Philadelphia Phillies schedule softens up for the next 2 weeks

The Philadelphia Phillies schedule gets a lot easier over the next few series. That’s not to say June has been particularly tough for them. They caught the Los Angeles Angels while they were falling apart, and the Milwaukee Brewers hosted the Phillies just as they were beginning to show some weaknesses.

Philadelphia has been handling their business. The four series will do them favors as well. They have no legitimate playoff contender on the schedule until they visit the San Diego Padres on June 23.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a chance to make up ground thanks to a weak June schedule.

First, the Phillies host the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games. The Diamondbacks have faded from a strong start to the season and are looking like a club that would have benefitted from the 2020 60-game schedule but not so much the 162 games scheduled in a normal year. They don’t have much offense. The key to beating them is to not let their best pitchers take you down.

Then come the divisional games. Beginning with three against the Miami Marlins in Philadelphia, the regular spoiler of the National League East will look to catch the Phillies sleeping. It’s important the Phillies end that series with at least a 4-2 record on the home stand. Anything less, and they’ve let an opportunity slip away.

The boys head down to face the Washington Nationals next. They have one of those rare five-game series to play with a doubleheader on Friday. This could be a challenge. With no off-days since June 6, the Phillies should hope to steal three of the five. The Phillies should be able to take advantage of the Washington pitching staff. It’s important they don’t let a credible Nationals lineup do the same to their pitchers.

An off-day on June 20 leads into a pair of games on the road versus the Texas Rangers. A relatively average team, they were able to defeat the Phillies twice at the beginning of May. Philadelphia owes them two losses. However, a split of these two games is acceptable. The Rangers have shown life lately. It’s never easy to go on the road and into a different time zone then sweep a series – even a short one.

In those 13 games, an 8-5 record is the bare minimum. This is their opportunity to strike and pile up wins against lesser opponents.