Phillies ride historic home-field advantage to NLDS berth
The National League's top wild-card team is moving on.
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Phillies advanced to the NL Divisional Series following a 7-1 win over the Miami Marlins to close out a two-game sweep of the wild-card round, and they did so in front of a raucous, difference-making crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies improved to 24-11 at CBP in the postseason, the best record by any home team at one park in baseball history, per MLB.com's Sarah Langs.
Philly's .686 win percentage at CBP is ahead of the New York Mets at Shea Stadium (.667, 26-13) and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium II (.660, 35-18).
Against the Marlins, the Phillies showed all the makings of a tea primed for another run to the World Series.
With the bats, the Phillies offense was its usual juggernaut self, outscoring the Marlins 11-2 over two games, with half of their 18 hits going for extra bases. Meanwhile, the Phillies aces showed up in a big way, clearing the way for a clean sweep.
Starters Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola combined to throw 13.2 innings, allowing one earned run off eight hits while striking out 11. With their stellar outings, Wheeler and Nola posted their third career postseason starts of six or more innings while allowing one run or less, tied for second-most in Phillies franchise history.
The Phillies now move on to the NLDS and a rematch with the rival Atlanta Braves, whom they faced on their way to the World Series in 2022.
The Braves, who've been waiting after clinching the No. 1 seed in the NL, were one of only two teams in the majors to win over 100 games this season, finishing with the best mark in the league at 104-58.
The Braves will host the Phillies for Game 1 of the NLDS Saturday at Truist Park.
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