Chasing the Braves

Welcome to July, where the Phillies find themselves 5.5 games behind the first-place Braves. Just one short month ago, the Phils were in first place with a 2-game lead over Atlanta. So what the hell happened?

A 7-game losing streak, including 3 losses to the last-place Marlins. Injuries all over the place. And the inability to hit. Or pitch. And that, friends, is how you drop 7 games in the standings in just 4 weeks.

But the Phils find themselves in Atlanta for a 3-game series starting tomorrow night. They simply cannot afford to lose any more ground against the Braves. They're 4-2 against Atlanta so far this year. If the Phils sweep, they're just 2.5 games out. Winning 2 out of 3 puts them 4.5 out. Getting swept finds our heroes 8.5 games out of first.

They need to sweep. And GM Matt Klentak needs to find some pitching help, like yesterday. They can't afford to keep running the comedy team of Velasquez and Pivetta out there every fourth and fifth day and hope for the best.  Sweep and winning the division is a distinct possibility. Get swept and prepare to hear the E-A-G-L-E-S chant nonstop when they return home from the All-Star break.