The Philadelphia Phillies are three games above .500 with a record of 56-53. They are just a half game behind the National League East leading Mets. Tonight, they will come home to Citizens Bank Park to play a very important series against New York. Both teams are entering tonight on different trajectories.

The Phillies have won five straight games and just swept the Washington Nationals in a series where they scored five runs in the ninth inning Monday to win and four runs in the ninth inning in last night’s 7-6 win.

The Mets are still without Jacob deGrom and Francisco Lindor. Michael Conforto and Brian McCann are absolute trash this year and Javy Baez just went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts against the Marlins yesterday. The Mets just lost 3-of-4 to the Marlins and six out of their last eight games.

Come Sunday night, the Phillies have an opportunity to be 2.5 games ahead of the Mets and in first place in the National League East. In a nightmare situation, they would fall to 3.5 games behind the Mets, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

• JT Realmuto is slashing .414/.452/.665 with 12 hits, one home run, and 11 RBI over his last seven games.
• Rhys Hoskins is slashing .327/.450/.714 with 16 hits, four home runs, and 13 RBI over his last 15 games.
• Bryce Harper is slashing .356/.459/.654 with 37 hits, five home runs, and 19 RBI over his last 30 games.

The Phillies finally have the heart of their lineup getting hot at the same time. During their five game winning streak, JT Realmuto, Bryce Harper, and Rhys Hoskins have gone for a combined 24-for-52, with 10 doubles, and four home runs.

Newly acquired Kyle Gibson will be on the mound tonight. Gibson, who joined the Phillies at the trade deadline, pitched great in his first start with the Phillies, throwing 6.2 innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out five. He will be facing Marcus Stroman, who is 1-5 over his last seven starts.

Rhys Hoskins said it best after his game winning hit last night against the Nationals:

“I haven’t had much of it in my time here, but we’re ready for it. I’m excited to see what The Bank is like during a meaningful series against the Mets in August.”

With 53 games left in the 2021 season and the easiest schedule in Major League Baseball, the Phillies are poised to make the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

It all starts tonight with a huge series at home against the New York Mets.

RING IT.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY