When the Phillies snuck into last year’s postseason via the third National League Wild Card spot, they were greeted by the NL Central champions in the opening round, based on that team’s standing as the NL’s third-best division winner.
If the season ended right now, the Phillies would find themselves in an identical situation, only this time, it would come against the Milwaukee Brewers instead of the St. Louis Cardinals.
They’d likely face Corbin Burnes in Game 1.
Thursday’s outing would be awfully intimidating in the lead-up to that postseason opener. Burnes mowed the Phillies down in the matinee finale, striking out 10 over eight dominant innings en route to a road series victory for the Brew Crew.
The Phillies had no answers for the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner. Kyle Schwarber’s leadoff walk in the fourth was their first baserunner of the day; he was immediately erased on a Trea Turner double play. Nick Castellanos then singled for one of the Phillies’ two hits; the other was a Bryson Stott infield single.
Burnes outdueled Taijuan Walker, who was quite effective himself apart from a rough third inning. Walker allowed a leadoff double to Andruw Monasterio in that frame, then walked Brice Turang two batters before Christian Yelich — in a resurgent campaign for the 2018 NL MVP — gave the Brewers a three-run lead with one swing.
Walker went six-plus innings and allowed four runs overall, the final of which came with Andrew Vasquez on the mound after a leadoff infield single (deflected by Walker) knocked him out of the game.
It was a disappointing series loss for the Phillies, who could also find themselves contending with the Brewers for one of those three Wild Card spots should the Cincinnati Reds win the Central. The Phillies will head to Milwaukee for a three-game series to begin the month of September.
For now, though, the Brewers maintain their 2 1/2-game lead over the Reds in the division. They’re 54-43. And the loss moves the Phillies into an effective tie with the Miami Marlins for the third Wild Card spot, though winning percentage gives them the temporary nod. After a 4-3 homestand to start the second half, they’re 52-44.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Friday, July 21 vs. Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field
- 7:10 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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