Philadelphia leads Arizona by one game entering the finale against Tampa Bay, but the Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker. The Phillies clinch with a win; a loss requires an Arizona loss to San Diego to still get in. The club enters on a four-game losing streak after leading by as many as 6.5 games on Sept. 1. Zack Wheeler starts on regular rest.

Nola lasted just one inning in his first short-rest start in a 12-year career, allowing three runs on four extra-base hits; the bullpen also faltered in a loss that extended Philadelphia's skid to four games and its 12th shutout-adjacent defeat of the season.

Jesus Luzardo is expected to be available in relief for Sunday's finale, while Luis Arraez remains sidelined with a sprained left ankle with no return timeline given.

Cristopher Sánchez struck out 10 over seven innings in the loss, but Philadelphia managed only four hits. The magic number holds at two with three games remaining. Luis Arraez remains sidelined with a confirmed ankle sprain.

Giles, who joined the Phillies in 1969 and organized the ownership group that purchased the team in 1981, died Friday at his home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. He served as team president until 1997 and later as chairman, becoming chairman emeritus in 2015; his tenure spanned the transition from Veterans Stadium to Citizens Bank Park, and he created the Phillie Phanatic. "The Phillies family lost an icon today," said Managing Partner and CEO John Middleton.

Andrew Painter allowed one run over six innings with eight strikeouts, but José Alvarado's rocky eighth inning turned the game as Milwaukee won its 100th game. Philadelphia's magic number to clinch remains 2 entering its home finale against the AL-leading Rays.

The NL batting-average leader twisted his left ankle running to first base; X-rays came back negative. Manager Don Mattingly said the club would know more by Friday, with Bryce Harper set to shift to first base if Arraez can't play.

Luzardo threw his first mound session in 13 days and is expected to face hitters in a simulated game over the weekend; he becomes eligible off the IL Sunday, before the season finale.

Philadelphia's Double-A affiliate beat Erie 13-4 to clinch the title, powered by grand slams from Caleb Ricketts and Carson DeMartini in the deciding game; Bryan Rincon was named the postseason's MVP.

Philadelphia scrapped a planned bullpen game to move Andrew Painter and Cristopher Sánchez up on normal rest, with president Dave Dombrowski saying the club is prioritizing pitching alignment over pursuing home-field advantage.

Philadelphia lost 4-1 to Milwaukee, missing a chance to clinch a wild-card berth. The Phillies remain tied at 87-70 with the Cubs and Padres for the NL's final two wild-card spots, holding the tiebreaker over San Diego but trailing Chicago.

Zack Wheeler struck out the first seven batters he faced, a new franchise record breaking Brandon Duckworth's 24-year-old mark. Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh hit RBI doubles to break a tie in the 8th; Jhoan Duran earned the save. Philadelphia's magic number to clinch a wild-card berth is now two.

Interim manager Don Mattingly, 77-51 since taking over April 28, is now the sport's only interim manager left in limbo after the Mets and Red Sox both gave their interim managers multi-year deals. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski confirmed he had offered the job to Alex Cora in April before hiring Mattingly, saying 'better to wait until our season is complete' on Mattingly's future.

Luzardo, sidelined since Sept. 7 with shoulder inflammation, played catch from 120 feet for a third straight day and is eligible to return from the IL Sunday. The Phillies hope he's ready for the wild-card round, likely in a relief role.

magic number 3 for 5th straight postseason trip, 4-game cushion over ARI for 3rd WC spot w/ 6 left; Wheeler (13-5,2.99) starts Tue vs May, Nola (7-10,4.49) Wed; Dombrowski: prioritize clinching over seeding, Wheeler could skip finale to start WC Gm1 instead; trail CHC/SD by 1 game for #4 seed (home), else #6 seed travels to ATL (9-4 vs PHI this year)

since Hill's 6/11 CWS acquisition, PHI bench hitting .284 (MLB best) since; trio combined .394/4HR/1.200 OPS in 34 PA entering 8th+; nickname from coach Paco Figueroa; De La Cruz promoted from AAA 7/21; self-officiated batting-cage game to stay sharp

Urquidy claimed off waivers from CWS, threw 4.2 scoreless (6K/0BB) debut vs NYM next night, not postseason-eligible; Cortes eligible but "has not looked like the pitcher he once was"; same game Kerkering allowed 2-run HR to Soto, 7th of last 8 outings w/ an ER; Kerkering: hitters "sitting on" his sweeper -- directly contextualizes spine fact (Kerkering optioned 9/20)

Sanchez struck out six over 6 1/3 innings before manager Don Mattingly pulled him at 98 pitches, a decision Sanchez visibly disagreed with; Justin Crawford's bases-clearing triple broke the game open.

Reading swept Hartford in the opening round; several regulars who helped it get there were instead assigned up to Triple-A for the stretch run, and Alex Binelas suffered a season-ending injury in his first days at Lehigh Valley.

Dombrowski's contract runs through 2027; he told USA Today's Bob Nightengale he intends to remain in charge of baseball operations beyond that.