A 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay left the Phillies’ playoff berth unclinched with two games left and extended their skid to three. Fans booed Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh after strikeouts; Philadelphia had entered Friday two games ahead of Arizona in the NL wild-card race.
The Phillies entered Friday two games ahead of Arizona for the final NL wild-card spot and could have clinched their fifth straight playoff berth with a win over Tampa Bay and an Arizona loss to San Diego. Saturday’s game at Tampa Bay is planned as a bullpen game; if the race reaches Sunday, they would have to use ace Zack Wheeler, which would burn him for a potential Game 1 or 2 start in the NL Wild Card Series.
The Phillies have scored two runs over their last 27 innings and have been shut out 12 times this season. Catcher J.T. Realmuto is 0-for-32 and batting .206. Starting second baseman Luis Arraez is out indefinitely with a severely sprained left ankle, while All-Star left-hander Jesús Luzardo has yet to throw a simulated game as he tries to return from a three-week absence with shoulder inflammation.
