With nine weeks to go, Phillies remain in Wildcard contention

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Gabe Kapler's team is a clear Wildcard contender - for now

One week ago, I began a countdown as the Phillies attempt to push for a 2019 playoff berth, their first in eight years. That countdown began at ’10’, as in there were just ten weeks remaining in the regular season.

Here we are, one week later, and the countdown reaches ‘9’ with the club basically in the same spot. Last week, the Phillies were four games over the .500 mark, a half-game off the second NL Wildcard pace. They were 7.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

As they enjoy an off-day in the schedule, the Phillies are five games above the .500 mark, and now sit one full game back in that National League Wildcard race. They trail the Braves by 6.5 games in the NL East Division standings after dropping two of three to Atlanta over this past weekend.

Here is where the Phillies currently stand in both the division and wildcard races. Also included are the schedules for this week of any other club in reasonable contention.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST DIVISION

1. Atlanta Braves  62-44 (@WAS – 3, CIN – 4)
2. Washington Nationals 56-49 (ATL – 3, @ARZ – 3)
3. Philadelphia Phillies 55-50 (SFG – 3, CWS – 3)

NATIONAL LEAGUE WILDCARD (TWO AVAILABLE)

1. Washington Nationals 56-49 (ATL – 3, @ARZ – 3)
2. Chicago Cubs 56-49 / Saint Louis Cardinals (tied for NL Central lead and NL Wildcard, meet for 3 this week)
3. Philadelphia Phillies 55-50 (SFG – 3, CWS – 3)
4. Milwaukee Brewers 56-51 (@OAK – 3, @CHC – 3)
5. San Francisco Giants 54-52 (@PHI – 3, @COL – 3)
6. Arizona Diamondbacks 53-53 (@MIA – 1, @NYY – 2, WAS – 3)

Originally published at Phillies Nation as "Philadelphia Phillies playoff picture: July 29"