Phillies vs Rays live updates: Key game in MLB playoff picture in weather delay

Perched on the doorstep of a postseason berth for a week, the Phillies have failed to close the deal, due in large part to a flailing offense that seems to be showing its age at the worst time of the year. And now, instead of lining up their vaunted starting pitchers for a wild-card series, they're simply hoping to survive.

The Phillies (87-73) face the Tampa Bay Rays in game No. 161 on Saturday, Sept. 26 needing a win to stay ahead of the fast-closing Arizona Diamondbacks (86-74), who have won six consecutive games and, crucially, hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia.

It's still all right there: The Phillies are in the playoffs if they win their last two games. Or if they win one and Arizona loses at least one. Or if they lose two and Arizona loses two. Yet nothing's come easy for a club that's scored three or fewer runs in eight of its past 10 games and has lost nine of its last 13.