<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-did-walker-buehler-have-strong-debut-royals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Did Phillies’ Walker Buehler have a strong debut vs. Royals?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Philadelphia-Phillies-pitcher-Walker-Buehler.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Did Phillies’ Walker Buehler have a strong debut vs. Royals?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T21:11:22-07:00">September 12th, 9:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T21:16:31-07:00">September 12th, 9:16pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-walker-buehler-joining-active-roster-as-jose-alvarado-lands-on-il">Philadelphia Phillies welcomed Walker Buehler for his debut</a> on Friday night, and he helped the team secure an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park.</p><p>The 31-year-old right-hander, whom <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-releases-walker-buehler-bullpen-move">the Boston Red Sox released</a> on August 29, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-signing-walker-buehler-postseason-push">signed with the Phillies</a> two days later, pitched five innings of one-run baseball, giving up five hits, walking one, hitting a batter, and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/baseball/walker-buehlers-phillies-debut-leads-rout-royals--flm-2025-09-13/" rel="noopener">striking out three</a>.</p><p>Buehler’s first inning saw a brief scare when Bobby Witt Jr. singled, stole second, and scored on a Maikel Garcia single, giving the Royals an early 1-0 lead. After that, Buehler settled in, inducing 11 swings and misses, tied for his second-highest total in any outing this season and his highest since June 17.</p><p>He threw 90 pitches, 63.3% of which were hard pitches, including a 93.8 mph four-seam fastball, while going to a 0-2 count four times and generating weak contact in his final frame. This was only the fifth time Buehler finished at least five innings while allowing one run or less this season.</p><p>The Phillies’ offense supported their newcomer emphatically. Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field two-run homer in the third inning, his 26th of the season, giving Philadelphia a lead they would not relinquish. Brandon Marsh followed with a triple and scored on an Otto Kemp single, while Rafael Marchan, Harrison Bader, and Kyle Schwarber hit consecutive doubles in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-1. Bryson Stott added a two-run homer in the seventh.</p><p>The team recorded 14 hits, their fourth straight game with double-digit hits, and had contributions from six multihit players, including Bader, who notched his fifth consecutive multihit game, a new career high.</p><p>The bullpen, featuring Tanner Banks, Tim Mayza, Orion Kerkering, and Max Lazar, efficiently closed out the final four innings, allowing only one additional run. While Edmundo Sosa experienced a minor setback by exiting in the seventh due to groin tightness, manager Rob Thomson praised Buehler’s debut as a valuable addition, noting it provides extra rest for the Phillies’ rotation and another potential option for the postseason.</p><p>The Phillies improved to 88-60, increasing their lead in the NL East to 12 games and lowering their magic number to clinch the division to three.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Did Phillies’ Walker Buehler have a strong debut vs. Royals?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-phillies-bryce-harper-shuts-down-rumors-of-kyle-schwarber-jealousy');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ Bryce Harper shuts down rumors of Kyle Schwarber jealousy');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bryce-Harper-is-preparing-to-have-a-big-postseason.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ Bryce Harper shuts down rumors of Kyle Schwarber jealousy</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T17:23:47-07:00">September 12th, 5:23pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T17:23:47-07:00">September 12th, 5:23pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies are running away with the National League East and they appear to be days away from clinching the division title. It looked like the Phillies might be engaged in a tough battle with the New York Mets, but their long-time rivals have gone into a deep slump and the Phillies have an 11-game lead in the race with slightly more than two weeks to go in the regular season.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Love this from Bryce. <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoulTerritoryTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/vJOnGC6DJa">pic.twitter.com/vJOnGC6DJa</a></p><p>— Jack Fritz (@JackFritzWIP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackFritzWIP/status/1966593115969503601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p> </p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-walker-buehler-joining-active-roster-as-jose-alvarado-lands-on-il">The Phillies</a> have been riding the hot bat of designated hitter Kyle Schwarber throughout the season. Schwarber has been a dominant home run hitting machine and Phillies fans cheer wildly every time he comes to the plate at Citizens Bank Ballpark.</p><p>The slugger has bashed a league-leading 50 home runs and has driven in 123 runs with 306 total bases while slashing .242/.367/.560. He has been an imposing figure in the National League this season.</p><p>Interestingly, teammate Bryce Harper has had just an ordinary year by his standards. He has 25 home runs and 70 RBI, and he has had to surrender his dominant role on the team to Schwarber.</p><p>Harper has regularly been the Phillies leader and there have been questions about whether he is jealous of his teammate. He recently explained that he knows his time to show what he can do is coming and that jealousy is not a factor.</p><h2><b>Harper has confidence he can come through in the postseason</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Kyle-Schwarber-continues-to-pound-home-runs-for-the-Phillies.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Harper has enjoyed the spotlight throughout his career with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-bryce-harpers-brutally-honest-take-2025-season">the Phillies</a>. He told Fox baseball insider Ken Rosenthal that he has <a href="https://twitter.com/JackFritzWIP/status/1966593115969503601">full confidence</a> in his abilities and he knows he can come through when the lights are brightest. He believes he can do that again for the Phillies in the upcoming National League playoffs.</p><p>Harper has excelled in his career in the National League Divisional Series as well as the National League Championship Series in his career. He has played in the NLDS seven times and he has bashed 11 home runs and driven in 23 runs while slashing .291/.404/.667</p><p>He has been to the NLCS twice and he has belted 4 home runs and driven in 8 runs.</p><p>Once the Phillies get to the postseason, the combination of Schwarber and Harper have a chance to be quite formidable. Both have a history of delivering big hits in the postseason, and there is little doubt that the Phillies have the ability to intimidate opponents.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ Bryce Harper shuts down rumors of Kyle Schwarber jealousy

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-dfa-pitcher-after-selecting-walker-buehlers-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies DFA pitcher after selecting Walker Buehler’s contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Philadelphia-Phillies-starting-pitcher-Walker-Buehler.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies DFA pitcher after selecting Walker Buehler’s contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T13:12:43-07:00">September 12th, 1:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T14:07:16-07:00">September 12th, 2:07pm</time><address><a>Zachary Howell</a>Zachary Howell is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints focusing on creating premier MLB content. He is a big fan of the Yankees, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Syracuse Orange. In his free time, he likes to be outside or read.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies are in the middle of a two-team race for the top seed in the National League. Thanks to a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-rob-thomson-kyle-schwarber-50th-home-run">dominant stretch from Kyle Schwarber</a>, Rob Thomson’s squad is looking good ahead of the playoffs. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-signing-walker-buehler-postseason-push">Phillies even added former Boston Red Sox starter Walker Buehler</a> to bolster their rotation. However, Jose Alvarado and Matt Manning had to move to make space.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-releases-walker-buehler-bullpen-move">Red Sox let Buehler go</a> after he failed to overcome a slow start to the season. Thomson and Philadelphia jumped at the chance to bring him in, adding Buehler to a pitching staff that needs him. However, the team ran into the issue of having too many players on the roster. In order to accommodate the addition, the Phillies decided to designate starting pitcher Matt Manning for assignment.</p><p>Alvarado, who is finally back after a lengthy suspension, is now on the injured list. The reliever hopes to be back before the postseason begins. For now, Buehler’s introduction to and integration with the pitching staff is the team’s main concern. Philadelphia <a href="https://x.com/Phillies/status/1966588945619124650" rel="noopener">announced the roster moves</a> on its social media page, setting the stage for Buehler moving forward.