PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Phillies were flying high heading into Saturday. At that point, they won 10 out of 11 games.
But then, two uninspiring losses followed, which make Monday a critical juncture in their season — simply for momentum.
"You go out and get a split, is what you do," Phils manager Joe Girardi said after the Mets stomped on his squad 14-1 on Sunday. "You do everything you can to get split. You gotta go out and play well and start another streak."
It's important the Phils play well on Monday. as Zack Wheeler faces his former squad for the second time and first at Citi Field. Heading into Monday, the Mets are only 2 ½ games back of the Phillies for second place in the National League East. The Marlins are 1 ½ games behind.
The Phils have 24 scheduled games remaining, including five doubleheaders.
With an expanded postseason field in 2020 — eight teams in each league — the first- and second-place teams in each division will make the playoffs. So, while the Phillies are trying to catch the Braves, it's also imperative they stay in second to avoid the craziness of trying to be one of the last two wild card spots. After the first- and second-place squads in each National League division are finalized at the end of the regular season, the last two playoff spots go to the teams with the best records that aren't in first or second.
Sunday's issue — other than the fact the Phils unsurprisingly had no answer for two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom — was defense. There were multiple defensive miscues that made the Phils' slim chances even slimmer.
"I think we could play better," Girardi said of their defense. "When we make mistakes, it seems to be all in the same game."
This game had ace Aaron Nola on the mound. Sunday was supposed to be a pitcher's duel between Nola and deGrom. It was a lopsided blowout.
"At times, our defense has been really good, but there have been those games, like today, that it's really let us down," Girardi said.
And it let Nola down, who wasn't his best — and also had no help. Now, it's up to Wheeler — essentially "1A" in the Phillies rotation — to pitch like an ace and get the Phils back on track.
"I mean the guy, he's a stud," Nola said of Wheeler. "He's gonna compete like he always does and compete with really good stuff."
On Aug. 16, Wheeler held his former squad to two runs over seven strong. An outing like that Monday afternoon would go a long way. And for the Phillies' sake, hopefully the defense is better behind Wheeler.
"We did not play well today was the bottom line," Girardi said on Sunday, "and we got to play better tomorrow and find a way to win."
