As the regular season winds down, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a prime position to secure the top spot in the NL East and potentially clinch the No. 1 seed in the entire league. With just five series left to play, the Phillies are back on top after a recent sweep of the Rays at home.
The NL East Race
The Phillies currently hold a magic number of nine to win the NL East, with 16 games remaining. Their schedule sets up favorably, with seven games against the second-place Mets. By winning five of these games, the Phillies could potentially eliminate the Mets from the division race. The Braves are also lurking, nine games behind Philly, but would need a near-perfect finish to close the gap.
The Quest for the No. 1 Seed
Securing the No. 1 seed in the NL would grant the Phillies home-field advantage throughout the postseason. As of September 5, the Phillies hold a slim lead over the Dodgers for the top spot. With their strong home record this season, the Phillies are well-positioned to make a deep playoff run.
| Team | Record | GB |
| Phillies | 88-58 | — |
| Dodgers | 87-59 | 1 |
| Yankees | 85-62 | 3.5 |
| Brewers | 84-62 | 4 |
| Guardians | 84-63 | 4.5 |
The Importance of a First-Round Bye
If the Phillies hold onto the top seed, they will enjoy a first-round bye in the NLDS. Despite some debate over the benefits of the bye, the Phillies could use the rest considering their current injuries and the grueling nature of a long MLB season.
The road ahead won’t be easy, with a challenging schedule that includes matchups against playoff contenders. However, with the NL East title within reach, the Phillies have a clear goal in sight. Stay tuned to see how they navigate the rest of the season and position themselves for a deep postseason run!
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