The Phillies must answer these 4 questions down the stretch if they want to find postseason success

The calendar is about to flip to September baseball. There’s one month left in the regular season, and even after getting swept by the Mets, the Phillies still hold a four-game cushion in the NL East.

The focus now is obviously to lock down a second straight division title, chase a first-round bye, and figure out exactly what this team looks like heading into October.

Unfortunately, it’s never that easy for the Phillies. We spend a week thinking they have finally arrived in their truest form, to now questioning whether or not they will win the NL East, with social media blowing up calling for Rob Thomson’s head.

Here at The Liberty Line, we would rather dumb things down to four simple questions down the stretch. From there, everything will sort itself out… hopefully.

1. Who’s Getting the Outfield Starts?

Rob Thomson has gone full rotation mode. Since the Harrison Bader trade, it hasn’t been lefty-righty platoons anymore, it’s been mixing and matching across all three spots.

• Bader is getting steady reps in center.
• Brandon Marsh, Weston Wilson, and Max Kepler are rotating through left.
• Kepler has even taken some of Nick Castellanos’ innings in right.

Thomson recently admitted the club’s best defensive outfield is Marsh-Bader-Kepler, which means Castellanos’ leash is shorter than ever. Come October, even if he starts, don’t be shocked if he’s swapped out late for defense.

Phillies’ outfield rotation is still searching for answers

2. How Does the Phillies’ Postseason Rotation Shake Out?

No Zack Wheeler means no true ace, but the Phillies still like their rotation. The issue? Three of their best options are lefties.

• Cristopher Sánchez looks lined up for Game 1.
• Ranger Suárez is finding his groove again.
• Jesús Luzardo has flashed dominant stuff.

That’s three lefties before you even get to Taijuan Walker. Which is why Aaron Nola’s September matters more than anything.

Phillies’ postseason rotation plans are much clearer after Zack Wheeler news

If Nola is decent, it breaks up the southpaws and gives Philly a right-hander to slot into a postseason rotation. If not, it gets messy quick.

With a bye, the Phils would only need three starters for the NLDS, which could push Luzardo and Walker into bullpen weapons. But again, that hinges on Nola not imploding.

3. Can They Actually Land a First-Round Bye?

Ah… probably not. Right now, the Phils are 76-57, trailing the Dodgers (77-57) by a half-game and sitting just ahead of the Padres (75-59). The Brewers basically have the NL’s first bye locked.

FanGraphs gives Philly just a 23% chance at the second bye, compared to the Dodgers at nearly 64% because of the schedules.

• Dodgers: Only two series left against winning teams (one vs Phillies).
• Padres: 10 of their last 28 are against the Rockies and White Sox.
• Phillies: Still staring down the Brewers, Mets, Dodgers, and Royals.

It’s not impossible, but the math says the bye is a longshot.

4. Will We See Andrew Painter?

I really don’t see why not at this point. It’s on the table. Rosters expand from 26 to 28 this Monday, and Painter’s trending in the right direction. He’s been sharper in his last two Triple-A starts (2.70 ERA over 10 innings) after a rocky stretch.

A September call-up would give the Phillies a look at their top pitching prospect while also allowing them to run a six-man rotation for a turn or two, saving bullets for October. Whether he factors into the playoffs is another question entirely, but his debut is starting to feel inevitable.

Here are the 5 names the Phillies should consider for September call-ups

The Phillies are still in control of the division, but this final month is going to shape what October looks like.

Who gets the outfield reps? Can Nola stabilize the rotation? Do they have enough juice to steal a first-round bye? And does Andrew Painter get his long-awaited shot?

The answers are coming fast. And with the Mets lurking, the Dodgers looming, and the postseason on deck, there’s no room for half-steps.

Join The Chase