High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: The Magic Number Is 2

Episode Date: September 23, 2026

The Phillies used a three-run rally in the eighth inning on Tuesday night to beat the Brewers and drop their magic number to two with five games remaining. Jack Fritz reacts to Zack Wheeler's final start of 2026 and Brandon Marsh's big day at the plate. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes Pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. Swing at a bouncer, right side, arise, charges, gloves it flips to first. It's in time. And the Phillies magic number to return to the postseason is down to two.

after a six to four win tonight over Milwaukee. The Phillies wake up with three in the bottom of the eighth. And Duran closes it out in the night for his 30 third save, and the Phillies are within a day of clinching a spot in the postseason. Just a massive, massive night down at the ballpark. Jack Fretz's hanging out with you. Welcome on in. It is the final out, which is always sponsored by the Philadelphia.

Parking Authority offering valet park at the Philadelphia airport. Phil's win 6-3, game that felt pretty good early, got a little tight in the middle, tight towards the end, but they ended up coming through, and they ended up in thrilling fashion taking this game and lowering the match number to 2. The game wrap-up is sponsored by Roto Router when plumbing problems hit, wrap them up quick, and call Roto Router. Their team tackles, clogs and leaks. and stay in the game, Roto Rootor, your MVP for plumbing solutions.

215-592, 94 is how you get in. If you are stuck in traffic, we'd love to hear from you, get the feeling down the ballpark. It was cold. It was raining a little bit. I'm sure that kept some of the crowd away. We did get our 3 million fans tonight. So that's massive news. But if you're down there, you brace the elements.

We'd love to hear from you. because that is a good win. Or if you were like me and watched one on your couch, we'd love to hear from you as well. The biggest takeaways of the game are brought to by Morgan and Morgan America's largest injury law firm. And my biggest takeaway is that that was a gutsy win. And I think that there's been a lot of talk about this team's mental makeup and this team's championship medal.

Do they have it? Do they not have it? I think most people feel like they don't have it. I don't think they believe that this team can go on a run. I don't think they believe that this team is, is, I think a lot of people think that they are kind of limping down the stretch run here. And they have not been good in September 100%. But I thought tonight there was a different level of locked inness. And it didn't always bear itself out.

I mean, they got shut down by Colton Gordon, who had a 457 ERR. in AAA, I believe. I mean, this team really struggles against left-handed pitching. Thankfully, Bome has picked it up from that standpoint. He's like the guy you probably trust the most against left-handed pitching. Hill and Mundo, sure.

But of the everyday guys, it's Bome, and he had a big hit tonight, which was good to see as well. It's just been absolute nails and money. Since August 1st, I mean, post-all-star break been very good, but really post-August 1st. post-trade deadline, really.

Once he realized he was going to be here, he really decided to turn it on, and he's one of the guys that I think you trust the most of the plate right now on this team, 100%. But what I mean by a gutsy win is, first off, I thought the energy was right all night. I think they treated it like a playoff game. It felt like a playoff game,

even though the implications weren't totally there. It was a big game, but it's not a playoff game. I thought Wheeler will get to him more in a little bit, but I thought he was especially locked in early and fortunate that he ended up letting the game get tied. But, you know, they blow the lead. They go from 3-0 to 3-3. And instead of just rolling over and dying, I mean, they have the McFarland inning where he goes out there for the 7th, comes back out for the 8th, ends up getting pulled for Alvarado. but only if there was 21 pitches.

I mean, that's some gutsy pitching by the guys in this bullpen that you're going to need in October. And then just sticking with it and with two outs, being able to mount that rally against Colton Gordon, who, again, is not some household name, but someone that they had trouble with all night. And they were able to strain together a little rally against them. They hung in there. They stayed with it. And Stock gets a huge hit there. I mean, that was Stott's second hit with runners in scoring position in the month of September.

I mean, he has been scuffling. Marsh Stott, Bohm, are all going to end up after everything that's going on this year. From Marsh All-Star game starter to Stott being really good from about May 1 to the end of August, mid-August. and then Bome, who, me included, everyone was just ready to be done with, you know, DFA and after the trade deadline, can't have them as a part of the postseason roster. All of a sudden, his OPS is 7-E-11, I think. They're all right in the same area, those three. All the ups and downs of the baseball season.

