Philadelphia Phillies/ NL East title/ MLB playoffs/ Bryce Harper/ Alec Bohm/ Mets/ World Series/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their third consecutive playoff berth after a 12-2 win over the New York Mets on Friday night. While celebrations were subdued, the team has its sights set on bigger goals—securing the NL East title and another World Series run. Philadelphia can clinch the division with one more victory this weekend.
Phillies Clinch Playoff Spot, Eye NL East Title Quick Looks:
- Philadelphia Phillies clinched their third straight playoff appearance with a 12-2 win over the Mets.
- The team celebrated with a modest champagne toast, saving bigger celebrations for the NL East title.
- Phillies can secure their first division crown since 2011 with one more win against the Mets.
- Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, and others have powered the Phillies toward a potential third World Series title.
- Phillies currently hold the best record in the National League, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Deep Look:
The Philadelphia Phillies secured their third consecutive playoff berth on Friday night with a dominant 12-2 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field. Despite the significant achievement, the team opted for a subdued celebration, acknowledging the milestone with a tempered champagne toast in the clubhouse rather than the usual raucous festivities.
Manager Rob Thomson gathered his team for a brief moment of recognition, thanking the players for their effort throughout the season. However, the Phillies, well aware of the challenges ahead, chose to reserve the full-blown celebration for when they lock up the National League East title—an accomplishment they haven’t achieved since 2011.
“Pretty calm and relaxed from what it usually turns into,” said All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm with a smile. The team’s tempered reaction reflected their focus on the bigger picture: winning a World Series.
Playoff Spot Secured, Division Title in Sight
With Friday’s win, the Phillies assured themselves at least a National League wild-card spot, but they have their eyes set on clinching the NL East. They can secure the division title with one more win this weekend against the second-place Mets. Bryce Harper, who has been a key figure in the Phillies’ resurgence, expressed confidence in the team’s trajectory.
“It’s hard to go wire-to-wire, and I think our team’s done a great job this whole season,” Harper said. “We’ve got bigger goals, but this is a great moment.”
The Phillies have been in control of the NL East since May 3, when they overtook Atlanta for the division lead, and have remained on top ever since. Philadelphia currently holds a 92-62 record, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best in the majors, positioning the team for a potential first-round bye in the playoffs.
Star Power Drives the Phillies
A potent combination of offensive and pitching talent has propelled the Phillies to another postseason run. Harper, Alec Bohm, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos have powered an offense that ranks among the best in the league. On the pitching side, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, and Cristopher Sánchez have anchored a rotation that remains largely unchanged from last year.
Bohm, who homered and finished Friday’s game with four hits and four RBIs, acknowledged that while the team is proud of their playoff berth, they know there’s more work to do. “It’s good that we’ve stayed healthy and done all the things we need to do to get to this point. Now it’s just a matter of, keep going,” he said.
Lessons from Past Heartbreaks
The Phillies have been here before, only to fall short in heartbreaking fashion. They were wild-card entrants in each of the past two postseasons, making deep runs that ended in disappointment. In 2022, they reached the World Series but lost to the Houston Astros in six games. Last season, they dropped a seven-game National League Championship Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks after leading the series 2-0 and 3-2.
These experiences have left the Phillies determined to finish the job this time around. With their roster largely intact from previous years, the team is confident in their ability to capture their third World Series championship. Philadelphia’s only titles came in 1980 and 2008, and the team is eager to add another.
“We’re still hungry,” Bohm said. “Not everybody gets the chance to play for the World Series every year, so as much as people in this room feel like this is where we should be, it’s still an accomplishment.”
Looking Ahead
Philadelphia’s focus now shifts to clinching the NL East title, which they can secure with one more win against the Mets this weekend. The team expects to celebrate that milestone with more intensity, with Bohm joking that “it’ll be a little more rowdy, for sure.”
As the Phillies prepare for another October run, the goal is clear: capture the elusive World Series championship and bring the title back to Philadelphia.
