Phillies must finish at least one game ahead of Arizona to secure their postseason berth.
An immediate concern is the potential impact on pitcher Zack Wheeler. If Philadelphia requires him to start their final regular-season game on Sunday to clinch, it would significantly affect his readiness for the Wild Card round, scheduled to commence on September 29. This scenario could force the team to rely on a less experienced rotation for early playoff games.
To mitigate this, the Phillies might consider utilizing veteran pitchers to manage innings during their upcoming series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is also hoping for favorable outcomes in games involving the San Diego Padres, who are directly competing in the Wild Card standings. Ideally, Philadelphia aims to secure their playoff spot by Saturday, allowing them to rest Wheeler and prepare him for a potential start in the Wild Card series.