It's such a long year, and everything just ends up coming back to usually who those guys are. I thought tonight was an effort that I appreciated. It wasn't all perfect. They're not a perfect team. They're mostly a flawed team. But I thought the effort, I thought the want to, I thought the hang with them, I thought they had all of that.

And that was much appreciated against a Brewers team that, it's not like they have to go and really gun for this last week of the season. But they still have some things to play for. with the Braves losing tonight, they are able to clinch a buy in the postseason. So hopefully they have a couple extra pops tonight and maybe they're a little slow out there on the field tomorrow. But that's still a good team. They're playing hard. They always play hard.

Maybe they don't go four innings of Colton Gordon. They don't pitch Dustin May on three days rest. But still a dang good team. And the Phillies were going to have to play good baseball if they were going to beat them. and I thought they played good baseball tonight. Speaking of, you know, Marsha's thought, I mean, that was easily Marsh's best game, probably at the second half.

I mean, he has, apparently he has three home runs in the second half. The last one I remember is in Iowa, and I think that that was his last home run. And there was a quote from Don Mattingly that essentially said that, you know, don't be aggressive early in counts just to be aggressive. swing with intent. And the guy you saw tonight was

swinging with intent with the idea of wanting to do damage. Smokes the ball for the home run early off of May, which was huge. And smokes a ball off the wall against a lefty, which I was surprised that he was in there. Couple of Maddenly decisions that I was like

cursing in the moment. The first was Stott hitting in that situation. I thought that was an obvious Sose to spot. Sosa can come in and play second base. and maybe you're thinking Sosa having him hit for Marsh, well, if you wanted to do that, you could just have Brian Delacruz hit for Marsh.

Nevertheless, Stott comes through, Marsh comes through, and egg on my face, nana and a vooboo, stick your head and doo-doo. Phil's win, 2-15-592-94-94. If you want to get in a huge night down the ballpark as the magic number is now down to two. Timmy is in Malvern. What's happening, Tim? Yeah, Jackie Baseball. What's going on, brother?

Yeah, what's up, Timmy? I just got to say, you're spot on. I was at the game night, sitting behind a home plate, row five, it was on top of Wheeler. Guy was sharp. Guy was very sharp. Just made a couple of mistakes there in the bottom half of that fit. I think it was a little bit of tiredness. Obviously, had a lot of strikeouts finished with 101 pitches,

but I think he's in phenomenal shape getting into the postseason. and I'm with you. They fought through it. A couple of things that I think were big tonight. Brandon Marsh, that ball that he hits off the wall, you could tell you was hustling out of the box. Could have very easily just thought that ball was going out, but he busted out of the box,

ended up being a difference. And the other thing, we've talked about the mental side of this baseball team, and it's just not there sometimes. It didn't end up hurting him, but the one thing that I couldn't stand tonight, J.T. Romuto has a beautiful bat, works a walk. Derek Hill comes up. first pitch swinging.

Grounds into a double play. And it's just like, come on, what do you, what do you think? Like, pay long, you got, like, if these guys aren't going up there with a plan, that's your job to have them have a plan in the situation. And we're talking about playoff baseball, every pitch, every at back counts. And, I mean, that kind of stuff just can't happen, let alone, you know, the base running stuff we've had all year. Yeah, Timmy and I appreciate the phone call.

It was the, that was frustrating. for sure. It felt like we got it back a little bit as the Brewers grounded out on first pitches with Mesa and Alvarado. So, you know, maybe be aggressive. The first pitch swinging thing, whenever it works out, it's like, oh, man, would it be aggressive? I just hate first pitch swinging so much. I feel like maybe just for this team, they should never first pitch swing, because I feel like it never goes well. I feel like it's an automatic double play or some weak pop up. I don't love when this team does it. When every other team does it

it feels like it makes more sense. All right, on the other side, we'll get to the wow moment of the game and some other thoughts from tonight as well. Here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Drink up, baby. Fantasy Football Happy Hour is here to get

you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Berry here and my podcast Fantasy Football Happy Hour has the sleepers bust and starts and advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape or crunch of the numbers to bring you sleepers. Bus weekly starts in advice, whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place, I've got you covered every single weekday.

