Story perspectives

Phillies clinch No. 3 Wild Card, set Luzardo start

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 3:17 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the No. 3 Wild Card spot on the final regular-season day.
Second baseman Luis Arraez will miss the Wild Card series after spraining his left ankle, prompting Otto Kemp’s recall.
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo will start Game 1 after returning from a left-shoulder injury.
The team posted a September wRC+ of 83, the lowest among all teams still in contention.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 MLB added a Central division and created a wild-card spot, first used in 1995 when the New York Yankees entered the postseason. The system expanded to a second wild-card in 2012 and to three wild-cards per league in 2022, adding a best-of-three Wild Card Series. The 2024 Philadelphia Phillies clinched the No. 3 wild-card, showing how the expanded format now drives late-season roster moves.

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Story summary

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the No. 3 Wild Card spot on the final regular-season day.
Second baseman Luis Arraez will miss the Wild Card series after spraining his left ankle, prompting Otto Kemp’s recall.
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo will start Game 1 after returning from a left-shoulder injury.
The team posted a September wRC+ of 83, the lowest among all teams still in contention.

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