With No Chances Of October Baseball, Phillies Playing to Keep Above .500

I really thought they had a shot. The way the Phillies were playing in the beginning of this month made us all think that they could pull it off and enter the playoffs through the second Wild Card spot. That thought was put to rest last night as the Marlins beat the Phils, 2-1 via a Carlos Lee walkoff single. The 2012 Phillies season is dead and it's time to look forward. Along with last night's loss, the Phillies dropped below .500 for the first time in nearly three weeks. Tonight, Roy Halladay (10-8, 4.40 ERA) will attempt to bring the Phils back at .500 as they take on Ricky Nolasco (12-12, 4.35 ERA) in game two against the Marlins.

To be honest, Roy Halladay should not be pitching tonight. It's almost evident that the Phillies rushed Halladay back from his injury earlier this season. The thing is: if Roy says he's okay, then the Phillies say he's okay. Halladay has a lot of pride, but sometimes enough is enough. Halladay should have been shut down for the remainder of the season weeks ago. On Saturday, against the Braves, Halladay suffered his eighth loss of the season after exiting 1 1/3 innings into the game. Halladay was shelled for seven earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out three. His horrible outing is being blamed on "back spasms" near his shoulder. He tossed a bullpen Wednesday with reported "very encouraging" results. Halladay is 2-0 with a 4.12 ERA (6 ER in 13 1/3 innings) this season.

Ricky Nolasco is coming off of a strong outing on Sunday against the Mets. The righty threw seven strong innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. Nolasco took the no-decision in the Marlins' walk-off loss. Over his last 10 starts, Nolasco has accounted for four wins and three losses while posting a 3.55 ERA (26 ER in 66 IP). The 29-year-old has made two starts against the Phillies this season, winning both outings. In his last start against the Phils, back on July 1st, Nolasco kept the Phils in check over seven, two-run innings. In his career against the Phils, Nolasco is 8-4 with a 3.59 ERA.

For the remainder of the 2012 campaign, the Phillies will play for a goal to keep above the .500 mark. It's the first time since 2006 that the Phillies have not played baseball in October. The last time the Phillies finished under .500 for the season was in 2002, when they went 80-81 under Larry Bowa.

Tonight's lineup @ Miami:

1. Rollins SS
2. Pierre LF
3. Utley 2B
4. Chooch C
5. Brown RF
6. Ruf 1B
7. Schierholtz CF
8. Orr 3B
9. Halladay P.

TV: CSN ; Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP.

Follow Erik on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.