The bar is open. It's fantasy football happy hour with Matthew Berry wherever you get your podcast. He looks at second. He kicks the pitch. Swinging a line drive center field coming on. Mitchell, he won't get it to base hit. A rise around third. They're going to throw to third, and the ball deflected off of boom.

It goes into foul territory. Both runners are going to score. Bryson Stott delivers the RBI single, add on the air, and the Phillies have a 5-3 lead. They got a break. They got a break. This team needed one, and maybe just maybe that was it. Maybe that was it.

They've needed a spark, and maybe the ball deflecting off of Bome's leg definitely didn't try to kick his little leg out and make it go awry. Let's break out the way ambulance for Pat Murphy. Okay, Pat, come on, man. We're trying to, we're trying to lock down a playoff spot. We just let us just happen.

He wasn't even looking. I know. Does he think it was on purpose? This guy. This guy. Now, the Phil's are a dumb enough base running team that I wouldn't be surprised if he did try to kick it. And thinking that this is going to help like A-Rod hitting the ball out of Bronson-Oroyes glove. Like no one's going to notice.

Yeah, no one's going to see it. But yes, Pat Murphy, just whining on the field. But that is our wow moment of the game. Brought to you by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, from Waterfalls to Fairways Mountain Resorts to Lighthouse Tours. Find your well at visit nj.com. Like I mentioned last segment, that was Stott's second hit with a runner in scoring position this month.

So, you know, Stott, I feel like you do have a sense of, of he's going to come through in a big spot. He has that feel to him. You know, I am guilty of this. This is not me projecting. The way that we talk about Stott versus Bome is, you know, Stott's this gritty ball player gets it. Great defender.

Bomes like this garbage third baseman, just because he's 6'5 and doesn't hit home runs. And like I mentioned, all three of them are going to end up right around the same numbers that they usually are. But if you can get a much more useful version of Marsh, like not what he's been since the All-Star break,

this hot bone streak, stodder a moment every once in a while, would be huge heading into October. Rye's been pretty good. You know, everyone that I really just start giving up on, that's usually when they start turning around. So I'm just going to put this out there. It's been a while since we have some Bryce moments.

I mean, we need to start getting some Bryce moments. He is on 20. 28 home runs. I don't know if he's going to get the 30. I don't know if he's going to get the 30. And we're getting back to the big moments where it's like, I don't know if I trust them. I don't know if I trust them. So we're monitoring that situation heading into October. But huge hit by Stott there. One that, yes, I was asking for Imundo. So should be in that situation. Maybe Imundo would have come through. But regardless, Bryson Stott did. By the way, this is the final out, which is brought to you by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. offering Valley Park at the Philadelphia Airport, Jack Fitz, hanging out with you on this Tuesday night.

Now, Zach Wheeler was brilliant for the first portion of this game and got me geeked up about the postseason. And I was getting all ready to tweet about, oh, you think Chris Sale and facing the Braves in a game one is an auto loss because of how good Chris Sale is. I don't think there's teams that would be lining up to face this version of Zach Wheeler. He struck out the first seven batters of the game, which is a new franchise record. And now, Buzz, was Duckworth? Was Duckworth the... Duckworth did six to start the game. Wow.

We finally, we finally took down the Brandon Duckworth stat. That is dynamite stuff. But more importantly is that he got his 2,000th strikeouts, and I did in the first inning, so there's never any suspense. I think 96 pitchers in the history of baseball struck out 2,000. We'll see where his career ends. If you can get close... I mean, I know that he says that next year

this is last year. I don't believe him. I just don't. I think that a shortened year will push him to come back, but regardless, if he can get to... Now, it would take a lot of strikeouts.

It would probably take two and a half years. Take... Well, the next year's going to stink because it's a half year or a little bit more than... Apparently a little more than half a year. I'm trying to think if he can get the 2,500 strikeouts. that gets him pretty dang close to the Hall of Fame, if not in.

I would think that probably gets him in in modern baseball. But I thought he was great. I mean, the basketball was jumping. I thought a great feel for that split tonight. It was unfortunate that one running loud was, had a lot to do with Stott dropping that ball. Couldn't believe they ruled that a hit. Now, Buzz, you are a, you are a bookman.

