PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper emphasized the same point a few times on Thursday night.
It was a simple response to questions about a situation the Phillies have made unnecessarily complicated in recent days.
“We’re in the driver’s seat,” Harper said following Thursday night’s 5-1 loss to the Brewers. “So, we’ve got to win and take care of our business.”
The Phillies got to Citizens Bank Park on Thursday afternoon needing to beat the Brewers and needing the Padres or Diamondbacks to lose to clinch an NL Wild Card berth. The clubhouse staff had hung rolled-up plastic sheeting above the lockers in the home clubhouse before Wednesday night’s game in preparation for it. Phillies players planned to stay at the ballpark past midnight on Thursday to see if San Diego lost in Los Angeles, so they could pop champagne and beer bottles and celebrate a fifth consecutive trip to the postseason.
But the party must wait.
“We can't really worry about any other teams or what they're doing,” Harper said.
Here’s the Phillies’ situation entering Friday night’s series opener against the Rays:
- The Phillies need one win and one Arizona loss at San Diego for Philadelphia to clinch.
“We’ve got to take care of our business,” Harper said. “We can't really worry about anything else. What anybody is feeling or what's going on, we’ve just got to win. So, we can't really worry about anything else.”
But the Phillies have made things more difficult on themselves. They have lost 12 of their last 20 games. They have scored a combined two runs on nine hits in their two losses this week to Milwaukee. They have scored three or fewer runs in eight of their last 11 games.
Now, they might have to play this weekend’s series against the Rays without Luis Arraez, who left Thursday’s game with a sprained left ankle.
Is this team not handling the late-season pressure well?
“I mean, I wouldn't say that,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “I say we're in a playoff-style game today, so runs aren't going to be flying off the board. We’re facing a pretty good club. That’s 100 wins for them. I think the best record in the National League. It’s not like we were playing somebody that’s not a good club. That's a good club. They catch the ball. They put pressure on you in different ways. They’ve got good arms. Their bullpen's good.
“You’ve got to be able to find a way to score to win games. So yeah, pressure? We should be feeling some pressure. I know I feel some pressure, but I mean, it's that time of year, and you're trying to win games.”
Phillies rookie Andrew Painter allowed one run in six innings in his final start of the season. He finished 3-10 with a 5.40 ERA in 23 starts, but 2-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 11 starts since he returned from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on July 31.
“Painter’s legit,” Mattingly said. “As long as he stays healthy, the things he's gone through this year, the way he's handled everything, he's going to be good. He's going to be really good. I think Philadelphia's going to like this kid for a while.”
Rookie Alex McFarlane walked the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning, then struck out the side. He had trouble throwing strikes. His fastball velocity was down 1.6 mph to 98.1 mph. José Alvarado allowed three runs in the eighth. His fastball velocity was down 1.9 mph to 96.0 mph.
Not great.
The Phillies will try to regroup on Friday against the team with the best record in the American League.
“It’s how it’s been all year for us really,” Trea Turner said about their recent struggles. “It’s been a tough year, ups and downs. We’re in a spot to take care of business and win a couple games to get in. We haven't done it yet, but we still have a chance.
“I think it's more frustration than pressure. We know how good we can be, and at times, we haven't played up to that standard. And, you know, it feels like one thing doesn't go your way, sometimes we feel like, here it goes again.”