Nick Castellanos pounded the Braves with some clutch hits at Citizens Bank Park. Kyle Schwarber led one of the most dramatic comebacks of the MLB season. Aaron Nola all of a sudden looks like a dominant stopper.

97.5 The Fanatic even got to broadcast the series finale of one of the hottest MLB rivalries on Sunday Night Baseball.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a stranglehold on the National League East. They’re back in rhythm as one of the best teams in the major leagues looking to catch their footing before a World Series run in Red October.

Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

• Thursday 8/29: Win 6-5
• Friday 8/30: Loss 7-2
• Saturday 8/31: Win 3-0
• Sunday 9/1: Win 3-2

Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays

• Tuesday 9/3: Win 10-9
• Wednesday 9/4: Win 4-2

All stats as of the beginning of play on September 5

• Slump in the Rearview Mirror

  Remember when the critics crushed the Phillies as a pretender sitting atop the standings only because of a fast start against bad opponents?

  The Phillies have reeled off four straight outright series wins, the first three against teams currently in playoff position. Their 9-3 stretch and a marquee series win against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park has created a wide gap in the National League East.

  The New York Mets in 2007 and the Phillies in 1964 will always remind division leaders of doomsday scenarios, but Phillies fans in 2024 will now focus more on earning a bye as one of the top two NL teams and earning home field advantage in Red October.

  Colin Newby on X (formerly Twitter): "Rob Thomson talks about how much the Phillies value playoff seeding and home field advantage in Red October "We play better because of all the support from our fan base, so that's a huge goal." pic.twitter.com/zypZlYyRaR / X"

  Rob Thomson talks about how much the Phillies value playoff seeding and home field advantage in Red October "We play better because of all the support from our fan base, so that's a huge goal." pic.twitter.com/zypZlYyRaR

  Rob Thomson will lead his first-place club into Milwaukee for a three-game set against the NL Central leading Brewers from September 16-18.

  The Phillies swept Milwaukee earlier this season, and one win at American Family Field (it’s not Miller Park?) would secure the tiebreaker. They’ve already won the season series against the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers also.

  While the Red October crowd has factored into playoff dominance in early-round postseason series in 2022 and 2023, the Phillies have gone cold offensively at home and fallen short of their championship aspirations in two straight disappointing playoff exits. 

  “We’ve been hunting the title for a few years now. I think it’s important to the guys. I think it’s important to our fan base. I think it’s important for us because it gives us at least some sort of home field advantage.” –Rob Thomson on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic

• O, Schwarber-Da

  The series opener in Toronto didn’t start well. The Blue Jays hammered Tyler Phillips for a 6-1 lead and knocked the South Jersey native out after only ⅔ of an inning.

  Kyle Schwarber led off the game with a homer and never relented. His 13th home run in the leadoff spot in the first inning tied an all-time record set by Alfonso Soriano in 2003.

  The Phillies DH led a dramatic comeback with a 5-6 night including three home runs. His longball in the top of the ninth inning put the Phillies ahead and brought his total base count on the night to an outrageous 16.

  Colin Newby on X (formerly Twitter): "I didn't know a 3.022 OPS was possible.I also didn't realize Kyle Schwarber is toward the top of the majors in a lot of power hitting categories pic.twitter.com/LDnDFCkPsD / X"

  I didn't know a 3.022 OPS was possible.I also didn't realize Kyle Schwarber is toward the top of the majors in a lot of power hitting categories pic.twitter.com/LDnDFCkPsD

  Buster Olney explained on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball pregame show on 97.5 The Fanatic about how Schwarber seemed interested in an apparently wide-open race for the top seed in the National League.

  The undisputed clubhouse leader showed his motivation emphatically. He followed up the career night with a leadoff home run to set the tone for a sweep on Wednesday afternoon.

• A Pair of Aces

  If the Phillies bring the World Series trophy back to Philadelphia, their starting pitching will carry them through a Red October run. Two of the best in the majors have hit their stride during the team’s recent resurgence.

  Aaron Nola has pitched 25 innings in his past four starts (6.25 per start) with a sparkling 1.44 ERA. While his strikeout numbers have decreased in 2024, the homegrown star has managed an impressive 1.16 WHIP during the stretch that’s led to four straight Phillies victories.

  Philadelphia fans with unrelenting passion might reasonably scrutinize Nola’s shortcomings. However, an everyday sport like baseball lends to the tendency to think the grass is always greener in another ballpark.

  Nola is one of the best pitchers in the majors.

  Braves manager Brian Snitker left the dugout after a dominant performance from Zack Wheeler on Saturday night and immediately started talking about facing another Phillies star the following day.

  Colin Newby on X (formerly Twitter): "Aaron Nola takes his fair share of criticism locally (fairly and unfairly), but a rival manager was willing to group him with Phillies ace Zack WheelerIn an everyday sport like baseball, it's even more important to remember the outside perspective when scrutinizing the home team pic.twitter.com/osyREVV30Y / X"

  Aaron Nola takes his fair share of criticism locally (fairly and unfairly), but a rival manager was willing to group him with Phillies ace Zack WheelerIn an everyday sport like baseball, it's even more important to remember the outside perspective when scrutinizing the home team pic.twitter.com/osyREVV30Y

  Wheeler, meanwhile, has recovered from a brutal outing on July 29 against the New York Yankees. He pitched 39 innings in six August starts and held opponents to a .196 average while posting an outrageous 8.8 strikeout/walk ratio (MLB Average in 2024- 2.74).

  His unsatisfied attitude suggests that a dominant 1.62 ERA over the past month pales in comparison to his pursuit of the NL Cy Young Award and a World Series. 

  Cristopher Sanchez pitched seven solid innings in the series clincher in Toronto to bring Philadelphia’s record this season to 32-1 in games when a starting pitcher has made it through at least seven.

  Ranger Suarez has also returned from the IL looking to regain rhythm in the final month of the season.

  Look for the second-ranked MLB starting staff to become the focal point of a team with a “World Series or bust” mentality.

• Looking Ahead

  The Phillies will begin a four-game set in South Florida against the Miami Marlins this weekend. The Fish have flopped into last place in the NL East with a deficit of over 30 games.

  The Fightin’ Phils will boast a lineup card that outclasses the Marlins, but they failed to dominate their inferior division rival in a two-game split at Citizens Bank Park on August 13 and 14.

  While Rob Thomson can send three premium starters to the mound to begin the series, he’s yet to announce a starter for Sunday.

  Tyler Phillips is unlikely to pitch in the majors after a rough outing in Toronto on Tuesday. Taijuan Walker hasn’t pitched well enough to start for a World Series contender. The Phillies skipper might opt for a bullpen game.

  • Thursday 9/5 at 6:40pm: Ranger Suarez (11-6, 3.02 ERA) vs. Adam Oller (1-1, 3.31 ERA)
  • Friday 9/6 at 7:10pm: Zack Wheeler (13-6, 2.63 ERA) vs. Edward Cabrera (3-6, 5.33 ERA)
  • Saturday 9/7 at 4:10pm: Aaron Nola (12-6, 3.29 ERA) vs. Darren McCaughan (0-0, 8.24 ERA)
  • Sunday 9/8 at 1:40pm: TBD vs. Max Meyer (3-5, 5.68 ERA)

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