The Philadelphia Phillies have established an eight-game lead in the National League East and are poised to clinch the division in the coming days. With that in mind, their attention is now turning to the postseason.
If the season ended today, the Phillies would secure the No. 1 seed in the National League. While having this top seed is advantageous in a competitive league, recent seasons have shown that home-field advantage isn’t always a guarantee of success. Nonetheless, playing more games at Citizens Bank Park would certainly be beneficial.
For the Phillies, October is crucial. They recognized this focus at the start of Spring Training, and after 150 games, their performance in the final month will ultimately define their season.
While key players like Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are expected to deliver in crucial moments, others on the roster also need to step up, including left-handed reliever Matt Strahm.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic highlighted Strahm as an “under-the-radar” player for October.
“At 32, Matt Strahm is having his best season, posting a 2.06 ERA and a 0.794 WHIP in a career-high 60 appearances. He has struck out 69 batters and walked only 11 in 56 2/3 innings, with opposing hitters batting just .169 against his fastball and .129 against his slider.”
General Manager Sam Fuld believes Strahm has been undervalued despite being an All-Star, emphasizing his ability to handle both lefties and righties in any situation. “Strahm is that guy for us. He may not fit the traditional ‘under-the-radar’ label since he’s an All-Star, but he’s an underappreciated player who competes hard and wants the ball.”
With a 2.06 ERA, 2.50 FIP, and 198 ERA+, Strahm will be essential in key moments during the upcoming postseason.
