The streaking Phillies have matched a feat from their 102-win 2011 season
If you think you enjoy following the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time in a long time — perhaps since their franchise-best 102-win season in 2011 — there is now a stat to back up those feelings for the potential postseason-bound 2020 team.
Bryce Harper notably said following a five-game skid last month that they needed to win nine of their next 10 games to climb back into the postseason race. They went on to do just that, but even better, bested it during Friday evening’s four-game series opener against the New York Mets.
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Behind seven solid innings from Phillies starter Jake Arrieta; relievers Hector Neris, Tommy Hunter, and Brandon Workman combining to allow just one run through two innings; and RBIs from Jay Bruce (14), Didi Gregorius (21), Roman Quinn (6), and Adam Haseley (3); the Phils defeated the Mets, 5-3.
5 straight and 10 out of 11.
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2020
The @phillies continue to be the hottest team in baseball. #GotYourBack pic.twitter.com/bdapVjDe86
The win not only further separated manager Joe Girardi‘s squad from the Miami Marlins in the National League East standings, but it also marked their 10th victory in their last 11 games. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, it is their most wins in an 11-game regular-season stretch since 2011, when they had three such overlapping 10-1 stretches.
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The Phillies currently hold the fifth of eight overall postseason spots in the National League, as the (E-2) team — or, the one with the second-best record in the National League East. If the postseason were to start today, the Phillies would take on the No. 4-seed Fernando Tatis Jr.-led San Diego Padres, which also notably has Manny Machado and Austin Nola — Aaron Nola‘s brother — on their roster.
After Friday’s win, Arrieta said that the Phillies are “absolutely a team that can contend deep into the playoffs.” For a team that has not reached Red October since 2011, there should be cautious optimism — even with ESPN currently having the Phillies with a 93.5 percent chance to qualify for the postseason.