Phillies Roller Coaster Ride Almost Over: This Week In Philly Sports

PHILADELPHIA — The roller coaster of this Philadelphia Phillies season is coming to close.

Whether it makes it into October may or may not happen.

As the Phillies play their last games of the season against the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays, the Phillies' once-expected playoff spot is slipping through their fingertips.

Those nemesis Arizona Diamondbacks are hanging around and the Philles are trying to hold them off.

The team's Magic Number to make the playoffs is 2.

They desperately need a win. But even if they make the post season, this team is pretty much at the end of that roller coaster ride.

This isn't like when they rode the momentum of new Manager Rob Thomson all the way to the World Series before losing to the Houston Astros.

This time around, they're trying to limp into the playoffs as Interim Manager Don Mattingly tries to come up with the right combination and his own magic to push them into the playoffs.

Most Philly fans are disgusted by this team and a season that has felt like one of the worst to watch in recent memory.

A collapse, with no playoff appearance, really wouldn't surprise anyone.

Everyone talked about how with their starting pitching and star lineup, this team would be scary to play in the playoffs.

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have lived up to the billing. So have Christopher Sanchez, Zach Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, and closer Jhoan Duran.

All All Stars who had solid seasons.

The rest of the crew have been up and down.

Alec Bohm has rebounded somewhat at the plate. Brad Marsh has faltered since becoming an All-Star. JT Realmuto has forgotten how to get a hit for like weeks. Bryson Stott has hit at times despite always playing awesome defense.

Trea Turner is supposed to be the third superstar in the lineup. But the man who makes a zillion dollars and had to get a standing ovation to give him a boost a few years ago has had an awful year.

Trade pickup Luis Arraez produced a jolt at the start and stabilized the lineup behind Harper, but now he's out with an ankle injury.

Let's not even talk about the bullpen. Think of it as basically a garbage dumpster on fire.

Solid teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees play sound baseball all year long.

The Phillies started at 9-19 before firing their manager, got sparked by Mattingly, faded and then got re-energized after the All-Star Game and Field of Dreams before stumbling through a sinking September.

If this team was an injured animal, they'd be put out of their misery.

The playoffs might happen. But even the Hunt for Red October might not happen if the Phillies get knocked out of the Wild Card round by the middle of next week.