The Phillies are aiming to clinch the NL East in their series against the Cubs, but the writer admits they don’t care much about playing the spoiler unless they have a strong dislike for the team being spoiled. Instead, their focus is on seeing strong individual performances as the season winds down.
Michael Busch, for example, has had a rollercoaster year with hot and cold streaks, recently hitting his 21st home run. Busch, who has navigated the ups and downs of baseball, commented that managing these fluctuations is part of the game, having played both in the Minors and a bit in the Majors. His overall season has been solid, especially at the plate and first base, with a .252 batting average, a 2.5 WAR, and potential Gold Glove contention. His development this year has been promising, with signs that he could have a breakout season soon.
Meanwhile, Ian Happ was scratched from yesterday’s game due to lower-back tightness and is day-to-day. Though it’s the tail end of the season, Happ likely wants to play, as he’s close to setting personal bests in WAR, home runs, and runs scored. Despite his day-to-day status, Happ is having what the writer considers his best season to date, excelling quietly at the plate and possibly contending for another Gold Glove.
As for Marcus Stroman, after opting out of his Cubs contract, he signed with the Yankees and has posted a 4.04 ERA in 151.1 innings, which is league average. However, Stroman’s strikeouts are down, and his once-dominant groundball rate has declined. Given his performance and contract details, it seems he made a smart financial move by opting out, as his down season might not have fetched him as good a deal in free agency.
The article closes by humorously criticizing a play by the Cardinals, noting the lack of real hustle on a play that was celebrated as gritty baseball.