The Philadelphia Phillies are having another phenomenal season under manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies clinched the National League East title on Monday and are in a great position as the postseason approaches.
They are 93-64 and have the best home record in all of baseball. They are 53-26 at Citizens Bank Park this year, three more home wins than any other team in the majors.
Yet, home-field advantage is not the priority of the Phillies, according to Thomson.
"The biggest things for me, really, are winning the division and getting the bye," Thomson said after clinching the division. "If we get home-field throughout, that's a bonus. But I won't put our players in danger to get there."
That is an understandable sentiment, considering the injuries Philadelphia has dealt with this season.
All-Star shortstop Trea Turner missed six weeks with a hamstring injury. Both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber missed time on the injured list in July. Even catcher J.T. Realmuto suffered a knee injury that required surgery, costing him more than a month.
But right now, the team is mostly healthy. To make a deep run in October, a team's health is usually key. But so too can home-field advantage.
The Phillies, maybe more than any team, might want that. They are 12-4 over the last two postseasons at home, and if you watch that atmosphere during the playoffs, it looks imposing even on television.
As it stands, Philadelphia is a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League.
The schedule favors Philadelphia, though. The Phillies host the Chicago Cubs for two games, then travel to Washington to face the Nationals for the final three games of the season.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers have to play the red-hot San Diego Padres for three before heading to Coors Field for three against the Colorado Rockies.
If the teams finish the season with the same record, the Phillies own the tie-breaker over the Dodgers, having won the regular season series.
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