Wheeler Delivers in Do-or-Die Finale as Phillies Clinch Wild Card Spot, to Face Braves in Wild Card
Sep 27, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies gather for a team photo after clinching a wild card spot in the postseason with a win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Down to the wire, the Phillies sent out one of their aces to close out the season and to deliver the biggest win of the season. The offense came up huge, putting seven runs on the board, en route to a 7-2 win to clinch their fifth straight playoff berth.
The Phillies got on the board early, with Bryson Stott doubling home Kyle Schwarber to take the early lead. In the second inning, J.T. Realmuto doubled home Edmundo Sosa to break his extended oh-for streak and extend the lead. Trea Turner singled, then Schwarber doubled home both, giving the Phils a 4-0 lead. Jonny DeLuca hit a home run in the fifth to get one of those runs back. Bryce Harper hit a line drive in the bottom of the fifth to get that run back in his 162nd game this season, the first time in his career he’s done that.
Just to be safe, they got a sacrifice fly from Brandon Marsh to score Stott, and Sosa hit a solo home run to take a 7-1 lead. DeLuca hit his second home run of the game, making the game 7-2. Victor Mesa Jr. got one run back, making the game 7-3, which is where it ended.
Wheeler Shuts Down Rays
Zack Wheeler would have liked to pitch Game 1 of the Wild Card series, but that wasn’t the case, and just as gamers do, he stepped up to prove that he is the best big-game pitcher in baseball right now. The Phils needed him to eat innings and finally stop the potent Tampa Bay offense. With the struggles of the bullpen, it would be imperative that he ate some innings as well.
He went six innings and gave up only the home run to DeLuca and was in control all game, striking out five and giving up five hits. The run support helped, and Wheeler has always been a pitcher that rewards run support; he’s 59-8 over his career with four runs of support; this season he’s 9-0. His reputation is well deserved, and having missed the playoffs last season with the Thoracic Outlet surgery, this has to be more important for him.
Phillies Offense Comes Alive
Wheeler’s gem would have been meaningless if the offense didn’t step up, and from the first inning, they scored and had their best all-around offensive performances in the month of September, and one of the best of the 2026 season. Not only did they play small ball, but they brought the thunder with doubles and home runs. This is a great confidence builder for the Phillies offense heading into the postseason.
The one that felt the best was the at-bat in the second inning where Realmuto doubled home Sosa to put the second run on the board, getting him off the schneid and getting some confidence for him going into Atlanta. The top of the lineup came through and put up seven runs. The Phillies will only go as far as the top of the offense takes them. Getting runs against the Braves is going to be imperative, and the top of the lineup needs to drive the point home.
Drama Backing Into Playoffs
The Phils offense has largely been flat for the entire month of September, and in the game that was as do-or-die as can be, they came to life behind Wheeler to clinch a playoff berth in Game 162 of the regular season. There was a palpable tension in the park from the first pitch, and it didn’t really break until Jesus Luzardo made his first relief appearance since 2021.
By winning this game, not only did the Phils get that last playoff spot, but they avoided their fifth straight loss, which would have been the first time since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager. This is only the third time in franchise history that the team clinched the playoffs on the last day of the season. This win is the first time since 2007 that they won on Game 162, capping a strange season for the Phillies, which ended with them clinching the playoffs for the fifth straight time. The Phils now need to turn the page on the bad month of September and get into playoff mode right away as they head to Truist Park to face the Braves in the Wild Card starting on Tuesday.
The Braves are lined up to throw Chris Sale in Game 1, with Tyler Mahle getting the ball for Game 2. Atlanta gave Sale extra rest down the stretch specifically to set up this start, while Mahle earned his slot with a strong finish to the year. If a Game 3 is needed, it’s not as clear; Martin Perez was expected to be the No. 3 option but has been dealing with a back injury, leaving Grant Holmes or a full bullpen game as the likely fallback, with Bryce Elder not a factor after knee surgery. The Braves have had a few weeks to prepare for this series and plan out everything for the playoffs.
The Phillies didn’t have it as easy. Wheeler had to start the regular-season finale on Sunday to clinch the final NL Wild Card spot, which takes him out of Game 1 and makes him not guaranteed for this series unless Mattingly wants to gamble on short rest in a potential Game 3. That leaves Aaron Nola, who was pushed to start on short rest and got knocked around, as the likely Game 1 starter, with Cristopher Sanchez lined up on normal rest for Game 2. Luzardo was activated off the injured list and made a relief appearance in this clinching game, and is expected to be available in relief rather than as a starter, leaving the Phillies at a bit of a disadvantage against Sale in the opener. But Nola has had success against Atlanta in the playoffs with a 2-0 record, a 1.54 ERA, and 15 strikeouts in two career postseason starts versus the Braves. His turnaround late in the season gives hope whether he starts Game 1 or Game 2.
There won’t be much time to enjoy it, either. The Phillies stumbled into their playoff spot, dropping four straight before finally putting the Wild Card away on the rainy final day, and the celebration reflects it: no time for a long night in the clubhouse, no days off to regroup. They fly to Atlanta almost immediately, facing the team they chased in the NL East all season, a team that finished with not only the division but the rest advantage that comes with it. For a team that spent the last week of September just trying to survive, the job now is bigger than just the Braves; it’s more about the team shaking off a brutal stretch before it costs them a series they can’t afford to sleepwalk into, especially in a short three-game series. The first step is done; they won, and now they’re in. Now onto the next step: getting past their division rivals. The last question remaining is a simple one — which Phillies team takes the field in Game 1 in Atlanta?
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible; we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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