</p><p>“The Phillies selected the contract of RHP Walker Buehler (No. 31) from Lehigh Valley (AAA),” the post said. “To make room on the 28-man roster, LHP José Alvarado was placed on the 15-day IL (retro to 9/11) with a left forearm strain &amp; to make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Matt Manning was DFA’d.”</p><p>Philadelphia hopes that Buehler left his struggles in Boston as it prepares for a playoff run. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-world-series-mission">Schwarber is confident in the Phillies’ championship aspirations</a> this season, and another effective starter could be what takes the team over the hump. For now, Philadelphia will get a look at Buehler as he tries to take advantage of the rest of the regular season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies DFA pitcher after selecting Walker Buehler’s contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-walker-buehler-joining-active-roster-as-jose-alvarado-lands-on-il');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ Walker Buehler joining active roster as Jose Alvarado lands on IL');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-P-Walker-Buehler-with-Red-Sox.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ Walker Buehler joining active roster as Jose Alvarado lands on IL</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T13:05:58-07:00">September 12th, 1:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T14:17:24-07:00">September 12th, 2:17pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fresh off a sweep of the second-place New York Mets, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-ken-rosenthal-chemistry-gives-philadelphia-edge-over-mets">Philadelphia Phillies are closing in on capturing the NL East</a>. A division title would almost certainly lead to a first-round bye in the upcoming postseason bracket, as the Phillies are currently the NL’s second overall seed, behind the Milwaukee Brewers. As the Phillies prepare to host the Kansas City Royals for a weekend series, the home team made a couple of roster moves. According to team beat writer Matt Gelb via X, formerly Twitter, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-signing-walker-buehler-postseason-push">Philadelphia will promote pitcher Walker Buehler</a> to <a href="https://x.com/MattGelb/status/1966577597376045241" rel="noopener">the active roster on Friday.</a></p><p>“Phillies are putting José Alvarado on the IL to get Walker Buehler on active roster,” reported Gelb on Friday. “They’ll make a 40-man roster move too.”</p><p>Alvarado’s placement on the IL comes shortly after his appearance versus the Mets on Wednesday. While it’s currently unknown what <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-philadelphia-welcomes-jose-alvarado-back-suspension">injury Alvarado is dealing with,</a> the Phillies hope he’ll be able to come back soon. After missing a large chunk of the season due to suspension, the hope was that the fireballing veteran would serve a key role in the playoff bullpen.</p><p>Now, the hope is that he’s back soon. In the meantime, Buehler will make his first start for Philadelphia since joining the team following his release from the Boston Red Sox. Can the Phillies continue their hot streak against the visitors from the AL Central?</p><h2><b>Phillies look to clinch the NL East within the next few days</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-RP-Jose-Alvarado.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite an unsuccessful tenure with the Red Sox, it’s clear why the Phillies took a chance on Buehler. His performance in last year’s World Series was the reason why Boston spent $21 million on the former Los Angeles Dodger this past winter. That performance is one that the Phillies hope Buehler replicates for at least the next few weeks.</p><p>While it’s certainly possible that Buehler cannot recapture that form, it’s a risk that could be worth it for both sides. After all, the goal for the Phillies is to get back to the World Series. While the Brewers are currently the top seed, Philadelphia could certainly overtake them over the next couple of weeks.</p><p>Can <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-walker-buehler-crushes-abs-system-after-minor-league-stint">Buehler help the Phillies accomplish</a> their Fall Classic dreams? If so, it will be the second straight championship that the right-hander has captured.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ Walker Buehler joining active roster as Jose Alvarado lands on IL

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-walker-buehler-crushes-abs-system-after-minor-league-stint');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ Walker Buehler crushes ABS system after minor league stint');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Walker-Buehler-of-the-Boston-Red-Sox.jpg"><figcaption>Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ Walker Buehler crushes ABS system after minor league stint</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T10:33:05-07:00">September 12th, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T10:33:37-07:00">September 12th, 10:33am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Walker Buehler is happy to get another shot in The Show, but not just for the reasons one may assume. The two-time All-Star, who has not appeared in an MLB game since the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-releases-walker-buehler-bullpen-move">Boston Red Sox cut ties with him</a> in late August, is eager to get away from the automated-ball-strike (ABS) system that is currently being used in the minor leagues.</p><p>Following a brief stint with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he is <a href="https://x.com/OnPattison/status/1966241204213022930" rel="noopener">voicing his strong opinion</a> on the innovative technology that is expected to make its way to MLB in the near future.</p><p>“I think it’s inaccurate,” Buehler told reporters on Thursday, via the On Pattison X account. “I think in most of the stadiums, it’s not even actually on the plate. I think it shifts certain directions in certain ballparks. I think the human element is a huge part of this game. I think starting pitchers that have pitched for a long time deserve certain parts of the plate that other guys don’t get.</p><p>“When I got to the big leagues, I didn’t get every part of the zone that other guys did, and I think that’s part of our game and should be. I think the punishment for challenging something that’s clearly a strike is not big enough. I could kind of go on.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Walker Buehler … not a fan of ABS. </p><p>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/TimKellySports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimKellySports</a>) <a href="https://t.co/Z2qC55nY0V">pic.twitter.com/Z2qC55nY0V</a></p><p>— On Pattison (@OnPattison) <a href="https://twitter.com/OnPattison/status/1966241204213022930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2>Will ABS work at the MLB level?</h2><p>Buehler’s argument that all hurlers should go through a rite of passage when it comes to the strike zone is the exact type of selective officiating the league is seeking to eliminate with ABS. Ideally, neither the pitcher nor batter would have to worry about star power or experience factoring into a potentially critical decision. Players have embraced many of baseball’s recent changes, but as you can see, there are some who take the “unwritten rules” seriously.</p><p>Although the veteran right-hander has had no qualms about expressing his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-walker-buehlers-blunt-4-word-reaction-to-crew-chiefs-explanation-after-ejection">ardent displeasure with an umpire’s call</a> in the past, he clearly believes that the sport is not ready for Robo-umps. MLB implemented the system in spring training games this year and in the All-Star Game, suggesting that it is only a matter of time before it is used on a full-time basis in the big leagues. Though, there are other pitchers who share Buehler’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-diego-padres/padres-news-padres-ace-yu-darvish-not-fan-abs-challenge-system">anti-ABS stance</a>.</p><p>The two-time World Series champion does acknowledge the benefits of the system, but he believes there are simply too many flaws to justify its presence in the game today.</p><p>“I don’t think we have any idea where to put it on the plate,” Walker Buehler said. “I don’t think we have any idea how to function it correctly in terms of the angles and ballparks. I don’t think the umpires unions are going to be very happy about it. So, there’s a lot of negatives about the ABS.”</p><h2><b>Buehler’s focus shifts to Phillies’ title aspirations </b></h2><p>The 31-year-old should accept ABS’ inevitable arrival, but MLB is hopefully taking his concerns into account. An imprecise system that delays the game and raises tempers on the mound would not work for anyone. The Joint Competition Committee is supposed to meet soon to discuss the possibility of officially using ABS in the 2026 regular season. That is not Buehler’s concern right now, however.</p><p>He will make his Phillies debut on Friday night versus the visiting Kansas City Royals. If all goes well during the final couple weeks of the campaign, the Lexington, Kentucky native will have a chance to earn a spot on the team’s playoffs roster. Buehler is 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings pitched in 2025. The ABS cannot do anything for those numbers, but maybe the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-world-series-mission">forthcoming October vibes</a> are just what he needs to get right.</p><p>Walker Buehler posted a 3.04 ERA and 29.4 strikeout percentage in 19 postseason games with the Los Angeles Dodgers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ Walker Buehler crushes ABS system after minor league stint

