The Labor Day holiday is finally here, what a fast summer. The Phillies return home to face some National League foes for the first two series, and then welcome in the San Diego Padres in for this 9-game home stand.
First up for the Phils is the Washington Nationals, the Nats looked on paper like they were going to really do well this season, doesn’t that remind you of another team that we know so well? Somehow, the Nats aren’t doing all that well though and they only have a 5% chance to make the playoffs as of Labor Day.
Look at today’s starters for example for both teams. It’s Cole Hamels (6-13) with a 3.58 ERA and Stephen Strasburg (6-9) with a 2.96 ERA. Both pitchers are arguably the aces of their pitching staffs and their both more than likely not going to any playoff appearances this year, in fact it’s more like a disastrous season for both. They may have been sharp all year long at times and the bats went silent on both teams, and you just can’t win like that.
Jayson Werth has been on fire for the Nationals in the last couple of days, he’s been taking the cover off the ball and helped the Nats storm back last night on Sunday Night Baseball to a great 6-5 comeback win over the Mets. The Nats have won 14 of 19 games in the period between August 9-29 so they have been making up for earlier in the season when they were slumping.
For Phillies fans, we get another chance to see this Phillies team try to string something positive together. The season ends for the Phillies in September this year, that is the closest the Phillies will come to playing October baseball. October baseball is reserved for the best teams in baseball this year,
Phillies rank on offense on Labor Day in MLB rankings (total of 30 teams):
Nationals rank on offense on Labor Day in MLB rankings:
