PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has maintained an everything-is-OK persona the past few weeks as his club slipped below the Braves in the National League East standings.
But the way he managed Wednesday night's 8-6 victory over the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park suggested he knows time is running short on the Phillies' postseason chances, particularly following a few weeks of bad losses. Kapler emptied the bullpen following a three-inning effort by starter Jake Arrieta to help secure the victory in the series finale, although he said afterward that Thursday's off-day and Saturday's roster expansions had everything to do with his aggressive use of the eight-man bullpen.