The Philadelphia Phillies have no one to blame but themselves.
Perched on the doorstep of a postseason berth for a week, the Phillies have failed to close the deal, due in large part to a flailing offense that seems to be showing its age at the worst time of the year. And now, instead of lining up their vaunted starting pitchers for a wild-card series, they're simply hoping to survive.
The Phillies (87-73) face the Tampa Bay Rays in game No. 161 on Saturday, Sept. 26 needing a win to stay ahead of the fast-closing Arizona Diamondbacks (86-74), who have won six consecutive games and, crucially, hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia.
It's still all right there: The Phillies are in the playoffs if they win their last two games. Or if they win one
and Arizona loses at least one. Or if they lose two and Arizona loses two. Yet nothing's come easy for a club that's scored three or fewer runs in eight of its past 10 games and has lost nine of its last 13.
Follow along for live updates on Saturday's Rays-Phillies matchup:
Phillies vs. Rays in a weather delay
The Phillies announced that Saturday's game will begin in a delay due to rain. The delay marks further effects from a major storm that descended on the East Coast, prompting the Boston Red Sox to move their Sunday game against the Chicago Cubs to Tampa Bay, the New York Yankees to play a Friday doubleheader and the Washington Nationals to move their start time from 4:05 p.m. ET to 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The Phillies-Rays game is slated for Fox's Saturday night national broadcast.
Aaron Nola to start on two days' rest
On paper, it appears like a panic move. But the Phillies are simply utilizing what would typically a day for Aaron Nola to throw a side session and instead will start him in their second game against Tampa Bay.
Nola has been very reliable and often brilliant in his past 15 starts, posting a 3.12 ERA. In Game 161, the Phillies are asking him to lead off a bullpen game, though interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters in Philadelphia he thinks Nola can give the Phillies a handful of innings.
"If anybody's built for this, it's probably Nola," says Mattingly. "He is a guy who is more old school than anybody."
Nola will be opposed by Rays right-hander Griffin Jax.
Phillies-Diamondbacks lineups
With Luis Arráez still out with an ankle sprain, the Phillies once again will start Bryce Harper at first and Bryan De La Cruz in right field.
Phillies lineup:
- Trea Turner SS
- Kyle Schwarber DH
- Bryce Harper 1B
- Alec Bohm 3B
- Bryson Stott 2B
- Bryan De La Cruz RF
- Brandon Marsh LF
- JT Realmuto C
- Justin Crawford CF
Rays lineup:
- Yandy Díaz DH
- Jonathan Aranda
- Liam Hicks C
- Junior Caminero 3B
- Victor Mesa Jr. LF
- Richie Palacios 2B
- Jonny DeLuca RF
- Cedric Mullins CF
- Taylor Walls SS
How to watch Rays-Phillies
Fox will televise Rays-Phillies nationally; it will not be available on the respective teams' sports networks.
Watch MLB games on Fubo
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phillies vs Rays live updates: Key game in MLB playoff picture in weather delay
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