The Phillies aren't the only team limping into the playoffs.

The St. Louis Cardinals dropped their second game in a 24-hour span to the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this afternoon. The loss drops the Cardinals to 91-70.

The best the Cardinals can do is finish the regular season with the same record as the Phillies. But the Phils hold the tie-breaker, since they won the season series between the two teams.

Thus, the Phils will begin the 2009 playoffs at Citizens Bank Park right here in South Philly.

The other two playoff teams - the Rockies and Dodgers - are both out of the NL West, and thus can't play each other in the first round. Whichever team does not win the NL West (the Rockies can win the division by taking the next two games at Dodger Stadium tonight and tomorrow) will visit the Phils Wednesday for the beginning of the NLDS.


Once again, the Phils were 7-0 at home during the 2008 playoffs.


One other thing: if the Phils lose today (they're down 3-1 in the fourth as I type), they can not win overall home field in the National League.

A loss would drop the Phils to 92-69.

Between the Dodgers (93-67) and the Rockies (92-68), whichever teams wins the NL West will have 94 wins, and thus, home field throughout the playoffs.

The Phils can only have home field advantage in the NLCS if they are matched up with the Cardinals.