MILWAUKEE — Bryce Harper knew it when bat met ball, so he flipped that bat and jogged to first base. But Paco Figueroa, the Philadelphia Phillies’ first-base coach, was not as certain. He yelled at Harper to go, go, go.
The towering fly ball landed 394 feet from home plate, into the Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen, for a two-run homer in a game the Phillies really wanted to win. They took the lead Tuesday with Harper’s swing and cruised to a 5-1 victory. Harper took four steps past first base, then turned his head to make eye contact with Figueroa.
Usually, Figueroa will meet Harper at first base for a handshake when it’s a clear homer. He did it twice over the weekend when Harper snapped a 30-game homerless streak. Harper, this time, thought he had been snubbed.
He teased the coach. Figueroa laughed.
There are many things to say about the Phillies, 91-60 and days away from their first division title in 13 years. They have won those 91 games in multitudes. They can pitch. They can hit. Their roster is deeper. They are one of the favorites before the October tournament commences — an unfamiliar feeling. They will spend hours upon hours analyzing every possible competitive advantage. They will sweat the details.
But, at their core, the Phillies are a team powered by stars. Postseason baseball is unlike the regular-season slog. The Phillies have always insisted they will take their 18 best — nine hitters and nine pitchers — against anyone come October. The formula is complicated until it’s not. Zack Wheeler takes the mound, throws 63 fastballs in 99 pitches, and Harper homers.
“The postseason is a different animal,” Harper said. “It’s always fun. It excites me. I think every guy in this clubhouse has that same demeanor.”
Up, up, and away!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/GB01vI4oOY
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 18, 2024
This was not the postseason, but one of the higher-stakes games the Phillies will have played during the season. With the win, the Phillies sealed the season series — and tiebreaker — against Milwaukee. They have, functionally, a five-game lead over the Brewers for a first-round bye. They own the tiebreaker against the Los Angeles Dodgers, too, which means the Phillies essentially have a three-game lead for the top seed.
The magic number to clinch the National League East is four games. It can happen this weekend in Queens against the New York Mets.
“I’ve always said that it’s really important for us to reach all our goals,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “One is to get in. Two is to win the division. Three is to have the best record in the National League, and then, the best record overall. Because you’re guaranteed home-field advantage. And we play better at home. Our fans’ support is so great. I think it helps us and sometimes it affects the other team. So that’s really important.”
The advantage isn’t just avoiding a treacherous best-of-three series, it’s having your best starting pitcher against the opponent’s third- or fourth-best to begin the National League Division Series. The Phillies know they will have Wheeler on the mound for Game 1.
He has a 2.56 ERA this season. He is pitching as well as he ever has for the Phillies; he’s allowed two runs or fewer in nine straight starts. Only one pitcher in Phillies history has had a longer such streak — Aaron Nola had 10 consecutive starts of two runs or fewer in 2017.
Sometimes, Wheeler makes it look too easy. He fired fastball after fastball against a good Brewers lineup. “I’m glad it felt good out there,” Wheeler said, “because it didn’t feel good in the bullpen.” J.T. Realmuto called more fastballs early to help Wheeler gain a feel for it. The pitch had life. Realmuto leaned on it. Milwaukee’s hitters knew it was coming. It did not matter.
Wheeler is 34, more than 180 innings deep into this season, and he is at his best.
“He’s really something, man,” Thomson said. “He’s been so consistent ever since he’s gotten here. He’s earned every penny he’s made. He’s so huge to this club. I don’t know what his record is after games we’ve lost, but it’s got to be really, really good. He just takes the ball and he can manhandle people when he wants to.”
Harper went even further.
“He’s a Cy Young, man,” Harper said. “I don’t think anybody in baseball is better than him at this point. People down in Atlanta probably think the same thing about the guy throwing down there. I thought (Wheeler) got robbed of it three years ago, and I believe he’s earned it this year.”
Maybe. But it is probably Chris Sale’s to lose. Wheeler would like to win a Cy Young Award. He’ll take a ring, too.
“As long as I’m healthy and still feeling strong,” Wheeler said, “that’s all I can really ask for.”
The Phillies are now 29-17 against the six other National League teams contending for postseason spots. That .630 winning percentage is, by far, better than anyone else. Only one other team, the San Diego Padres, has a winning record against the NL’s best.
None of it matters come October, but the Phillies can enter that month armed with confidence. They are an imperfect team. They know what it’s like to surprise the sport with a deep run. They know what heartbreak feels like when everyone expects them to soar.
They know it’s time for the stars to shine. No one will remember Harper’s 30 games without a homer if he starts launching balls again.
“I feel like he’s been swinging it well,” Wheeler said. “Home runs necessarily haven’t been there, but he doesn’t always need to hit home runs. So as long as he’s getting hits and putting good at-bats together, which I think he’s been doing, the home runs will come. And I told him that the other day. Just keep swinging. Just keep doing your thing. Home runs will come.”
October is almost here.
(Photo of Bryce Harper: John Fisher / Getty Images)
