The Phillies are in a strong position to reach the playoffs, currently leading in the National League’s Wild Card spot with a 72-48 record as of August 27.
This Philadelphia-based American baseball team is part of Major League Baseball’s National League East division. They are the reigning National League champions and were second in the 2022 Fall Classic.
Originally formed in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers, they have a history of success, with eleven division titles, eight pennants, and two World Series championships from fifteen playoff appearances.
Their World Series victories were in 1980 against the Kansas City Royals and in 2008 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Phillies’ home games take place at the Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. This stadium, which replaced the Veterans Stadium in 2004, accommodates 42,901 spectators.
Can the Phillies Qualify The Playoffs 2023?
The Philadelphia Phillies are currently well-placed to enter the 2023 MLB playoffs, leading the Wild Card standings in the National League.
Last season, they were the NL pennant holders and secured the last Wild Card spot, finishing third in the NL East division.
Unfortunately, the Phillies had a rough beginning this season, similar to the last. On March 31, they suffered an 11-7 defeat to the Texas Rangers despite having a 5-0 lead initially.
The Phillies were then completely swept by the Rangers, who dominated the second game with a 16-3 victory and narrowly won the third game 2-1.
Although they managed to win their first game against the Yankees during the fifth match of the season, they failed to win the series.
However, the team bounced back in late April, securing victories in eleven out of the final sixteen matches, ending April with a 15-13 win-loss record.
May proved to be a challenging month for the team, with a series of losses and victories, resulting in a 10-16 record by month-end. The team regained momentum in June, winning eighteen out of twenty-six matches.
Since July, the team have maintained their winning streak with a 29-20 record, positioning them three and a half games ahead of the second wild-card spot.
Currently, they are one of the top teams in baseball, with only the NL division leaders having better playoff odds.
Although the team’s offense has struggled throughout the season, it is improving at a crucial time. Defensively, the Phillies boast one of the strongest bullpens in MLB, ranking first in WAR and second in ERA.
Overall, the Phillies’ performance this season, despite some setbacks, puts them in a favorable position to advance to the postseason.
How Do MLB Playoffs Work?
In Major League Baseball, six teams from each league make it to the playoffs. This includes the champions of the East, West, and Central divisions.
The other three spots are filled by the teams with the best records that didn’t win their division. These six teams are then ranked from one to six based on their performance in the regular season.
The top two teams get a pass straight to the Division Series, while the third ranked team plays against the sixth, and the fourth plays the fifth in the Wild Card Series, which is a best-of-three series.
The winner of the third and sixth seed match will then compete against the second seed in the Division series, and the winner of the fourth and fifth seed match will face the top seed.
The higher-seeded team gets to host the Wild Card series. The Division Series consists of four teams from a league and is a best-of-five series.
The teams that win the Division Series move on to the League Championship Series, which is a best-of-seven series. The first team to win four games progresses to the World Series.
The World Series, also known as the Fall Classic, is a best-of-seven series played between the winners of the National and American League championships.
When Was The Last Time The Philadelphia Phillies Made The Playoffs?
The Phillies reached the playoffs in 2022, ending the season with an 87-75 record and securing the third Wild Card position.
They struggled at the beginning of 2022, with a 21-29 record by May’s end, ranking them 11th in the National League. Yet, they recovered, winning 52 out of 81 matches between June and August, improving their record to 73-58.
Despite a late-season slump, winning only 14 of the final 30 games, they made the playoffs as the sixth and final team, finishing just ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.
In the Wild Card round, they beat the St. Louis Cardinals in two games and moved on to the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Atlanta Braves. After splitting the first two games, they won the next two, clinching the series.
In the National League Championship Series (NLCS), they played the San Diego Padres. After splitting the first two games, the Phillies won all three home games, winning the series 4-1 and earning a spot in the World Series for the first time since 2009.
In the World Series, they faced the Houston Astros, aiming for their third championship. After splitting the first two games and winning the first home game, the Phillies led the series 2-1. Unfortunately, the Astros won the next three games, winning the World Series in six games.
When was the last time the Phillies missed the playoffs?
The Philadelphia Phillies did not make it to the playoffs in 2021, despite finishing second in their division with a record of 82-80. This was the 139th season of the Philadelphia franchise and the 18th since relocating to Citizens Bank Park. Their hopes for the postseason ended on September 30 after a defeat to the Atlanta Braves.
This marked the tenth consecutive year that the Phillies did not make it to the playoffs, although it was the first time in ten years that they ended with more wins than losses.
Before 2021, only two teams could qualify for the Wild Card spot, leading to an elimination game against the first seed in the Division Series.
In the Wild Card standings, the Phillies came in fourth, trailing the second-place St. Louis Cardinals by eight games and the division-leading Atlanta Braves by six and a half games.
Winning the division would have secured a playoff spot for the Phillies. However, they were eliminated after a 3-0 sweep by the Braves in the penultimate series of the season.
A sweep of the Braves could have kept their hopes alive for finishing as Division leaders and making it to the postseason.
What Is The Phillies Magic Number?
As of August 26, 2023, the Phillies’ magic number is 28/37, suggesting they are more likely to reach the playoffs than be eliminated.
The magic number is a critical value in sports, representing the combination of wins a team needs and losses by its closest rivals to secure a playoff spot.
It decreases by one with each win by the team or loss by its nearest competitors.
Originating from the 1947 American League pennant race between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the term “magic number” reflects the Phillies’ high probability of playoff qualification.
To ensure a postseason spot, the Phillies must win 28 out of the remaining 32 games. However, this number can vary based on the losses of other teams.
Additionally, the number 37 signifies the Phillies’ elimination magic number. Meaning, 37 wins or losses by teams close to the Philadelphia Phillies will remove them from the playoff race.