Phillies Weekly ⚾️🔔 After a wild regular-season finish, the Phillies are headed to the playoffs. What once seemed like a comfortable path to the postseason became a fight for survival, as a difficult September and a four-game losing streak pushed everything to Game 162. Joining Oscar Budejen are special guests John Foley, Tyler Poitras, and Josh Hennig as we break down the Phillies' dramatic finish to the regular season and turn our attention to the biggest question ahead: Can the Phillies make a run in the playoffs? The Phillies were baseball's hottest team in August, but September exposed many of the concerns that have followed this team throughout the season. The offense went cold at the worst possible time, the bullpen struggled to find consistency, and injuries created uncertainty throughout the pitching staff. But with their season on the line in Game 162, the Phillies responded by beating the Tampa Bay Rays. Now they have an opportunity to turn the page and start over. Their first challenge will be a familiar one: the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies will travel to Atlanta for the best-of-three Wild Card Series after going 4-9 against the Braves during the regular season. But postseason history tells a very different story. The Phillies and Braves have met in three postseason series, and Philadelphia has won all three: the 1993 NLCS, 4-2, and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS, both 3-1. Can the Phillies once again find a different gear against Atlanta when the games matter most? The postseason also presents a major pitching challenge. Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Aaron Nola give the Phillies an experienced foundation in the rotation, while Jesús Luzardo's return could provide another important weapon. But using Wheeler in Game 162 forces the Phillies to rethink how they will deploy their starters in the Wild Card Series. The bullpen remains one of the biggest questions. Who can Don Mattingly trust in the middle and late innings before turning the ball over to Jhoan Duran? Could Luzardo or Andrew Painter become important postseason weapons in different roles? And perhaps the biggest question remains the offense. The Phillies showed during August how dangerous this lineup can be when the entire offense is contributing, but September was a very different story. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto and the rest of the lineup will need to produce consistently if the Phillies hope to advance. Another important question is whether Luis Arraez, their cleanup hitter, can return from his badly sprained ankle for the Wild Card Series against the Braves. After everything this team has experienced this season, from the difficult start and managerial change to the Field of Dreams turnaround, dominant August and turbulent September, the regular season is behind them. The Phillies survived. They're in. Now they head to Atlanta, where their postseason journey begins against a familiar rival. Can the Phillies make another run? KEY QUESTIONS ⚾️ Phillies vs. Braves: Can Philadelphia continue its postseason success against Atlanta? ⚾️ 4-9 vs. Atlanta this season: How much does the regular-season record matter now? ⚾️ 3-0 in postseason series vs. Atlanta: Can the Phillies do it again? ⚾️ Game 162: Can the offensive breakout provide momentum entering the playoffs? ⚾️ Rotation: How should the Phillies manage Wheeler, Sánchez, Nola & Luzardo? ⚾️ Luzardo: What role can he realistically play in the Wild Card Series? ⚾️ Bullpen: Who can Mattingly trust to bridge the game to Jhoan Duran? ⚾️ Andrew Painter: Could he become a postseason weapon out of the bullpen? ⚾️ Offense: Can Harper, Schwarber, Turner & Realmuto deliver when it matters most? ⚾️ Luis Arraez: Will he be healthy enough to return for the Wild Card Series? ⚾️ Can the Phillies make a run in the playoffs? 📺 LIVE SUNDAY | 8:00 PM ET ▶️ YouTube | X | Facebook 🎙️ Oscar Budejen ⭐ John Foley • Tyler Poitras • Josh Hennig #Phillies #RingTheBell #MLB #PhilliesWeekly
