Why Phillies' three-headed pitching monster may be postseason key

There was plenty of talk at the conclusion of the recent Major League Baseball trade deadline that the Philadelphia Phillies didn't land any starting pitching help.

However, with another strong outing from Cristopher Sanchez on Thursday night, maybe the Phillies have all of the pitching they need to make a postseason run.

Sanchez allowed two runs and six hits over 5.0 innings while striking out six to help Philadelphia post a 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. It continued a string of strong outings by three Phillies pitchers who could well carry Philadelphia into the postseason.

Trio of Philadelphia Phillies pitchers are getting job done

According to MLB Communications, after Thursday's Phillies win, Zack Wheeler, Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo have combined to make 65 starts this season, with the Phillies going 47-18 (.723) in those games. The trio is now a combined 35-11 with a 2.85 ERA across 391.1 innings.

Since Wheeler was activated from the injured list on April 25, the trio has made 54 starts, with Philadelphia going 43-11 (.796) in those games. They are a combined 32-6 with a 2.51 ERA in 330.1 innings during that span.

Those numbers are enough to think the Phillies could be in fine shape once the postseason arrives. With shorter series once October arrives, rotations are often shaved down and a three-headed monster like the one that is emerging for Philadelphia this season could be a big plus against other National League juggernauts like the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Of course, Philadelphia still has to get to the postseason. With the Atlanta Braves on a seven-game winning streak and opening up an 8.5-game lead in the NL East heading into Thursday, every game is critical if the Phillies want to catch the Braves. 

However, a wild-card postseason berth is still in Philadelphia's control. The Phillies came into Thursday tied for the final wild-card spot, 2.0 games ahead of the San Diego Padres, so Philadelphia controls its own fate down the stretch.

If Wheeler, Sanchez and Luzardo can continue to pitch at a high level and put up the numbers they have this season, it will take some pressure off what could be a tense few weeks to see if Red October will indeed arrive in the City of Brotherly Love.