Podcast Episode
#48 | Six Games Left: Can the Phillies Find Their October Form?
About this episode
The magic number to clinch a playoff spot is three—but with the Brewers and Rays coming to Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies have to prove they're actually ready for October.Josh Liddick and Austin Myers are back together after a couple weeks of solo shows, and there's a lot to unpack. The Phillies are clinging to the final NL Wild Card spot, a game back of the Cubs and Padres, with a four-game cushion over the D-Backs. But the vibes are shaky—after a scorching August, the offense has gone cold in September, and the Braves already wrapped up the division without much resistance.The guys dig into what a Wild Card matchup in Atlanta would actually look like, and why Austin isn't as scared of the Braves' pitching as you'd expect given the season series. They also break down the scramble atop the Wild Card race, with the red-hot Padres (winners of nine of their last 10) looking like the team nobody wants to face.On the pitching side, Aaron Nola's second-half turnaround takes center stage—a 2.92 ERA since July 5th that's quietly made him the Phillies' most reliable arm not named Wheeler or Sánchez, even as questions swirl about Jesús Luzardo's health and return timeline. The bullpen conversation isn't as rosy: Orion Kerkering's late-season collapse has him optioned to Triple-A, leaving Andrew Painter, Alex McFarlane, and a resurgent Jose Alvarado to fill the gaps behind Jhoan Duran.Offensively, Josh and Austin give credit where it's due—Alec Bohm, Justin Crawford, and Luis Arráez have carried the lineup lately—but the message is clear: Schwarber, Turner, and Harper need to wake up if this team wants to make noise in October.Looking ahead, the Phillies open a three-game set with the Brewers on Tuesday before setting up a pivotal final weekend against the AL's top-seeded Rays. Can the Phillies find their swing before the games start counting for real?Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeartRadio, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (Red Pinstripe Press) and Austin Myers (Phillies Perspective) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils YouTube channel.Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.Episode timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome back & setting the stage for the final week05:19 – Breaking down the NL wild card race09:25 – The red-hot Padres and trade deadline what-ifs13:47 – Aaron Nola's remarkable turnaround24:59 – Bullpen crisis: Kerkering demoted, who steps up?33:11 – Alvarado's redemption and the Painter/Urquidy bullpen question42:52 – The offense needs to wake up44:58 – Bohm, Crawford, and Arráez carrying the lineup50:21 – Previewing the Brewers and Rays series52:23 – Chasing 90 wins and closing thoughts