The Phillies just seem to not want to be seven games above .500.

They had a chance to do so on Friday to start a three-game series against the Mets and looked as if they were going to win. But New York tied the game at one in the seventh and then recorded a pair of five-run innings to end the it en route to an 11-5 win. Both Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola were good on the mound before the Phillies’ bullpen of Mike Morin, Jared Hughes, and Edgar Garcia just fell apart.

Saturday saw the Mets chase former teammate Jason Vargas out of the fifth inning as he gave up five runs off nine hits in four innings as New York ended up winning 6-3. Rhys Hoskins also got tossed for rightfully arguing a called third strike that was out of the strike zone. Great times down in South Philadelphia.

Last night on Sunday Night Baseball, the Phillies had a 2-1 lead in the eighth before Hector Neris walked Pete Alonso with the bases loaded to tie the game at two. Blame Mike Morin for loading the bases as well. But Scott Kingery’s bases clearing three-RBI double in the bottom half of the inning helped the Phils avoid a sweep. Zach Eflin allowed a Pete Alonso home run in the first, but went seven innings and gave up two more hits with three strikeouts.

The Phillies are 2.5 games back of the Cubs for the second wild card spot. It just feels like they’re stuck around that spot in the wild card hunt. September call-ups have begun as the homestretch of the season kicks off. It begins this afternoon at 2:10 PM against the Reds in Cincinnati on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Drew Smyly is on the mound against Anthony DeSclafani.

Elsewhere, GM Matt Klentak wasn’t afraid to express how much he admires what manager Gabe Kapler is doing with the team.

The Roundup:

It’s finally game week for the Eagles as they get set to host the Redskins Sunday afternoon.

The Birds also made their final cuts to the 53-man roster, including letting go of Stefen Wisniewski, Josh Adams, Wendell Smallwood, Cody Kessler, Clayton Thorson, Greg Ward, and Orlando Scandrick…for now. He could be back in a week or so.

The team made nine signings to their 10-man practice squad that included Ward, Josh Perkins, Boston Scott, Bruce Hector, and former Giants quarterback and Downingtown East graduate Kyle Lauletta.

To make the football season better, parts of Citizens Bank park will now be open for Eagles games. A very smart move.

Despite trailing 1-0 against Atlanta United, the Union stormed back in the second half for the 3-1 win to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. They also moved back into first place in the Eastern Conference.

The squad will host Pumas UNAM of Mexico in a friendly next Saturday.

In other sports news, Jalen Hurts was part of six touchdowns as Oklahoma defeated Houston on Sunday. Elsewhere in college football, Georgia State upset Tennessee, Bo Nix helped Auburn beat Oregon late, USC quarterback JT Daniels tore his ACL and his meniscus to end his season, and this:

Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter, and his second at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

LeSean McCoy was cut by the Bills but was picked up by the Chiefs.

Readers didn’t like an op-ed from a PITTSBURGH native on the end of the Phanatic.

In the news, Hurricane Dorian made landfall on the Bahamas.

Kevin Hart suffered “major back injuries” in a car crash in California.