Phillies beat Mets and reach the playoffs, just before the coveted NL East title

NEW YORK — The only remnant of a secure postseason appearance Friday night was the champagne on a table in the middle of the visitors' club at Citi Field. The usual excesses were absent. Goggles were not worn because they were not necessary. Alcohol was neither drunk nor sprayed. There was music, but nothing unusual.

Things were quiet because the Philadelphia Phillies are expecting more than just a place in the playoffs.

“That's the standard,” manager Rob Thomson said. “The goal is now firmly established: to win the World Series. And that's it. And that's a good feeling. It really is.”

The Phillies achieved their usual success on Friday night with a 12-2 victory over the New York Mets. After a muted celebration on the field, Thomson offered a toast. He thanked everyone who contributed to the success, from the front office to the support staff to the players, and everyone went on with their evening.

With this victory, the Phillies secured a playoff spot for the third year in a row – a feat that had only been accomplished twice before in the long history of the franchise. The previous two playoff appearances were as a wildcard team.

This time, the Phillies have a chance to win their first National League East title since 2011. On May 3, they overtook the Atlanta Braves to take the lead in the NL East. At the time, the score was 22-11, and the Braves were still considered clear favorites to win the division for the seventh consecutive year.

More than four months later, Atlanta's win on Friday and the Braves' 4-3 loss to the Marlins in Miami officially knocked them out of contention for the NL East crown. Now at their magic number of two, the Phillies need only a win against the second-place Mets on Saturday or Sunday.

“It's great. Huge for us,” Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said. “I think it's always great when you get to the postseason, no matter what the decision is. It's hard to play from start to finish.”

The Phillies, who hold the best record in baseball at 92-62, have already surpassed their win totals of the past two years. In 2022, they went 87-75 and then made a stunning run to the World Series, where they lost to the Houston Astros in six games. Last year, they went 90-72 before blowing a 3-2 lead in the NL Championship Series to the 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks and falling one game short of returning. Both times, they defeated the favored Braves in the NL Division Series.

This year, they could face the Mets, another division opponent, making this weekend's four-game series a potential preview of October.

On Friday, Alec Bohm fueled Philadelphia's offensive salvo, posting four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run home run in a six-run fourth inning. Nick Castellanos had three hits and two RBIs, JT Realmuto added a two-run home run and the Phillies stole five bases, extending their lead in the NL East to seven games with eight games left to play.

The ultimate goal is to win the third championship in franchise history. That's the standard. But for now, they have their sights set on the next goal: a division title — and a bigger celebration.

“It will definitely be a bit louder,” said Bohm.