You keep the book at every game. Did you think that was a hit or an error? modern day scorekeeping, I guess I get it. It's just, it's still, it's nothing new is really what it is. The modern day scorekeeping is just continues to be a joke and the broadcasters never mention it. No, and really, I think the broadcasters need to bring it up more. I think they need to bring it up more. In fact, how scoring is not what is not what it used to be. Yes. Yes. I was very surprised that they label that a hit. So also, I was glad that it broke up whatever. no hitter or a perfect game because I did not want them

dealing with a possible situation of pushing Zach Wheeler to try to get a perfect game on September 22nd with the playoffs right around the corner. 215-5-592 to get in. Let's go to Spock and Brigantine. What's happening, Spock? Well, I'm actually getting off the train in Chestnut Hill. I'm up at my house of Flower Town.

Jack, do you have a little song you put the babies to sleep at night when you're on this late? Well, I think Walker's still awake, which is shocking. What I usually do is I take my second son, Sudi, around, and Fransky puts him to sleep. We listen to the ball game. And usually the sultry tones of Fransky and L.A. are the ones that generally don't put him asleep. Yeah, it's awesome. I was just wondering, you know what the problem is? And they've got to solve it. They got five more games to do it.

they get the relievers come in they get the two outs and they can't get that third out you know how many times that's happened this year that you can recall that i know who that's happened a lot man that haunts them that's haunting them that's the only last thing that's haunting them jack yeah i mean i i'm more worried about yeah and i and i preach the phone call spock i it's i mean it's just going to be the bats for me. Although I think this year there's certainly going to be a lot of fear with this bullpen whenever that bullpen door opened. I do think that they, I do think tonight was a glimpse into what their bullpen plans are going to be as long as the starter can give you six innings. And if he can't, then, you know, there's a mesa or Alvarado or, you know, one of the other guys

to come in and get the out. But I think that they're going to push McFarland. I think McFarland, you could see taking, I mean, they were almost going to throw him in two innings tonight. It was nice. It was only 21 pitches because I wanted to be available for the rest of the week, obviously. But I think you saw maybe a little glimpse into it where Stargives you six pretty much. You have really two relievers. I think they trust right now. I think they're growing in belief with Alvarado, but I don't think they're feeling as if he is back to being like prime Alvarado.

I think that given where their bullpen is. He is one of the guys that they're going to have to trust, but I don't think it's like they want to trust him. It's really just McFarland and Duran. And, you know, stones from McFarland tonight, stones from McFarland Sunday against the Mets and striking out Soto in that situation. So I think that they're going to push those guys. And, you know, maybe McFarland gives you, hopefully can give you a clean seventh or it gives you the seventh and then he goes back out for the eighth, but Duran's also warming. I mean, what's going to have to happen in October is that Duran's going to have to pitch in more than just a ninth.

And there's probably going to be scenarios where the heart of the lineup's going to come up in the 8th. And I hope that that is Duran as well. We'll see what happens when Boland's back, how he factors into this thing. Maybe this injury comes at a time where he can rest up a little bit because I thought they kind of ran him into the ground in early September, late August. So maybe this is a nice little reset form as long as the groin's not too messed up. And then it's figuring out what you're going to do with Painter and Lazzardo. I think both those guys are going to pitch out of the bullpen. I think Lazzardo will be off Wheeler in game one.

I think Paineer will be off of Sanchez in game two. And, you know, if God forbid those guys can only go five, I think it will be Lazzardo and Painter, 6, 7. And then hopefully you have a lead in McFarland or Ron. I mean, they're going to have the piecemeal those things together. But the relievers they trust the most, there's only two of them. They're going to limit their arms they have out there. They're going to use their starters to try to get through games.

Because all your talent pretty much is, in the starting rotation and they can't start every game. They can't pitch every inning. So I think we started to see a glimpse of what Maddenley is thinking, at least heading down the stretch run and into October. We'd like to see Painter pitch out of the bullpen sometime this week after they clinch. All right. On the other side, we'll get to the player of the game.