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-ken-rosenthal-chemistry-gives-philadelphia-edge-over-mets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ken Rosenthal says ‘chemistry’ gives Phillies an edge over Mets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-news-Ken-Rosenthal-says-chemistry-gives-Philadelphia-an-edge-over-Mets.jpg"><figcaption>© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Ken Rosenthal says ‘chemistry’ gives Phillies an edge over Mets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T09:03:26-07:00">September 12th, 9:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T09:03:26-07:00">September 12th, 9:03am</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/colinloughran">Colin Loughran</a>Colin Loughran is a NYC-based Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He has spent several years covering sports and has worked for outlets such as the New York Post, AP Radio, and FanSided. Colin is also a three-time NYSBA award winner and a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-bryce-harpers-brutally-honest-take-2025-season">Philadelphia Phillies completed a four-game sweep</a> of the New York Mets on Thursday night and added to their National League East lead in the process. At 87-60 on the season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/3-phillies-who-must-step-up-alongside-bryce-harper-in-playoffs">Philadelphia is now 11 games ahead of New York</a> in the standings.</p><p>Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently highlighted the Phillies’ chemistry as one of the club’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6622824/2025/09/12/philadelphia-phillies-bryce-harper-kyle-schwarber/" rel="noopener">driving forces.</a></p><p>“Big stars create a different and occasionally uncomfortable dynamic. The Mets’ big stars, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, are viewed by those with the club as good people. They work hard and surely want to win as much as Harper, Schwarber and Turner. But something appears off with this team. And while it might be easy to blame the $765 million addition of Soto, it would be too simple a narrative. Soto sure seemed to fit in well with the New York Yankees last season. He’s also in the middle of a 39-homer, 31-stolen base season, and is tied with Schwarber for fourth in the majors in OPS,” Rosenthal wrote.</p><p>“Chemistry can be elusive, difficult to capture, difficult to define. But whatever that quality is, the Phillies sure seem to have it. Part of it stems from their last-hurrah mentality, knowing Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto and left-hander Ranger Suarez are potential free agents. Part of it stems from their deadline additions, who created a special energy. And part of it stems from Schwarber, one of the game’s most respected leaders and humble characters.”</p><p>The Mets won the season series against the Phillies, but have struggled to remain consistent throughout the campaign. They swept Philadelphia at home last month, but are 4-9 since that set.</p><p>The Phillies have gone 10-3 since that series concluded, and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/max-kepler-drives-in-5-runs-as-phillies-rout-mets" rel="noopener">look primed</a> to make a deep October run.</p><p>“I’m really proud of the ballclub,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told MLB.com. ” … I think everybody understands where we’re at and what we need to do to get this thing done. And things change in a heartbeat, so I’m not counting my chickens right now.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ken Rosenthal says ‘chemistry’ gives Phillies an edge over Mets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-bryce-harpers-brutally-honest-take-2025-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bryce Harper’s brutally honest take on Phillies’ 2025 regular season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sep-10-2025-Philadelphia-Pennsylvania-USA-Philadelphia-Phillies-first-base-Bryce-Harper-3-watches-his-ball-clear-the-wall.jpg"><figcaption>© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bryce Harper’s brutally honest take on Phillies’ 2025 regular season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T06:22:59-07:00">September 12th, 6:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T06:22:59-07:00">September 12th, 6:22am</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/colinloughran">Colin Loughran</a>Colin Loughran is a NYC-based Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He has spent several years covering sports and has worked for outlets such as the New York Post, AP Radio, and FanSided. Colin is also a three-time NYSBA award winner and a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The 2025 regular season is winding down, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/3-phillies-who-must-step-up-alongside-bryce-harper-in-playoffs">Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper</a> recently expressed his honest opinion on how the campaign has progressed.</p><p>Harper told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6622824/2025/09/12/philadelphia-phillies-bryce-harper-kyle-schwarber/" rel="noopener"> he is pleased</a> with how the season has gone, even though he missed more than three weeks on the injured list with right wrist inflammation.</p><p>“I’m happy about it. Obviously, missing (time) with my wrist and coming back from that, not knowing what I was going to feel like, it’s not a year I want to have every year. But as of right now, I’ll take it,” Harper said.</p><p>“I’m just trying to have a good last three weeks and take that into the postseason. You know I love playing in the postseason, the bright lights, the bigger moments, things like that. I’m super excited for that opportunity.”</p><p>Across 119 games, Harper has hit 25 home runs, collected 70 RBIs, and earned an .852 OPS. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 91st percentile in Batting Run Value.</p><p>While the traditional marks are down from his normal production, he has remained a vital piece of the Phillies’ puzzle in terms of his approach and leadership. The 32-year-old has attempted to be the best teammate possible as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-fatal-flaw-doom-2025-world-series-hopes">Phillies aim to return to the World Series</a> for the first time since 2022.</p><p>“At the end of the day, I’m still me, whatever that looks like,” Harper said. “Each night I go out there and just try to be Bryce. I understand any given night can be special for me. If I can play good baseball and do my job, that’s all that matters.</p><p>“When you start making it about you or I or anything like that, things start falling apart. You don’t want that to happen. It’s a big team in here. We have a lot of fun together. We pull on that same rope together. It’s been a blast.”</p><p>The Phillies are currently 87-60 and hold the top spot in the National League East.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bryce Harper’s brutally honest take on Phillies’ 2025 regular season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-jesus-luzardo-instant-reaction-amazing-turnaround-vs-mets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo’s instant reaction to amazing turnaround vs. Mets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-Jesus-Luzardo-is-pumped-up.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo’s instant reaction to amazing turnaround vs. Mets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T23:56:45-07:00">September 11th, 11:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T23:57:07-07:00">September 11th, 11:57pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies (87-60) have pushed through the deluge of adversity that has flooded the clubhouse over the last month and are drawing closer to the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (89-58), as home-field advantage in the playoffs looms large (49-23 record at Citizens Bank Park). Though, no matter where the Fightin’ Phils play in October, they will need to have nerves of steel. Adversity cannot rattle them like the last two years. Well, perhaps Jesus Luzardo could help on that front.</p><p>Following a brutal start to Thursday’s series finale versus the New York Mets, which saw him allow four runs on five hits in the first inning, the veteran left-handed starting pitcher composed himself and did not allow another baserunner across the next seven innings. What began as another rough outing against the Orange and Blue quickly became <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-pitching-masterpiece-mets-give-roy-halladay-flashbacks">a masterful performance</a> that allowed the Phillies to earn a sweep-clinching, 6-4 comeback victory.</p><p>It also served as a lesson for all the aspiring big-leaguers out there: a bad stretch does not have to define your entire game. Luzardo retired 22 straight batters and finished with 10 strikeouts. Rarely does a pitcher enjoy such a drastic turnaround. The 27-year-old morphed into a completely different hurler on the mound in an instant.</p><p>Philly is not surprised, though. The organization knows what kind of a difference-maker he can be, hence why president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acquired him from the Miami Marlins last December. Whether Luzardo is starting or working out of the bullpen this postseason, he has the ability to boost this franchise toward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-world-series-mission">its ultimate goal</a>. He showed as much on Thursday night.</p><h2><b>Jesus Luzardo said all the right things after Phillies’ win</b></h2><p>The 2016 third-round draft pick stayed humble after the triumph, <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1966371835907330224" rel="noopener">crediting the squad’s lineup</a> for instilling confidence in him.