Phillies Fighting For Playoff Life: This Week In Philly Sports

PHILADELPHIA — "The Dog Days of Summer" are here for the Boys of Summer.

With five weeks of the Major League Baseball season left, the Philadelphia Phillies continue their roller coaster of gut-wrenching losses and gutsy extra-inning wins as the team tries to get into the playoffs.

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Coming off a sweep of the Minnesota Twins, the team seemed to get some new energy with the "Field of Dreams" game last week and a solid pitching performance by Aaron Nola.

This week, the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals — two teams vying with the Phillies for a wild card spot — come to town and every win is crucial.

Interim Manager Don Mattingly gave this team a shot in the arm when he took over earlier in the year. But despite Dave Dombrowski's attempts to bolster the roster at the trade deadline, this team is trying to keep their heads above the water and get their acts together heading into September.

Trade acquisition Luis Arraez has provided a spark just like Harrison Bader did last year.

Even Alex Bohm has caught fire since the All-Star break.

This team recently played musical chairs with its defense to accommodate Arraez at second base.

Now, every day on a regular basis, Bryce Harper is back in right field, Arraez is at second base, Bryson Stott has moved to third base and Alec Bohm has taken over at first with Schwarber playing there too now and then.

Shortstop Trea Turner is one of the worst fielding players in baseball and he was the only one who didn't change positions.

This is a fight to the finish.

But do the Phillies have enough with their lineup, its starting pitching, and bullpen to make it to October.

• Bohm is winding down his Phillies career with free agency upcoming. (We pray that the Phillies don't re-sign him.)
• Catcher JT Realmuto, while still a solid defensive catcher, can barely keep his average over .200.
• Arraez just lost his league as having the highest average in the National League.
• All-Star outfielder Brandon Marsh is reverting back to his can't hit lefties self.
• Turner just tries to hit homers now after he led the league in average last year.
• Schwarber suffered a major power outage since being in the All-Star Homerun Derby, but has bounced back with the long ball.

We could talk about the bullpen. But guess what, the bullpen is just as bad as it's been for years. There are just different faces in it.

Two familiar faces counted on to shut down batters maybe shouldn't be on the team any longer. They are Jose Alvarado and Orion Kerkering.

The bridge to closer Jhoan Duran was supposed to be the spot for free agent Brad Keller, who went on the shelf for the rest of the year with an injury. Two relievers brought in at the trade deadline have been insignificant so far as well.

The Phillies are led by Harper, Schwarber and stud starters Christopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesus Luzardo.

But if this team doesn't make the playoffs, it's time to stop running it back.

There are reports that former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will take over next year unless Mattingly pulls off a miracle.

This team needs some new blood and a new direction. It needs a clean sweep of management and the coaching staff and at least half of the roster.

This is the last shot. But the playoff picture is getting more and more crowded with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the surging San Diego Padres.

Yes, it's the "Dog Days of Summer." And getting to the playoffs will be a dogfight.