Right now, the Phillies are on the outside of the playoffs looking in with thirteen games left to play. They’re two games back of the Atlanta Braves for the NL East lead, and 3.5 back of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card spot. For a team featuring Zack Wheeler, Bryce Harper, Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto, Didi Gregorius, Rhys Hoskins and the once-fearsome Andrew McCutchen, it’s been a disappointingly unrealized season.
Another opportunity, then, for the Orioles to ruin a team’s remaining playoff chances.
Tonight they attempt to do it with lefty John Means on the mound.