</p><p>“A lot of faith obviously in our offense,” Luzardo told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal after the thriller. “The mindset was hold them there and we have a potent offense, so let them do what they do best and just give us a chance to win… You just get into a flow state, like we like to call it. Not many thoughts, you’re just kind of going and you’re kind of throwing everything where you want to.”</p><p>Luzardo is bias, but his glowing praise for the lineup is completely accurate. It was not just the star players who got the job done at the plate in this one. Otto Kemp capped off a productive series versus the Mets by going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, and midseason acquisition Harrison Bader drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Bryce Harper lived up to his credentials, recording two hits and two RBIs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">After giving up four runs in the first inning, Jesús Luzardo pitched seven dominant scoreless innings to get the win as the Phillies swept the Mets. 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ken_Rosenthal</a> caught up with the Phillies SP after the big win tonight ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/QP3w8Nrar5">pic.twitter.com/QP3w8Nrar5</a></p><p>— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1966335231465812339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Closer Jhoan Duran, who, like Bader, came over in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, struck out Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos in the ninth. This club fired on all cylinders in The Bank. But Jesus Luzardo deserves special recognition for adjusting quickly and having a ridiculously short memory. His resilient showing encapsulates what this team has become in the second half of the campaign.</p><p>When the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-philadelphia-reacts-to-zack-wheelers-announcement">Phillies lost ace Zack Wheeler</a> for the season due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome, it would have been easy to waver internally. The same could have been said when excellent shortstop Trea Turner and 2024 All-Star Alec Bohm landed on the injured list earlier this week.</p><p>Instead, this group proceeded to win four straight against New York and build an insurmountable 11-game lead in the National League East. Philadelphia is somehow growing stronger after absorbing these blows. That quality is essential in the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo’s instant reaction to amazing turnaround vs. Mets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-pitching-masterpiece-mets-give-roy-halladay-flashbacks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ pitching masterpiece vs. Mets will give fans Roy Halladay flashbacks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jesus-Luzardo.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ pitching masterpiece vs. Mets will give fans Roy Halladay flashbacks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T21:17:42-07:00">September 11th, 9:17pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T21:33:42-07:00">September 11th, 9:33pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies completed a four-game sweep of the New York Mets with a 6-4 win in Thursday’s series finale. Philadelphia now has a commanding 11-game lead in the division as the team <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-world-series-mission">eyes a deep postseason run</a>.</p><p>The Phillies enjoyed strong starting pitching performances throughout the four-game series. But Thursday’s outing by Jesus Luzardo was particularly impressive.</p><p>The seventh-year starter and closer Jhoan Duran combined to throw eight perfect innings. It was just the <a href="https://x.com/Paul_CasellaMLB/status/1966333834309279963" rel="noopener">second time</a> in 50 years that the Phillies didn’t allow any baserunners after the first inning, per MLB.com’s Paul Casella. The only other time the team accomplished the feat was in Roy Halladay’s perfect game on May 29, 2010.</p><h2><b>Jesus Luzardo dominated after a rocky start in Phillies’ 6-4 win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jesus-Luzardo-2.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thursday’s achievement is all the more impressive considering that Luzardo got rocked early in the game. The Mets tagged the veteran lefty for four runs on five hits in the first frame. But after that, Luzardo locked in. He was perfect over the next seven innings, allowing no runs, no hits and no walks.</p><p>The Phillies battled back and took a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning. Duran then got the call in the ninth and struck out the side, completing an eighth straight perfect inning.</p><p>Overall, Luzardo gave up four runs on five hits and zero walks with 10 strikeouts in eight innings. He earned his 14th win of the season and Duran picked up his 29th save of the year.</p><p>The victory capped a four-game sweep of the Mets. And, despite missing Zack Wheeler, the Phillies’ rotation shined throughout the series. Aaron Nola out-dueled New York rookie Nolan McLean in the opener, tossing six scoreless innings.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-ranger-suarez-sets-new-career-high-in-incredible-start-vs-mets">Ranger Suarez set a new career-high</a> with 12 strikeouts in Tuesday’s game. He also went six scoreless innings allowing just one hit and three walks as Philadelphia won 9-3. And Cristopher Sanchez improved to 13-5 after giving up one run in six innings on Wednesday.</p><p>While Sanchez dominated, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-clay-holmes-struggles-to-explain-ny-woes">Clay Holmes struggled</a> against the Phillies. He was chased from the game after four innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks. Philadelphia went on to win 11-3.</p><p>The Phillies’ outscored the Mets 27-10 over the series. The team begins a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ pitching masterpiece vs. Mets will give fans Roy Halladay flashbacks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-fans-rip-ny-swept-phillies');   ga('set', 'title', 'Fans ruthlessly rip Mets after getting swept by Phillies');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Carlos-Mendoza.jpg"><figcaption>© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Fans ruthlessly rip Mets after getting swept by Phillies</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T20:37:44-07:00">September 11th, 8:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T22:46:34-07:00">September 11th, 10:46pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Thursday night, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-carlos-mendoza-calls-out-whos-responsible-for-brutal-skid">the Philadelphia Phillies handed the New York Mets a brutal reality check</a>, completing a four-game sweep with a 6-4 victory in the finale at LoanDepot Park. The loss was the Mets’ sixth consecutive defeat, dropping their record to 76-71, while the Phillies improved to 87-60. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/1-mets-player-who-must-step-up-in-nl-wild-card-race-with-giants-reds">Once holding a five-game cushion in the National League Wild Card race</a> over Labor Day Weekend, the Mets now cling to a slim 1.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants for the final playoff spot, effectively 2.5 games over San Francisco due to the tiebreaker.</p><p>The loss and the series sweep left the Mets fans fuming, with many <a href="https://x.com/Mets/status/1966313922417537435" rel="noopener">venting their anger</a> over the team’s dismal showing.</p><p>“Never seen a pro team with more quit in it than this one. Softest baseball team this century,” <a href="https://x.com/zachTNT/status/1966314128663843241" rel="noopener">one fan wrote</a>.</p><p>“No heart. No toughness. No leadership from a single player,” <a href="https://x.com/sean_p_sullivan/status/1966316294430412984" rel="noopener">another fan added</a>.</p><p>“Just do us all a favor and forfeit the rest of the season, can’t bear watching this team much longer. No heart, no consistency,” <a href="https://x.com/FaxShepard/status/1966339212875117034" rel="noopener">another fan added</a>.</p><p>“Overpaid quitters!” <a href="https://x.com/ejprinting/status/1966316029581074785" rel="noopener">one more fan added</a>.</p><p>“Get rid of everyone,” <a href="https://x.com/30Northstar/status/1966325896698122336" rel="noopener">another fan demanded</a>.</p><p>The Mets began Thursday’s matchup with a strong offensive burst, scoring four runs in the first inning against Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto singled back-to-back, accompanied by a successful double steal, followed by an RBI single from Mark Vientos and a single from Brandon Nimmo. Starling Marte added a double off the top of the left-field wall, giving the Mets a 4-0 lead.</p><p>However, Luzardo quickly regained control, retiring 22 consecutive batters and finishing eight innings with four runs allowed on five hits, 10 strikeouts, and no walks. Also, this was the first time a Phillies pitcher allowed four runs in the first inning and completed eight innings since Steve Carlton in 1977.</p><p>The Phillies began their comeback in the fourth inning when Otto Kemp launched a two-run homer off David Peterson, the young Mets lefty who had pitched five innings with three earned runs on seven hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts. Bryce Harper’s two-run RBI double in the fifth, aided by a misplay from Jeff McNeil in center field, brought Philadelphia within a run at 4-3.</p><p>The sixth inning proved decisive as Reed Garrett struggled out of the bullpen, allowing back-to-back doubles from Nick Castellanos and Kemp, followed by walks to Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber, and singles from Harrison Bader and Harper. The rally produced three runs, handing the Phillies a 6-4 lead. Brooks Raley was unable to stop the damage, though Tyler Rogers and Edwin Diaz pitched perfect innings thereafter. Bader finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and is now 19-for-36 in nine games against his former team.</p><p>The Mets’ struggles at the plate continued late, with Soto, Alonso, and Vientos striking out consecutively against Phillies closer Jhoan Duran, who closed the game with three straight swinging strikeouts on just 11 pitches.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Fans ruthlessly rip Mets after getting swept by Phillies

