PHILS TAKE 2 1/2-GAME WILD CARD LEAD OUT FOR A SPIN IN ATLANTA
By Peter Marx
The Phils lost to the Marlins and the Padres lost to the Diamondbacks, which moved Milwaukee a half-game closer to both teams.
The Phillies lead the Padres by 2 1/2 games and the Brewers by four, remaining in very good shape after winning two of three in Miami. As they head to Atlanta, they’re 80-63 with 19 games left.
The Mets beat the Pirates pretty easily after being swept at home by the Cubs. They’re one game up on the Braves in the division. The team that doesn’t win the division would host the Phillies in the first round of the playoffs if the season ended today.
Friday night is the first of seven more meetings between the Phillies and Braves. They’ve split the first 12. These head-to-head matchups will go a long way in determining the NL East winner.
