The Next 15 Games Could Decide The Phils Season

Does it feel like the Phillies are playing one tough game after another these days?

It does and they are.

On May 17, the squad set sail for St. Louis (it was REALLY raining) and a four-game set at Busch. Since then, it's been a struggle as Cap'n Kap's team returned home for Atlanta and Toronto, then a rough 10-game swing through Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Cubs on the way back home.

After facing the NL Central-leading Brewers and the always offensive Rockies, the team is back on the road visiting the Brewers.

The grind is real and there is no letup in this schedule, In fact, it is about to get harder. The next 15 games are against all winning teams a combined 181 games over .500.

The brutal run concludes with seven games against the Nationals sandwiched around a three-game visit by the Yankees.

It's always sunny in the Phillies' clubhouse with the buoyant Kap at the wheel. But let's see how he handles this stretch. The squad has had some injuries, some bullpen struggles, and young players in over their heads it seems. Jake Arietta even got a few rips in on the Cap'n during the miserable West Coast trip.

None of that matters now. The Phils have to win a few of these games. It's put up or shut up time. Their backs are against the wall. They have to give 110 percent. And a several other cliches, too.

But if they can win, say, seven games or so, they will be in good shape. The schedule really opens up after that July 1 game vs. Washington.

The ensuing 23 games are against teams a combined 240 games UNDER .500. The lone winning team in that stretch is the Dodgers, who, when the Phils are decent, don't normally fare well on their annual trip east.

A two-game trip to Fenway is followed by an August schedule featuring 12 games against the Marlins, Mets and Padres.

In fact, the Phillies don't play back-to-back series against winning teams until the calendar turns to September and they back up the Nationals with the Cubbies.

So don't let these 13-2 losses get you down.

It really is a long season.