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-world-series-mission');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kyle Schwarber gets real about World Series mission');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Kyle-Schwarber_a6a12e.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Kyle Schwarber gets real about World Series mission</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T19:12:58-07:00">September 11th, 7:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T19:22:34-07:00">September 11th, 7:22pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies went a long way toward shoring up a division title with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-clay-holmes-struggles-to-explain-ny-woes">dominant showing against the New York Mets</a>. Philadelphia completed a four-game sweep against its NL East foe on Thursday. The Phillies now boast a commanding 11-game lead over New York.</p><p>Kyle Schwarber helped power Philadelphia past the Mets. The three-time All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-immediate-reaction-to-50-hr-feat-in-win-vs-mets">belted his 50th home run of the season</a> off New York reliever Justin Hagenman in Tuesday’s game. Prior to the series finale, Schwarber was asked <a href="https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1966279307254481061" rel="noopener">how he balances</a> celebrating the personal milestone against the team’s goals.</p><p>“I think it’s a great accomplishment. Don’t get me wrong. It’s such an exclusive thing that doesn’t happen much in the game. But at the end of the day we’re here to win. We’re here to win a championship, and we got to get the division first,” Schwarber said, per FOX Sports: MLB.</p><h2><b>Kyle Schwarber leads Phillies past Mets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Kyle-Schwarber-2.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“I think that’s just how my mind works. My mind thinks about our group, our team. Where we’re trying to head and how do we get there. And if you just keep trying to be productive every single day, I feel like good things are going to happen for your team,” Schwarber added.</p><p>The Phillies have been heating up in September. Since the team was swept by the Mets in New York at the end of August, they’ve gone 11-3. And Philadelphia really hit its stride in the Mets series. The Phillies outscored New York 27-10 across four games.</p><p>However, the team has experienced some adversity. The most serious loss impacts the rotation. Ace Zack Wheeler is out for the season. The Phillies also lost Alec Bohm and Trea Turner to the injured list. Although neither is expected to be out long.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-trea-turner-sounds-off-on-hamstring-injury-amid-playoff-uncertainty">Turner hit the 10-day IL</a> with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. But the team anticipates his return prior to the playoffs.</p><p>Even with the injuries, the Phillies remain confident in their ability to compete.</p><p>“We know how to navigate the waters. Obviously we wish that we were at full strength… But we know that there are loose ties and we need to tighten them up as much as we can with the group that we have and we have the individuals to do that. And we’re confident in that. We have a lot of faith in one another,” Schwarber said.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kyle Schwarber gets real about World Series mission

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/3-phillies-who-must-step-up-alongside-bryce-harper-in-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Phillies who must step up alongside Bryce Harper in playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/782161468-bryce-harper-admiring-hit.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>3 Phillies who must step up alongside Bryce Harper in playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T12:45:28-07:00">September 11th, 12:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T12:45:28-07:00">September 11th, 12:45pm</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies are stacked with talent and have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/2025-mlb-power-rankings-vol-25-dodgers-tigers-lose">arguably the best core in baseball</a>. It hasn’t been enough to win the World Series as currently constructed, though, and Philadelphia’s championship window won’t last much longer because the team is one of the oldest teams in baseball by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2025-misc.shtml" rel="noopener">average age</a>. That makes this season a potential last dance of sorts. Bryce Harper is the superstar in Philadelphia. He is an all-time icon and still one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/ranking-50-best-mlb-players-2025-season">best players in MLB.</a></p><p>He has never won the World Series, though, and it would be a travesty if he finished his career ringless. Harper always elevates his game in the big moments, but who else will need to step up in order for the Phillies to make a World Series push? Check out the gallery to find out.</p><h2><b>Trea Turner needs to be healthy and on top of his game</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/782161521-trea-turner-facing-away-from-camera.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Trea Turner has a history of improving come playoff time, but he won’t be going into the 2025 postseason with much momentum, if any at all. The ex-Washington National and 2019 World Series champion is on the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-trea-turner-sounds-off-on-hamstring-injury-amid-playoff-uncertainty">10-day Injured List with a hamstring injury</a>, which is something that has bothered him in the past.</p><p>Turner is expected to be back come playoff time, but he likely won’t take many reps in the weeks leading up to the postseason. The lingering effects of his injury may still bother him in the playoffs, too. If Turner proves to not be 100%, then the Phillies will likely struggle. Turner is a three-time All-Star who has thrice led baseball in hits. He is currently the National League batting average leader, too.</p><p>Bryson Scott and Edmundo Sosa have replaced Turner at shortstop for now. They are okay players in the meantime, but the Phillies are built on star power, and they’ll need Turner to play like a star in the postseason regardless of how his body is holding up.</p><h2><b>Taijuan Walker needs to pitch like an ace</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/782161506-taijuan-walker-catching-a-ball.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The biggest factor that could hold the Phillies back this year is that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-zack-wheeler-2025-season-officially-ends">Zach Wheeler is out for the season</a>. The pitcher was having a Cy Young-caliber season before he was shut down because of a blood-clotting issue. There are other impressive pitchers in Philadelphia, but that leaves the Phillies without their true ace.</p><p>Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo, and Taijuan Walker will all need to step up come playoff time, but Walker stands out as the player who most needs to improve. Sanchez and Suarez have sub-3.00 ERAs, and Luzardo has 190 strikeouts on the season. Expecting major improvement from the seemingly washed-up Nola seems like wishful thinking, too.</p><p>Walker has underwhelmed with a 4.03 ERA, but he has the talent to fill the void left by Wheeler. Walker made the All-Star Game back in 2021, and if he can play at that level again, the Phillies may still have just enough starting pitching depth to get the job done.</p><h2><b>Harrison Bader’s hot streak has to continue</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/782161487-harrison-bader-excited.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-trade-twins-harrison-bader-deadline">Harrison Bader was a trade deadline acquisition</a> for the Phillies. He has been an instrumental player for the team since taking over in center field. In fact, Bader has been one of the best players in baseball during his 34-game Philadelphia tenure. Bader is batting .336 with four home runs since the trade.</p><p>He was expected to be good, but that production has been a pleasant surprise. If Bader can keep it up, the Phillies will be a scary team come playoff time. Bader had never batted higher than .267 in a season prior to this one, so there is a risk of him falling back down to Earth soon.</p><p>If Bader can play like a superstar throughout the playoffs, though, he will join Harper, Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, and J.T. Realmuto as elite offensive players who can single-handedly win their team a playoff game.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Phillies who must step up alongside Bryce Harper in playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-francisco-lindor-hitless-phillies-series');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets’ Francisco Lindor puts himself on blast amid hitless series vs. Phillies');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Francisco-Lindor.