A look ahead to tomorrow and a look around the league as there is some semi-interesting developments going on around baseball tonight for the game. the fills and their playoff chances. That's going on next here on the final out on sports radio 94 WIP. The pitch he swings and hits one in the air to right pretty deep. Largo back looking up and it is off the wall. It's in play. Stock comes home to score and Brandon Marsh with his second hit of the night it's an RBI double off the wall and right and it's six to three Phillies. Yes that is a big night from Brandon Marsh. Much. Needed. He is my player of the game. Brought you by South Jersey Gas. Make the smart

play Save Energy and money with South Jersey Gas at SJG Save Energy.com. Don't let the Phil's get first half, Marci heading into the postseason. It would be a huge development. And maybe tonight kind of breaks the seal in a way and gets him back on track and he can get anything close to what he was in the first half, which was a just phenomenal, phenomenal player. So Brandon Marsh, Big Knight, Donnie Baseball wants him to swing hard. with intent. I like it. I like it. A step in the right direction. Phil's win, 6-3, March with the explanation point, and a big home run in this. It is the final app, brought you by Saab, bought you by the Philadelphia Park Authority, Offering Valley Park at the Philadelphia Airport.

Last segment here, Jackford's hanging out with you. Before we hand things off to Macman? A Tuesday night hang. Ah, Tuesday night hang with the Macman. Perfect. Looking forward to that. So a couple things I want to get to real quick. Shout out to the Redding Fight and Phil's. First Eastern League title since 1995. They said it was 31 years ago and it didn't trigger in my brain that that was 1995. 31 years ago in my brain still feels like it should be in the 80s, but nevertheless, it is the mid-90s. And Redding wins the Eastern League.

You had a bit of a slow start to the year. And then I guess how minor league baseball works now is that you have a first half champion, a second half champion. And like, so if you have a bad first half, it doesn't matter as long as you win the second half, you're all in and whatever. They got to run. And you look up, you look up and down the lineup. And, you know, Aidan's in their lineup now. Dante Norrie's in their lineup now, some of their top prospects who've had kind of lost seasons. And like you see a good amount of big league talent in that lineup.

You know, really, I mean, it goes, we're in coming. who developed into a top their fifth prospect right now and a top 100 prospect according to MLB.com. You have Nori who had a bit of a lost year but had a really good year last year and battled a shoulder injury and obviously the

World Baseball Classic was great for him. Adam Miller hit like 286 in the playoffs. Raylan Haradia was great. Carson D. Martinez and Virginia Tech Kid who I think is going to be a really solid player for them. I don't think he's ever going to be a star, but he's going to be a solid player.

Rune Escobar had a down first year at Redding, but it was always a two-year plan for him up there. He ended the season on a heater. So there's some talent that I know all we talk about is how the Phillies can't develop talent and where their farm system is ranked. Well, I do think that there is a corner that is being turned. And winning at a level is not nothing. It's not the end-all, be-all, but at least you hope it's building a winning culture.

So good to see that for Redding. Now, around the league tonight, Cubs Marlins tied in the 9th. It would be funny if the Marlins help out the Phillies again against a National League Central team, just like in 2022. Not as dire as it felt back then, but that is currently a 2-2 game. Padres Dodgers are just getting underway now out in L.A. That would be a big win if Dodgers can help the Phillies out. And then the last one, the diamondbacks are blowing out the Rockies right now.

So that is unfortunate. Tomorrow, Phil's will go for a series win and lowering the magic number. They will not be able to clinch because the diamondbacks are going to win tonight. But it is Logan Henderson versus Aaron Noah. Logan Henderson is a handful. Everyone talks about Mizoroski, but Henderson has been really, really good as well. So, you know, the brewers always have a plethora of pitchers that they are able to throw at you. And Henderson is another one.

Noel obviously has been nails, has been money for about two months now. And you've kind of gotten over what it was like at the beginning of the year and last year. You seem to forget it with how great he has been, which is awesome, good for him, great Philly, and very, very happy that he is turned the corner. And no longer looks like that contract is a, it's still not a great contract, I guess, if it ended today. But I guess you're not dreading the next four years, given what he has been able to at least accomplish in the last two months.

There's still some good juice left in that tank. So hopefully he ends a year strong, and we'll see him in a possible game three, or you might not even need him, and we'll see him in the NLDS as the fills go out to hopefully Wrigley, hopefully Wrigley and take two. That's going to do it for me. Buzz produced a program, as you can tell.

obviously he's sticking around with the Mac Man. I'll be back tomorrow reacting to hopefully the Phillies clinching a playoff berth. Wouldn't that be fun? That's going to do it for me. Thanks to everyone who hung out, and I'll talk to you tomorrow night. Here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIP.