Phillies Clinch Final National League Wild-Card Spot With 7-3 Victory Over Rays

The Philadelphia Phillies secured the final NL wild-card berth on Sunday by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 behind six innings from Zack Wheeler.

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Sunday, September 27, to clinch the final National League wild-card berth. Zack Wheeler earned his 14th win of the season, allowing one run and throwing 97 pitches over six innings. The victory at Citizens Bank Park ended a four-game losing streak during which Philadelphia had scored only three total runs. Jhoan Duran recorded the final out by striking out Nick Fortes at 5:19 p.m. Eastern to secure the franchise's fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

Philadelphia established an early lead with a three-run first inning, highlighted by Bryson Stott’s RBI double. In the second inning, Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run double to extend the lead to 4-0, while J.T. Realmuto snapped an 0-for-34 slump with an RBI double of his own. Bryce Harper increased the margin with a solo home run to right field in the seventh inning, followed by a two-run home run from Edmundo Sosa to make the score 7-1.

The Phillies finished the regular season six games behind the NL East champion Atlanta Braves, who won the season series against Philadelphia 9-4. Interim manager Don Mattingly, who took over after Rob Thomson was fired in April when the team was 9-19, led the club to the postseason despite a September collapse where a 6 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks nearly evaporated.

Philadelphia is scheduled to begin a best-of-three Wild Card Series in Atlanta on Tuesday. Due to his start on Sunday, Wheeler is unlikely to pitch in Game 1. Mattingly indicated that Jesus Luzardo and Cristopher Sanchez are options for the first two games, with Andrew Painter or Aaron Nola potentially starting a third game if necessary.