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets’ Francisco Lindor puts himself on blast amid hitless series vs. Phillies</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-10T22:30:38-07:00">September 10th, 10:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-10T22:30:38-07:00">September 10th, 10:30pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets are on the verge of a costly four-game sweep, and Francisco Lindor isn’t hiding from it. After a third straight loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, the veteran shortstop delivered a candid message about his performance and the team’s skid. As the NL Wild Card race tightens, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-francisco-lindor-100-after-blowing-lead-braves">Lindor’s remarks underscore the urgency</a> surrounding the club.</p><p>With Mets playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the team was routed 11-3 Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Lindor, hitless in his last 15 at-bats, has gone 0-for-11 through the first three games of the series. He admitted his lack of production has hurt the team at the worst possible time.</p><p>SNYtv took to their official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, sharing a clip of the infielder <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1965964788623610182" rel="noopener">speaking on the need</a> for both individual and team-wide improvement.</p><p>“We’ve just got to play better. I have to play better. I haven’t gotten a hit this series. This late in the year, I’ve got to get on base and I’ve got to help the team.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"We've just got to play better, I have to play better. I haven't gotten a hit this series. This late in the year, I've got to get on base and I've got to help the team."</p><p>– Francisco Lindor <a href="https://t.co/zTGpLcYUGr">pic.twitter.com/zTGpLcYUGr</a></p><p>— SNY (@SNYtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYtv/status/1965964788623610182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Lindor’s accountability comes amid growing frustration from fans, who have raised concerns about the team’s inconsistency and late-season collapse. Despite a 76-70 record, the Mets lead both the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants by just two games in the NL Wild Card race, as both teams close in while New York’s struggles continue.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-clay-holmes-struggles-to-explain-ny-woes">Mets’ ongoing series against the Phillies</a> has exposed issues on both sides of the ball. The club has surrendered 23 runs over the first three games while managing just six of their own. With the offense sputtering and the pitching staff unable to contain opponents, the struggles have come at a critical point in the season.</p><p>With only 16 games left in the regular season, Thursday’s finale in Philadelphia could determine the momentum heading into the final stretch. Whether Lindor’s words spark a response remains to be seen, but the margin for error is now razor-thin.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets’ Francisco Lindor puts himself on blast amid hitless series vs. Phillies

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-clay-holmes-struggles-to-explain-ny-woes');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets pitcher Clay Holmes struggles to explain NY’s woes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Clay-Holmes-e.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets pitcher Clay Holmes struggles to explain NY’s woes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-10T22:04:13-07:00">September 10th, 10:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-10T22:04:13-07:00">September 10th, 10:04pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets are reeling after a brutal three-game stretch against the Philadelphia Phillies, capped by an 11-3 loss on Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The setback deepened the team’s slide and put the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-fatal-flaw-doom-2025-world-series-hopes">Mets playoff hopes in serious jeopardy</a>.</p><p>Starter Clay Holmes faced postgame questions about the team’s struggles but offered no clear explanation. His blunt remarks quickly came to represent the Mets’ collapse. In a video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by SNY TV’s official account, Holmes <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1965969050091024718" rel="noopener">appeared lost for words</a> while addressing the club’s problems.</p><p>“I don’t know, that’s a tough question. I think if we had a few more answers, maybe we wouldn’t be in this position.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Clay Holmes was asked why he thinks things haven't come together for the Mets consistently, given the talent on their roster:</p><p>"I don't know, that's a tough question. I think if we had a few more answers, maybe we wouldn't be in this position." <a href="https://t.co/apgicUoFcF">pic.twitter.com/apgicUoFcF</a></p><p>— SNY (@SNYtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYtv/status/1965969050091024718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The remarks from the 32-year-old veteran echoed the frustration of fans who have seen New York lose five of its last ten games. The Mets bullpen struggles have been central, with the team outscored 23–6 through the first three games of the series. The offense has offered little help, producing only six runs across those contests against the Phillies.</p><p>The loss pushed the Mets to 76-70, sitting ten games behind the Phillies in the NL East and only two games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants in the NL Wild Card race. With 16 games left, every matchup carries weight, including Thursday’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-sean-manaea-breaks-silence-on-carlos-mendoza-convo-in-loss-to-phillies">Phillies vs. Mets</a> series finale.</p><p>Holmes, a reliever-turned-starter, has become a lightning rod for criticism as fans question whether he was miscast in the rotation. Many also point to deeper problems with roster construction and leadership. Regardless of where the blame falls, the margin for error is now razor-thin.</p><p>For the Mets, the veteran pitcher’s honesty underscores the uncertainty that has defined September. Unless the pitching steadies and the lineup finds consistency, the team risks seeing its postseason hopes fade in the final weeks of the 2025 MLB season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets pitcher Clay Holmes struggles to explain NY’s woes

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-rob-thomson-kyle-schwarber-50th-home-run');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s message to Kyle Schwarber after 50th home run');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Kyle-Schwarber.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s message to Kyle Schwarber after 50th home run</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T21:08:15-07:00">September 9th, 9:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T21:08:15-07:00">September 9th, 9:08pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies notched a major milestone Tuesday night in their 9-3 win over the New York Mets, as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-immediate-reaction-to-50-hr-feat-in-win-vs-mets">Kyle Schwarber launched his 50th home run</a> of the 2025 season. It was a towering solo shot to right-center off reliever Justin Hagenman in the seventh inning—his career high and a historic feat that sparked a memorable clubhouse moment.</p><p>After the game, emotions ran high inside the Phillies clubhouse, where manager Rob Thomson delivered a raw, heartfelt message to the Phillies slugger in front of the entire team.</p><p>The Athletic’s Matt Gelb shared Thomson’s <a href="https://x.com/MattGelb/status/1965604027665973553" rel="noopener">exact words</a> on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p><p>“Fifty homers in a season. You’re the 34th person to hit 50 in the history of the f*cking game. Congratulations. You’ve had a hell of a year.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Fifty homers in a season," Rob Thomson said. "You're the 34th person to hit 50 in the history of the fucking game. Congratulations. You've had a hell of a year." <a href="https://t.co/JS084ryt4N">https://t.co/JS084ryt4N</a></p><p>— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattGelb/status/1965604027665973553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The quote from the Phillies manager quickly went viral and perfectly captured what the milestone meant—not just to Schwarber, but to the entire clubhouse. At 32-years-old, the slugger has emerged as the emotional core of a group built for October, posting 50 home runs, 123 RBIs, and a .875 OPS through 145 games.</p><p>Joining the 50 home run club places <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-star-kyle-schwarbers-1-regret-after-historic-4-hr-explosion">Schwarber alongside some of the greatest power hitters</a> in baseball history. It’s a prestigious achievement, rarely reached, and one that cements his legacy in the modern game. It’s also a clear signal that the Phillies are hitting their stride at the right time.</p><p>The win pushed Philadelphia’s record to 85-60, extending their NL East lead to nine games with just 17 left on the regular-season schedule. It was their ninth victory in 13 matchups against the Mets this season, highlighting their consistency and dominance in crucial divisional battles.</p><p>With veteran leadership, postseason experience, and a clubhouse culture built on belief and accountability, the Phillies continue to prove they’re more than just stats—they’re a legitimate contender. Players are buying in, the energy is peaking, and the confidence in the locker room is unmistakable heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s message to Kyle Schwarber after 50th home run

