Just like that, everything has changed. Thank the San Diego Padres inopportune swoon for that. Instead of being forced to chase, the Phillies do not have to win a certain number of games in the final six to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Actually, all the Phillies have to do is be better than the Padres... Unless, of course, the Phillies lose the series to the Braves. Then they will have to be better than the Padres, Braves and Rockies.
Nevertheless, the whole convoluted mess is rendered moot as long as the Phillies just do one simple thing:
Win.
More later from the ballpark.