Harper emphasizes that Phils control their own destiny in playoff chase

Bryce Harper stressed that the Philadelphia Phillies remain in control of their postseason fate following a 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night. Philadelphia missed an opportunity to clinch an NL Wild Card berth after the defeat. Entering Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Phillies need one victory combined with one Arizona Diamondbacks loss to officially secure their postseason spot.

The Phillies have struggled recently, dropping 12 of their last 20 games and scoring three or fewer runs in eight of their past 11 contests. In addition to the offensive slump, infielder Luis Arraez exited Thursday's matchup with a sprained left ankle, leaving his availability uncertain. Meanwhile, rookie pitcher Andrew Painter concluded his regular season by allowing one run over six innings.