Phillies’ grueling September schedule will decide their playoff fate
18 of 24 games remaining are against playoff teams
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates his walk-off two-run home run during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.
Eric Hartline
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning two RBI walk off triple in the tenth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.
Bill Streicher
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brooks Raley (30) and catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) react to a victory against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) leads off the game with a home run against the Minnesota Twins at the Field of Dreams.
Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) in the dugout before start of game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park.
The gruesome journey of the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies has arrived at a crossroads as the calendar flips to September. One path leads to the postseason and another opportunity to duke it out for the World Series title. The other path is riddled with shame and disgrace as the team with a top-five payroll misses the playoffs entirely.
Which direction the Phillies take will be decided over the next four weeks.
There will be no leisurely stroll to the finish line. The month of September brings the Phillies face-to-face with an assortment of division rivals, playoff contenders, and some of the best teams in baseball. Every victory could strengthen the Phillies’ position while hindering that of an opponent’s. Every loss could find the Phillies on the precipice of disaster.
For five months, the Phillies have battled to keep their season alive. They have seen managers, player positions and even entire offensive stratagems come and go. Now, the room for error and reinvention is gone. If the Phillies want to continue playing in October, they need to prove it in September.
Where things stand going into September
After a league-best 21-7 record in the month of August, the Phillies (78-60) enter September tied with the Chicago Cubs record-wise. The Cubs own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Phillies, putting the Phillies in the second of three National League Wild Card positions. Having defeated the Diamondbacks (73-66) on Monday, the Phillies left the San Diego Padres (73-65) a 0.5-game edge for the final Wild Card slot.
Ahead of the three Wild Card teams are the three NL division leaders. The Milwaukee Brewers (85-53) own the best record in baseball, putting them atop the NL Central. Behind the Brewers are the NL West-leading and two-time defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers (82-55). Right behind the Dodgers stand the Braves (82-56), who own a 4.0-game lead over the Phillies in the division.
With seven games remaining against the Braves over the final month of action, the Phillies may not need to settle for a Wild Card slot and can still make a move to defend their NL East title.
The road ahead for the Phillies
September begins just as August concluded for the Phillies. Up 1-0 against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies have two games remaining against the Wild Card rival before concluding the final West Coast road trip of the regular season.
The Phillies’ series against the Diamondbacks marked the start of a 13-game stretch against teams in the postseason hunt. They return home for a Labor Day wraparound series against the NL East-leading Braves. Thus far this season, the Braves have dominated the Phillies. In six contests, the Braves have won five times, outscoring the Phillies 32-16. The four-game set in Philadelphia is the first of two straight weekend series against their rivals as the Phillies travel to Atlanta September 11-13.
In between the two Braves series is a three-game set against the Houston Astros (70-68), one of two American League division leaders the Phillies face in September.
Following an off day on Monday, September 14, the Phillies have an odd two-game stop in the Washington against the Nationals. The Phillies will then skip the Philadelphia stop on I-95 and instead travel to Queens for a four-game series against the Mets.
Off on September 21, the Phillies will return to Citizens Bank Park for the final homestand of the regular season. They will host the Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays (82-55) in their final six regular season games.
The commonality between the two clubs? The pair own the best records in the National League and American League, respectively.
Eye on the prize
Twenty-four games remaining. Eighteen games against playoff teams. Thirteen games against division leaders.
The Phillies have a difficult road ahead of them in September, but diamonds are made under pressure. There is no opportunity for the team to slow down, no break to come.
The ultimate goal for the team remains the same: winning the World Series. If they can not only survive but thrive through the month of September, nothing will be able to stop the Phillies in Red October.
