Rob Thomson balances players' health, team seeding and side storylines as the Phillies enter their final week before the postseason.

The Philadelphia Phillies were hoping for a second straight win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a quest to claim the top playoff seed in the National League.

The Phillies still have a chance to finish with baseball's best record. They're two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, though the Brewers won the season series and have the tiebreaker, so the Phillies are really three games back with only eight to play. Doable, though I wouldn't call it likely. The Phillies last had baseball's best record in 2011.

The Philadelphia Phillies are contemplating a significant roster upgrade by potentially replacing Alec Bohm with Boston Red Sox star Alex Bregman. Bregman, expected to seek a lucrative contract, presents an offensive and defensive improvement at third base.

Phillies fans can now enter a lottery until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, to get the chance at buying 2025 playoff tickets.

As noted above, the Phillies are the second team to secure a playoff berth. The Milwaukee Brewers became the first earlier this weekend. The Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays are all in position to join those clubs over the course of this week.

Earl Kreider, a World War II veteran living in Phoenix, has loved baseball since he was a boy. With his health declining, the D-backs gave him the VIP experience.

While a dad de-escalated at a game, a woman stepped into a social media cauldron. As parents, athletes and fans, we can always change the narrative.

While the Phillies weren't close on a smaller contract extension for Schwarber in the offseason, they have ample reason to offer the bigger deal this upcoming offseason to keep the fan favorite slugger in Philadelphia.