Left-hander Jesus Luzardo spoke about the Phillies’ chances as September approaches. “We’re getting into September. We want to win the division, we want to get a bye, and we know what we need to do to get there. This is a team full of veterans, and we have a nice mix, with a lot of guys who have been here and done that,” Luzardo said.
The team stumbled out of the All-Star break, dropping 10 of 14, which allowed the division gap to widen. Now that the Phillies have turned things around, the Atlanta Braves remain within reach.
“They’re a great team, with a lot of talent and veteran presence, so it’s going to be fun going down the stretch and trying to catch up to them,” Luzardo noted.
With 33 games remaining, the Phillies face a real chance to close the four-game gap. The two rivals in the division will meet seven more times before the season ends, giving the Phillies control over their own destiny in the chase for the division crown.
Luzardo has emphasized the team’s resilience throughout the season. There have been multiple moments when the NL East title seemed within reach, only to slip away briefly, yet the Phillies have repeatedly showcased their ability to bounce back.
“I feel like this team is never out of the fight,” Luzardo said. “We have a lot of fight and the ability to claw back, no matter how deep the hole. You’ve seen that early in the year with how we started.”
That rough start included a 9-19 record, which led to a managerial change. Rob Thomson, who had managed the team since 2022, was replaced by Don Mattingly. Since the managerial shift, the Phillies have posted a strong record, underscoring the club’s adaptability and perseverance.
“I’m fully convinced this team can go as far as we want. We just need to play the brand of baseball we know we can, and continue to scratch and claw every step of the way,” Luzardo added.
The Phillies boast one of the stronger starting rotations, a top-tier closer in Jhoan Duran, and a potent lineup capable of producing big run totals. This combination gives them a realistic chance to make a deep postseason push, though questions remain about how they will begin their postseason journey.
As the season heads into its final stretch, the Phillies’ postseason prospects remain favorable. With roughly five weeks left, they hold a solid chance of securing a playoff berth, though winning the division presents a tougher hurdle. Their chance of overtaking the Braves sits in the low-to-mid range, but the team has shown the capacity to flip the momentum in key series, particularly the remaining head-to-head matchups with Atlanta.
In the closing weeks, the Phillies’ performance will determine whether they rewrite expectations for October. If they continue to play at the level they have shown in recent weeks, they could be positioned for a strong postseason run, leveraging their depth, experience, and bullpen strengths to maximize opportunities in high-leverage moments.
