It doesn’t matter how you make it into the MLB playoffs – it’s what you do when you get there.
That was basically the message Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly had for his team on Sunday after winning Game 162 to avoid a massive collapse for a team many pegged to be a potential World Series candidate out of the National League.
Mattingly just added some not-safe-for-work verbiage in there.
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The Phillies, with a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, secured the final NL Wild Card slot with an 88-74 record out of the NL East.
Before champagne was popped in the locker room after their win on Sunday night, Mattingly, who was named interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired early in the 2026 MLB season, made sure to let his players know how he felt about heading into the postseason.
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“F— that, it doesn’t matter how you get in, you just got to get in. And we’re f—ing in,” he said before everyone joined in the celebration.
Philadelphia began the season 9-19, shocking much of the baseball world considering how great their roster is. It led to Thomson’s firing, and Mattingly was tasked with getting the team back on track.
Much like the situation with the Boston Red Sox and the Alex Cora firing, the Phillies saw a resurgence with new leadership in the dugout. However, the Phillies got back to their slumping ways at the worst possible time.
Through the final weeks of the season, the Phillies were fighting tooth and nail to secure one of the NL Wild Card positions alongside other postseason hopefuls. Then, by the time Sunday rolled around for the final game of the regular season, The Phillies had lost six of their last eight games with the Arizona Diamondbacks doing the exact opposite to challenge the right to play for a title.
Just last week, the Phillies held a four-game lead over the D-backs for the last Wild Card spot, but they were forced into a win-or-go-home situation on Sunday night against the AL East-winning Tampa Bay Rays – owners of the best record in the American League.
The Phillies got the job done, but they ultimately didn’t have to after the San Diego Padres defeated the Diamondbacks, 9-4, in their final game of the year.
While the Phillies are in, their plans for the Wild Card Series changes considering Zack Wheeler, their presumptive Game 1 starter, had to pitch on Sunday to keep their season alive.
Mattingly and Phillies will now face a familiar foe, as the NL East-winning Atlanta Braves will host them for the best-of-three series starting Tuesday.
