The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched their first NL East division title since 2011, with a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Despite losing a series to the New York Mets over the weekend, the division win felt inevitable. Aaron Nola, who earned the win, boasts a 1.62 ERA and a 6.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio in seven potential clinching games since 2022. This season, Nola holds a 13-8 record with a 3.52 ERA. The Phillies’ scoring started with a home run by J.T. Realmuto in the second inning, followed by RBIs from Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos. Fittingly, Nola, the team’s longest-tenured player, was on the mound for the clinching game.
This marks the Phillies’ third consecutive postseason appearance, and under manager Rob Thomson, they’ve achieved back-to-back 90-win seasons, a feat last seen between 2008 and 2011. This is the 14th division title in franchise history, with six NL East titles in the Wild Card era. Prior to 2024, their last division title came in 2011, capping off five consecutive titles.
Now, with their magic number at two, the Phillies are close to securing a first-round bye in the NLDS. While they don’t control their own destiny for the top seed in the NL, securing a bye is crucial, as the unpredictable Wild Card Series can be a challenge. Ideally, locking in the top overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs at Citizens Bank Park would be a game-changer for the Phillies.
Leave a Reply