Red October: Where the Phillies stand with 10 games left in the regular season

UPDATED: Phillies close gap on Brewers in the race for NL’s top seed with 8 games remaining

Back-to-back division champs. The Philadelphia Phillies did it again, clinching the NL East with a 6-5 extra-inning win over the Dodgers on Monday night. It’s their second straight division crown, their fourth straight playoff berth, and the kind of late-season surge that makes you believe this team has a real shot to finally finish the job in October.

The Phillies’ September Surge

On August 27, just two and a half weeks ago, the Phillies were swept in Queens. Their NL East lead had shrunk from seven games to four, Zack Wheeler’s season-ending diagnosis was looming, and both Trea Turner and Alec Bohm were days away from hitting the Injured List.

Since then, the Phillies have flipped the entire division on its head. They’ve gone 15-4, including a six-game win streak and a four-game sweep of the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Meanwhile, New York face-planted, going 6-12 over the same span, coughing away any chance of making things interesting.

The Phillies are champs. The Mets are clinging to life in the Wild Card race, now staring down the Giants, Reds, Diamondbacks, and Cardinals, all within four games of knocking them out.

Whatever It Takes >>

Phillies Can’t Take Their Foot Off the Gas

Philadelphia overcame inconsistent pitching, nightly bullpen headaches, and an outfield that took months to find its stride. The Phillies have the NL’s second-best record, holding a 6.5-game cushion over the Dodgers after last night’s win.

Rafael Marchan clutches up in the ninth, 3-run blast lifts Phillies over Dodgers

The next magic number is four. That will eliminate L.A. from catching them for the No. 2 seed and lock in a first-round bye. That alone is massive, sparing Philly from the chaos of a best-of-three Wild Card series.

The schedule doesn’t ease up either. One more in L.A., then three in Arizona. Win another series in Arizona and the Phillies could be celebrating not just a division title, but the right to sit back and rest while the Wild Card teams beat each other up.

The Race for the No. 1 Seed

Entering Wednesday, the Phillies find themselves 1.5 games behind Milwaukee for the top seed in the National League. That race is just as important. Locking down home-field throughout the postseason could be the difference between another October heartbreak and a parade down Broad Street.

Here’s the breakdown of the remaining schedules for the three contenders:

Phillies

• at Dodgers (1)
• at Diamondbacks (3)
• vs. Marlins (3)
• vs. Twins (3)

Dodgers

• vs. Phillies (1)
• vs. Giants (4)
• at Diamondbacks (3)
• at Mariners (3)

Brewers

• vs. Angels (2)
• at Cardinals (3)
• at Padres (3)
• vs. Reds (3)

On paper, the Dodgers got stuck with the gauntlet, while the Phillies and Brewers both face a mix of contenders and bottom-feeders. The top seed is up for grabs, and for the Phillies, it could mean everything.

Why Home Field Matters

Look at these numbers. At Citizens Bank Park this season, the Phillies have been elite.

• Batting average: .280 (1st in MLB)
• Runs scored: 410 (2nd)
• OPS: .822 (1st)
• Home runs: 110 (3rd)
• Strikeouts: 735 (2nd)
• WHIP: 1.190 (6th)

They own the best home win percentage in baseball (.680). Citizens Bank has been a fortress. Compare that to recent Octobers: in 2022, the Phils were a Wild Card team who didn’t have home field in the World Series.

In 2023 and 2024, they had home-field advantage in key series and blew it. This year, they’ve built one of the most dominant home resumes in the sport. Give them October in Philly, and good luck.

The Phillies are playing their best baseball of the year at exactly the right time. Turner and Bohm are expected back. The rotation has held strong despite Wheeler’s loss. The bullpen is shaky but battle-tested and the offense is relentless.

This team has been through the fire for three straight Octobers. This year feels different. They’re setting the tone instead of sneaking in. Now it’s about finishing strong, locking down the bye, chasing the No. 1 seed, and making Citizens Bank Park the most feared building in baseball this October.

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