The Phils will be using the bullpen as a 5th starter tonight. The magic number for a first round bye is 2.

May as well win the next two then, get it out of the way, at home. It won't make any difference for the Cubs anyway.

Bringing Walker in to pitch with the bases loaded is like putting gas on a fire.

Definitely not a good outing for him. Don't give up though I've seen the Cubs give up lots of 5+ run leads.

Can't figure out why Thomson has so much faith in Walker, his ERA is 7.19. Can you name a pitcher with a higher ERA that has pitched as many innings (80 +) as Walker? And you think the Cubs manager is dumb, lol.
BTW, Walker is still in the game so the lead will grow.

No more harm done from Walker, but not looking too good for the Phillies tonight at this point in the game. Stranger things have happened though.

The Indians clinched a first round bye tonight. I don't think they will catch the Yankees for the best record though.

Cubs are making it interesting thus far it appears. With Assad on the mound, if the Phillies don't end up winning, I'll be pretty concerned about their post season.

Didn't the Cubs have a left hander to bring in to face Marsh?

You think Counsel is smart enough to think of that? lol

Good job Phillies. I think the Cubs gave you a little scare there in the 9th, huh NL?

Did you see the game winning triple play for SD last night? Wow, and with Otani on deck.

I wasn't too worried. That win coupled with the Pirates beating the Brewers gives the Phillies a bye for the first round of the playoffs. I hope they can beat out the Dodgers for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cubs always play the Phillies tough, or so it seems

I saw a highlight film of the triple play.

Gone 3 days and our Brewers are in my opinion coasting a bit too much. Dodgers have to play well to stay ahead of the Padres who have had one H of a 2nd half of the season. To me right now they would be a team I would not want to play in the NL.

Bryce

There is a lot to be settled yet for the playoffs. It seems to me the wildcard teams traditionally do rather well in the playoffs. Maybe they started to peak near the end of the season just to make the playoffs and thereby do better. I know the past couple years the Braves had things locked up well in advance and the Phillies squeezed in via one of the wildcard teams and they knocked the Braves out in less than 5 games. It might be interesting to see how the Phillies make out by getting a bye in the first round for a change.

Looks like Ohtani will clinch his division tonight, too bad he has to bring the rest of the lowly Dodgers with him.

Terrible boring game for the Cubs today, 1-0 win but no fun to watch.

Yes lead off batters are really different than when I was young. Used to be a contact person that would have a high on base percentage with hits, errors and walks. Now many hit 30 plus home runs. It seems to be working well for many teams. With DH now many #9 hitters are better in getting on base and that makes the lead off more of a power batter in the line up.

I have not looked up how the Mets/Brave games are going to be or when and where played. Brewers have 3 games with the Mets to close out the season.

Bryce

The Mets and the Braves are scheduled to play a double header on Monday, they originally had 3 games and they did get to play 1 game which the Braves won. I think it was originally scheduled for Atlanta and I think that is still the case.

Suarez better get his act together for the playoffs and the Philly bats better come alive or they won't get out of the first round.