Maybe They're Not Quite Dead

Earlier this week, it said here the Phils were probably done. Then the Braves went out and lost 3 straight, and the Phils won back-to-back games, and just like that, the Phils are 2 games out of first on Sept. 1.

Former dirty Met Asdrubel Carbrera gets the headlines for hitting a walk-off homer in the 10th, but HUGE props go out to the Phillies bullpen, who held the National League's best team scoreless for 5 innings. Hector Neris, no longer doing Hector Neris things, continued his resurgence with a scoreless 8th inning and 2 strikeouts.

Neris has been damn near unhittable since returning from the minors on Aug. 15, he has allowed just 3 hits in 9 innings over 10 games, with 20 strikeouts and an opponents OPS of .290.

The Phillies offense is still maddeningly inconsistent. And starters not named Aaron Nola haven't been a sure thing either. But they're 2 games out of first with 28 to go. And 7 of those are against the Braves in the last 11 days of the season.  They have a 38 percent chance of making the playoffs going into today. Meaningful baseball in September–what a concept.