Phillies Nation

Headline: With a win, postseason in reach
The Major Players: Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Blanton, Shane Victorino, JC Romero
The Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Number: 1 game ahead, NL East

Joe Blanton takes the hill. The Phillies are a game up with three to play. The Mets get the Marlins (SNY), while the Brewers play the Cubs (ESPN).

After dropping two games to the Braves, the Phillies find themselves still in first place, but with very little breathinr room. In fact, the space between them and the Mets is dangerously tight. Tonight the Nationals are in for the final three games, and just like last year, it’ll take two-of-three to get the job done.

The good guys will face Collin Balester, who has had spotty success against the Phils. He has allowed five earned runs in 13 innings against the good guys, striking out nine while walking just one. He will walk a couple batters per game, so the Phils need to be more patient against the 22-year-old right-hander.

The offense was miserable in the final two Atlanta games. They scored just four runs against Mike Hampton and Jo-Jo Reyes, among others. They seemed to press a little more, sensing the magnitude of their close accomplishments. Now is not the time to press. If they play light, smart ball as they did Friday, the big hits will come and they’ll win. Looking at last year’s triumph, this team seems to seize the moment when they need to.

Two hitters who could carry the mantle against Balester: Chase Utley (HR in six at bats) and Shane Victorino (3-for-6).

If the Phillies win, it’s win No. 90. If the Nats lose, it’s loss No. 100. We’d like both things to happen tonight.

Phillies: Joe Blanton (8-12) 4.79 ERA
Nationals: Collin Balester (3-6) 4.83 ERA
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EST
Weather: 66, rain
Lineup: Rollins/Werth/Utley/Howard/Burrell/Victorino/Dobbs/Ruiz/Blanton

MLB TV
MLB Gameday Audio
MLB Gameday

Your gamenight beer: So for the final three games, we’re coming back, full-circle, and presenting the big three favorites from the Yuengling Brewery. It’s been a long, strange journey with beer this season, but it’s always nice to come back to a familiar sight. So here’s Yuengling Porter. In honor of Blanton, our own porter of a baseball player, we hand this out with a helping of beef stew. If you’re not at the park, enjoy this slow and root, root, root for your Philadelphia Phillies.

Go Phillies!