The Philadelphia Phillies cruised their way to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs to clinch the NL East for the first time since 2011. Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto homered during the win while Aaron Nola struck out seven to ensure the team got the job done.

However, attention quickly moved from the game at hand to celebrating an impressive regular season. Plans had been made to enjoy the moment, with a rolled tarp above the clubhouse locker stalls, ready for champagne bottle popping to commence. Trea Turner led the festivities, entering the clubhouse on a platform truck full of bottles wearing a hoodie and goggles, before diving onto the beer-soaked floor.  

Slugger Bryce Harper spent some time talking about the team’s performances throughout the regular season, noting, “That was our main goal in spring training, to win the division and get that first-round bye. Do all the things we can to kind of set us up for the postseason. The division was the first thing”.

Despite having made the playoffs every season for the last three years under manager Rob Thompson, there is a feeling that this could be different. He was quick to suggest that “The biggest things for me, really, are winning the division and getting the bye. If we get home field throughout, that's a bonus. But I won't put our players in danger to get there”.

Interestingly, Thompson went on to state that a rival coach once told him playing a postseason game in Philly was like “four hours of hell”, so there’s certainly some benefit to securing the home field.