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-immediate-reaction-to-50-hr-feat-in-win-vs-mets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kyle Schwarber’s immediate reaction to 50-HR feat in Phillies win vs. Mets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kyle-Schwarber-2.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Kyle Schwarber’s immediate reaction to 50-HR feat in Phillies win vs. Mets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T20:35:06-07:00">September 9th, 8:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T20:35:06-07:00">September 9th, 8:35pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies are well on their way to winning the NL East, as their lead over the New York Mets ballooned to nine games following their 9-3 win over them on Tuesday night. While it was a team effort that powered Philly to victory, one man stood tall as the biggest star of the night, with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-blasts-50th-home-run-mets-demolition">Kyle Schwarber reaching the 50-home run mark</a> for the season in grand fashion when he hit a three-run dinger off Mets reliever Justin Hagenman to give the Phillies a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.</p><p>Schwarber became just the second player in Phillies franchise history to hit 50 or more long balls in a single season, joining Ryan Howard, who hit 58 home runs in his MVP season in 2006. After the game, Schwarber joined the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast and gave his immediate thoughts on his <a href="https://twitter.com/aokstott/status/1965593750123753706" rel="noopener">latest achievement</a> that has the fans in Citizens Bank Park showering him with “MVP” chants.</p><p>“Oh yeah. It was fun. Got a good pitch. Got a good swing. Was able to sneak it out. It is what it is,” Schwarber said nonchalantly, via @aokstott on X. “It’s such a cool thing to be able to do something like that, to get a nice, round number. But there’s still a lot more baseball to be had. I just feel like our game tonight was such a great overall effort.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kyle Schwarber STUNS in postgame interview after hitting his 50th homer!! <a href="https://t.co/9a9VdBGTNv">pic.twitter.com/9a9VdBGTNv</a></p><p>— cam ! (@aokstott) <a href="https://twitter.com/aokstott/status/1965593750123753706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Schwarber, as a former World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs, knows that regular-season accolades are cool and all, but every MLB player wants to experience the rush of fighting for a championship. This mentality is what’s made the Phillies one of the most successful teams of the past few years, and Schwarber has been a huge part of that — and everyone can clearly see why.</p><h2><b>Kyle Schwarber is aging like fine wine for the Phillies</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-Kyle-Schwarber-gets-interviewed-after-win-vs.-Mets.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Schwarber’s aging curve is certainly not typical of a guy of his stature. He is only getting better now that he’s in his 30s, and it’s with the Phillies where his career has truly taken off. For his Phillies career, he has now hit a total of 181 home runs across four seasons — making him one of the most consistent power producers of the decade thus far.</p><p>He may not provide much defensive value, but one thing’s for sure: <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-rumors-bob-nightengale-claims-kyle-schwarber-isnt-going-anywhere">Schwarber is going to give the Phillies</a> quality at-bats every time he’s out there on the plate.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kyle Schwarber’s immediate reaction to 50-HR feat in Phillies win vs. Mets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-blasts-50th-home-run-mets-demolition');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber blasts 50th home run amid Mets demolition');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-Kyle-Schwarber-gets-interviewed-after-win-vs.-Mets.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber blasts 50th home run amid Mets demolition</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T19:11:15-07:00">September 9th, 7:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T19:16:45-07:00">September 9th, 7:16pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Phillies (85-60) are a season-best 25 games above .500, but they still appear vulnerable with three weeks left until the playoffs begin. Two-time Cy Young runner-up <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/dave-dombrowski-breaks-silence-on-zack-wheelers-future-with-phillies">Zack Wheeler is out</a> for the rest of the campaign due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Trea Turner and Alec Bohm are both <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-trea-turner-sounds-off-on-hamstring-injury-amid-playoff-uncertainty">on the injured list</a> and will not have many in-game opportunities to shake off rust before the postseason. Bryce Harper was hitting only .172 in 29 September at-bats entering Tuesday. Though, when in doubt, the 2025 Fightin’ Phils continue to lean on Kyle Schwarber.</p><p>The National League MVP candidate landed a huge blow on the New York Mets in Tuesday night’s 9-3 win, blasting a three-run <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1965578563190751693" rel="noopener">437-foot home run</a> to give his squad a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. He has now hit 50 long balls in a season for the first time in his 11-year MLB career, adding to what has been a tremendous contract year for the All-Star designated hitter.</p><p>Schwarber strengthens his NL lead in homers, moving two ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers juggernaut Shohei Ohtani, and is also gaining some separation as baseball’s RBI king (now has 123). He is unlikely to wrestle away the MVP crown from Ohtani, but this veteran slugger is having a colossal impact on the Phillies this year. His presence is especially vital amid all the injury news.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">KYLE SCHWARBER WITH HOME RUN NO. 50 ON THE SEASON 💣<a href="https://t.co/d8G6uP8soa">pic.twitter.com/d8G6uP8soa</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1965578563190751693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber is having a year to remember</b></h2><p>When a franchise faces adversity, it needs someone who could invigorate the rest of the roster. Schwarber does not have the biggest personality in front of the camera, but he keeps his teammates grounded and swings a mighty powerful bat. Simply put, he is as valuable as ever to this organization and city. Fans desperately hope that owner John S. Middleton <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/mlb-rumors-phillies-30-million-competition-kyle-schwarber">does what it takes to keep</a> the 32-year-old in town this offseason.</p><p>There is time to focus on that goal, however. Philadelphia has 17 games left to position itself for a potential title run. This group may be battered, but it is far from beaten. Kyle Schwarber was certainly not the only one to shine in Tuesday’s home win over the Mets, as Harrison Bader and Bryson Stott each recorded three hits, Bryce Harper had a couple of much-needed knocks and the returning Otto Kemp smashed his first dinger since July 27. But No. 12 has been the squad’s engine this season.</p><p>Schwarber is now slashing .240/.364/.562/.926 in 145 games. He was scuffling even more than Harper going into this divisional battle — 3-for-25 with no home runs –, but one big fly could cause him to erupt moving forward. Considering some of the questions surrounding their health, the Phillies will need Schwarber to get into a consistent groove for the playoffs.</p><p>Can he effectively carry that pressure through October? Fans are definitely eager to see him try.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber blasts 50th home run amid Mets demolition

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/phillies-news-aaron-nola-surprising-endorsement-from-vic-fangio');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ Aaron Nola gets surprising endorsement from Vic Fangio');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Aaron-Nola.jpg"><figcaption>© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ Aaron Nola gets surprising endorsement from Vic Fangio</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T18:59:56-07:00">September 9th, 6:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T18:59:56-07:00">September 9th, 6:59pm</time><address><a>Guillermo Guajardo</a>Guillermo Guajardo is a dynamic sports presenter with experience on various television channels and digital platforms, most recently with A Tiempo.TV. He is also a multidisciplinary artist with 10 years of experience in acting, directing, writing, and hosting. His work in film has been recognized at international festivals, earning awards for both his performances and directorial projects.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During Tuesday’s press conference, Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, chose not to talk about football, but about baseball. The coordinator <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-jt-realmuto-drops-encouraging-aaron-nola-claim-playoffs">praised the performance of Aaron Nola</a> and the Philadelphia Phillies <a href="https://x.com/PHLEaglesNation/status/1965438708511093104" rel="noopener">after the pitcher delivered his best outing of the year</a> against the New York Mets.</p><p>“Who woulda thought Nola would pitch that good last night? Every game’s a new adventure,” Fangio said during his session with reporters.