This Is It

Six games left and 2.5 games behind the first-place Braves. The only way I see the Phillies winning the division is to run the table and win all six.

They can't afford to lose again, especially to the Braves. At least the pitching is set up. Zack Wheeler goes Tuesday, Aaron Nola goes Wednesday, and Kyle Gibson is set for Thursday. I'd seriously consider swapping Gibson with Ranger Suarez for Thursday because Suarez has been incredible since he became a starter.

I'm also concerned about Nola, who has been nothing special the last six weeks or so. He doesn't look anything like the guy who was in the conversation for a Cy Young Award as recently as 2018. 

And winning all six doesn't even guarantee the division. The Braves go 3-3 this week and end up trailing the Phils by a half game next Sunday. That would force the Braves to play a makeup game next Monday against the Rockies, who I'm sure won't be motivated at all to fly across the country for a game that means nothing to them. 

So if the Braves win that one, it sets up a one-game, winner-take-all 163rd game with the Phillies for the division next Tuesday. 

But first things first. They have to sweep the Braves, in Atlanta. Yikes.