Wheeler start wasted, Phillies fall short in another potential division clinch originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
NEW YORK — If you were to hear that your team’s ace is on the mound in a situation where a win secures the division title … you’d feel pretty darn good, right?
The Phillies found themselves in that exact situation Sunday night at Citi Field.
Zack Wheeler, a Cy Young candidate this season, went up against his former team with a chance to send his club back to Philadelphia with the NL East crown.
Written out, it all seemed too perfect. (That’s because it was.)
Wheeler did his part, posting seven innings and limiting the damage to two runs.
The offense on the other hand … did not.
For the second consecutive night, the Phillies fell short in Queens, 2-1, to drop the four-game series to the Mets and postpone any kind of celebration for another day.
Pros: They now have a chance to clinch at Citizens Bank Park, where they have a 52-25 record, the best home record in MLB this season.
Cons: It should’ve been done this series. In New York. With your ace on the mound.
You can’t waste a Wheeler start. Not when there are vital elements in play that determine your route in the postseason. Clinching the division was only No. 2 on the end-of-season checklist.
They still have their eyes set on winning the National League in its entirety, which secures a first-round bye and home field advantage. Rob Thomson wants the bye. He wants his players to have a few days to rest and regroup. There’s a plan in place for when that becomes a viable option.
For the past few weeks, it seemed like that break was the most important factor. After wrapping up their seven-game road trip 2-5, it’s become glaring the Phillies don’t just want home field advantage … they need it.
The only benefit is that it wasn’t a must-win game. The Phillies play three at home against the Cubs starting Monday and wrap up the regular season against the Nationals. It’s not a must-win until Sunday in Washington. Even then, they still have a spot in the postseason.
Following a deflating loss, there was still optimism in the clubhouse — especially from Wheeler.
“I mean it’s disappointing,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we can go home and win this thing in front of our own fans and just start playing a little better once we get home. Just try to win these next couple series and go into the playoffs hot.
“Just turn the page, it’s not the end of the world.”
Sunday marked the…