Phillies clinch wild-card spot as Astros secure division title
The Philadelphia Phillies earned a postseason wild-card berth with a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Houston Astros clinched the AL West by defeating the Oakland Athletics 9-0.
Kyle Schwarber’s two-run double and Bryce Harper’s solo home run lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, securing the National League wild-card position for a team that finished the season 88-74. The win halted a recent slump in which the Phillies had lost six of their last eight games.
In the American League, the Houston Astros completed a sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 9-0 triumph in Sacramento, clinching the AL West title. Starting pitcher Ethan Pecko delivered three strong innings, allowing only one hit, while the bullpen preserved the shutout. Christian Walker added a solo home run, his 29th of the season.
The Astros finished the regular season at .500 (81-81). Division champions this year are the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians and Astros in the AL, and the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL. All division winners receive a bye to the Division Series. The wild-card round begins Tuesday, with the Phillies facing the Braves and the Astros meeting the Chicago White Sox in best-of-three series.