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Vic Fangio to open his press conference: “Who woulda thought Nola would pitch that good last night? Every game’s a new adventure!” <a href="https://t.co/qT363w6grV">pic.twitter.com/qT363w6grV</a></p><p>— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/PHLEaglesNation/status/1965438708511093104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Nola shut down the Mets offense across six innings; the outing stood in sharp contrast to a difficult 2025 campaign, during which he has dealt with injuries and inconsistency, carrying a 6.24 ERA with a 4-8 record.</p><p>The Phillies starter began the season on a rough note, posting a 6.16 ERA across nine starts before landing on the injured list. After missing three months, he returned with a tough outing against the Washington Nationals, surrendering six runs in just 2.1 innings. He rebounded somewhat in his next start against Washington, but later gave up 10 earned runs combined in back-to-back games against the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers.</p><p>Against New York, however, Nola delivered the kind of performance Philadelphia desperately needed. The Phillies are battling for the postseason without Zack Wheeler, and having a healthy, effective Nola could be critical to their aspirations. His six-inning gem helped reduce the team’s magic number to 11 in the race for the National League East crown.</p><p>The press conference later turned back to football, when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-news-jalen-carter-final-punishment-spitting-dak-prescott">Fangio addressed Jalen Carter’s ejection</a> for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during Week 1.</p><p>“Well, to be considered a leader, actions speak louder than words. And he’s got to speak with his actions,” Fangio said when asked about Carter’s maturity and leadership.</p><p>“It was a mistake that happened on my side. It just won’t happen again,” Carter said. “I feel bad, just for my teammates and the fans out there. I’m doing it for them. I’m doing it for my family, also. They showed the most love. You heard them out there today,” he added, according to CBS Sports.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/eagles-dc-vic-fangio-on-jalen-carters-spitting-ejection-to-be-a-leader-actions-speak-louder-than-words/" rel="noopener">incident drew immediate attention,</a> with Carter apologizing afterward and Prescott clarifying that he had no intention of spitting on his opponent. Fangio’s firm stance highlighted his emphasis on accountability, though his praise for Nola earlier in the day captured the unique bond shared by Philadelphia’s teams and their fans.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ Aaron Nola gets surprising endorsement from Vic Fangio

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-ranger-suarez-sets-new-career-high-in-incredible-start-vs-mets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ Ranger Suarez sets new career-high in incredible start vs. Mets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-SP-Ranger-Suarez.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ Ranger Suarez sets new career-high in incredible start vs. Mets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T18:27:35-07:00">September 9th, 6:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T18:27:35-07:00">September 9th, 6:27pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In a matchup that could very well help settle the NL East, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-why-pete-alonso-feels-great-even-as-phillies-run-away-with-nl-east">Philadelphia Phillies are leading</a> the New York Mets 7-2 at the moment. Tuesday night’s series opener could further extend the Phillies’ lead over the Mets in the division. If the current result holds, Philadelphia’s advantage will grow to nine games, with only 18 games left in the regular season. A big reason why the Phillies are up big? Starting pitcher Ranger Suarez, who notched <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1965570952475123728" rel="noopener">a career-high 12 strikeouts</a> in six scoreless innings, according to MLB on X (formerly Twitter).</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ranger Suárez has a career-high 12 strikeouts through 6 scoreless innings! <a href="https://t.co/eqjMD0hwCr">pic.twitter.com/eqjMD0hwCr</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1965570952475123728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“Ranger Suárez has a career-high 12 strikeouts through 6 scoreless innings!” exclaimed the official league account.</p><p>Suarez’s night was finished after 99 pitches, showcasing that he’s ready to handle a postseason workload once again. The Mets looked helpless against the lefty, only notching one hit and three walks on the night. The Phillies’ offense was led by home runs <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-harrison-bader-gives-young-fan-a-bat-after-losing-home-run-ball-to-phillies-karen">from center fielder Harrison Bader,</a> designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and third baseman Otto Kemp. On a night when the usual starting third baseman Alec Bohm went on the IL, Kemp showed he’s eager to prove himself. Bader has continued his strong start with the team since being acquired at the trade deadline. Can the Phillies clinch the division within the next few days?</p><h2><b>Phillies closing in on NL East title, postseason bye</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Phillies-OF-Harrison-Bader.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Although the Mets could come back and win the division, the odds of it happening are pretty slim. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-jt-realmuto-drops-encouraging-aaron-nola-claim-playoffs">Phillies have been in solid</a> form lately, with the team’s trade deadline pickups like Bader adding more depth and cohesion to the roster. It’s clear why Philadelphia was able to run away with the NL East. While the Mets also made moves, Philadelphia’s additions have truly helped transform this roster into a bona fide World Series contender.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-ranger-suarez-accused-of-running-out-of-gas-ex-mlb-pitcher">Suarez has been a part</a> of the Phillies’ rotation in each of the last three postseason runs. The lefty knows what it takes to win in October. Philadelphia has been a consistent postseason squad the past few seasons but hasn’t broken through to capture that elusive World Series trophy. Can Suarez and an excellent starting staff make the difference this season?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phillies’ Ranger Suarez sets new career-high in incredible start vs. Mets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-jt-realmuto-drops-encouraging-aaron-nola-claim-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto drops ‘encouraging’ Aaron Nola claim before playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Philadelphia-Phillies-pitcher-Aaron-Nola-27-throws-a-pitch-during-the-fourth-inning.jpg"><figcaption>© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto drops ‘encouraging’ Aaron Nola claim before playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T10:38:47-07:00">September 9th, 10:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T10:38:47-07:00">September 9th, 10:38am</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/colinloughran">Colin Loughran</a>Colin Loughran is a NYC-based Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He has spent several years covering sports and has worked for outlets such as the New York Post, AP Radio, and FanSided. Colin is also a three-time NYSBA award winner and a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Philadelphia <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-aaron-nolas-era-rises-ugly-injury-return">Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola</a> was effective Monday night as his club earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over the New York Mets. Catcher J.T. Realmuto was sure to give Nola his flowers <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-nola-jhoan-duran-bookend-phillies-shutout-of-mets" rel="noopener">after the contest.</a></p><p>“That was really encouraging just seeing him pitch the way he has for so many years here,” Realmuto told MLB.com. “This time of year, we all know how important starting pitching is, and him being able to throw up zeros against a really good lineup like that is definitely encouraging to see.”</p><p>All told, Nola tossed six innings of scoreless baseball and struck out seven batters in the process. It was the 32-year-old’s first scoreless outing of the season since May 3.</p><p>The performance comes during what has been a trying season for Nola. Across 14 starts, he has posted a 4-8 record and a 6.24 ERA. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/aaron-nola-605400?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb" rel="noopener">the 15th percentile in Pitching Run Value</a> and the 19th percentile in xERA.</p><p>The Phillies would certainly welcome the idea of Nola stringing together more consistent outings as the Postseason gets closer. This would be especially helpful given that starter <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-zack-wheeler-2025-season-officially-ends">Zack Wheeler will miss the remainder of 2025</a> due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome.</p><p>“I haven’t had a game like this in quite some time,” Nola said. “But I was able to put the team in a position to win and throw some zeros in there, and the bullpen came in and did their job.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-fatal-flaw-doom-2025-world-series-hopes">Phillies are 84-60 on the season, and are eight games ahead of the Mets</a> in the National League East standings. They will hope that health will be on their side <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-without-3-key-players-monday-vs-mets">down the stretch.</a></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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