Aaron Nola Pitching on 2 Days’ Rest as Phillies Make 4th Attempt to Clinch NL Wild Card
Aaron Nola was rocked for three runs in the first inning after taking the ball on two days' rest, and the Phillies fell into a deeper wild-card bind.
- On Saturday, September 26, 2026, the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a 12-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays after interim manager Don Mattingly started Aaron Nola on two days' rest, leaving their playoff berth unclinched.
- Mattingly turned to Nola, who skipped his usual bullpen session, to address rotation depth as Philadelphia dropped four straight games and saw its wild-card lead shrink to one game in September.
- Citizens Bank Park fans unleashed 'lusty boos' during the blowout as the Rays plated 10 unanswered runs through six innings, while the Phillies' offense extended a 21-inning scoreless streak before scoring one unearned run.
- Philadelphia now relies on ace right-hander Zack Wheeler to start Sunday's season finale against Tampa Bay, forcing the team to potentially sacrifice his availability for the opening of a wild-card series.
- The Phillies hold a one-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks heading into Sunday; Philadelphia clinches its fifth consecutive playoff berth with a victory or if Arizona loses to the San Diego Padres.
53 Articles
53 Articles
It's been a rough few days for the Phillies. They've lost four games in a row, and have been sitting on the cusp of a postseason berth for about a week, as their bats have gone quiet against the Brewers and Rays.
'Boos' Rain Down on Phillies' Players Amid Disappointing Defeat to Tampa Bay Rays
With one game left, the Philadelphia Phillies’ playoff fate rests on Game 162 after four straight losses. They have somehow turned a comfortable playoff race into a nightmare finish. And after Saturday’s brutal 12-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the frustration inside Citizens Bank Park was impossible to miss. The Phillies were supposed to […]
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tucsonpost.comRays collect 17 hits, blast skidding Phillies in runaway
Richie Palacios drove in four runs and Victor Mesa Jr. had four hits and two RBIs as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays walloped the Philadelphia Phillies 12-1 on Saturday. Griffin Jax and six relievers took care of matters on the mound for Tampa Bay (98-63), which has already clinched the top spot in the American
The free-falling Phillies aren’t done yet: ‘We have hope.’ And it starts with Zack Wheeler on Sunday.
Win and they’re in the playoffs, and they can even lose and get in (with an Arizona loss). "You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do if that’s what it takes for us to get in," said Don Mattingly.
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thesportsleader.comRays blast skidding Phillies in runaway rout
Richie Palacios drove in four runs and Victor Mesa Jr. had four hits and two RBIs as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays walloped the Philadelphia Phillies 12-1 on Saturday.Griffin Jax and six relievers took care of matters on the mound for Tampa Bay (98-63), ...
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