Why is the Phillies' best pitcher on the mound today for the lasr game of the season?

Take it away, Jeff Passan.

Oh, and we haven't even mentioned the Philadelphia Phillies, who sneak into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed in four of the 44 possible permutations for the rest of the NL season.

Only 30 of the possible scenarios will play out on Sunday. The remaining ones tease the possibility that St. Louis will go to Detroit to play the Tigers. If the Cardinals are to do that and win the first game of their doubleheader, they'll stop playing right there. It will lock them into the playoffs. If the Cardinals lose the first game but win the second, they're still in. There are only seven of 44 scenarios in which they do not make the playoffs.

A sign of how much hitting there was yesterday: only two Game Scores above 60.

Tuesday, August 11 Read in Browser. Yesterday's Top Performers Batters: Asdrubal Cabrera* (WSN): 4-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R Matt Chapman* (OAK): 3-5, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R Mike Trout* (LAA): 4-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R Dylan Moore (SEA): 3-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R Juan Soto (WSN): 3-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R Nick Ahmed (ARI): 3-4, 1 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB Niko Goodrum (DET): 4-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R Manuel Margot (TBR): 4-4, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB Kyle Lewis (SEA): 3-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R Anthony Rendon (LAA): 2-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R View All of Yesterday's Batters at Baseball-Reference.com Pitchers: Aaron Nola* (PHI): 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 10 K, 83 GmSc Lance McCullers Jr.* (HOU): 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 80 GmSc Patrick Corbin (WSN): 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 58 GmSc Randy Dobnak (MIN): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 57 GmSc Michael Fulmer (DET): 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 54 GmSc View All of Yesterday's Pitchers at Baseball-Reference.com

Fans the side in the 5th. Eleven Ks so far.

Homers are down in both leagues, which is good, but K rate is up, which is bad.

Aaron Nola (P) PHI - Jul. 30

https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=746156

Nola's scheduled start against the Blue Jays on Saturday has been postponed, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies announced that a pair of staff members tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, prompting the team to shut down its stadium and postpone this weekend's series against the Blue Jays. It's unclear when Nola will get the ball next. 

Aaron Nola (P) PHI - Jul. 04

https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=742420

Correcting an earlier report, Nola hasn't been placed on the COVID-19 injured list but remains away from the team because he either tested positive for the virus, showed symptoms, came in contact with someone who tested positive or has missing/inconclusive test results, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old fits the criteria to move to the COVID-19 IL and could be placed there in the coming days, but for now he'll simply stay away from the team. Even if he shifts to the specialized IL, it won't necessarily mean he produced a positive test. Regardless, Nola's availability for the start of the season will remain cloudy until he's cleared to report to camp. 

Fangraphs 2018: WAR 5.6 FIP 3.01 SIERA 3.40 FB 50% FBv 92.4 HR/FB 11% Hard 25% LOB 83%
Fangraphs 2019: WAR 3.4 FIP 4.03 SIERA 4.14 FB 46% FBv 92.9 HR/FB 17% Hard 42% LOB 77%