Phillies insider urges "Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Realmuto, Wheeler, Nola, Turner, Castellanos nucleus" to win World Series before window shuts
Philadelphia Phillies insiders Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury on Friday said the team needs to win a World Series with a lot of its key players in the prime of their careers. The Fightin' Phils punched their tickets to the postseason as they clinched the NL East with a 6-2 win against the visiting Chicago Cubs on Monday for their first title since 2011, breaking the Atlanta Braves' six-year hold on the division.
On "The Phillies Show" on Friday, Salisbury talked about how securing a World Series title as soon as possible is the need of the hour for the Phils.
"I do agree with the commitment from the ownership and the infrastructure you've built (for) all phases of the operation," Salisbury said (Timestamp: 36:46). Player development-wise, you should be sustaining that window, and keep creating new windows (to win titles).
"That said, I think the window is now for this nucleus – Schwarber, Harper, Realmuto, Wheeler, Nola, Turner, Castellanos – (to win the World Series). I think it's right now."
Phillies clinch first-round bye with home win
The Philadelphia Phillies won a roller-coaster game against the Chicago Cubs 9-6 at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night. Starting pitcher Christopher Sanchez continued his strong season, as the 27-year-old got his fifth win in a row.
Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and Kody Clemens all homered for the hosts. With this victory, Philadelphia clinched a crucial first-round bye, as the Milwaukee Brewers lost 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Following the win against the Cubs, Philadelphia lost the next two games on the road at the Washington Nationals before securing victory on the last day of the regular season. They finished 95-67, which is second-best in the big leagues. This gives them home-field advantage against every possible postseason opponent except the Los Angeles Dodgers, who finished an MLB-best 98-64.
Next, the Phils begin their postseason journey on Saturday as they aim to bring the World Series back to Philadelphia for the first time since 2008.