The Phillies were tied with the Mets last year at this point, so they are in better shape today.
Destiny is theirs.
"It's all up to us," Manuel said. "If we can't get it done, it's our fault."
Baseball Prospectus' postseason-odds report listed the Phillies' chance to win the East at 85.04 percent and the wild card at 12.42 percent.
The Mets had a 14.96 percent chance to win the division and a 39.59 percent chance to capture the wild card. The Milwaukee Brewers, who are tied with the Mets for the league's wild-card lead, had a 47.89 percent chance to win the wild card.
The Phillies have the most favorable schedule of the three teams. They host the Nationals, who have the worst record in the league and the second-worst in baseball. The Phils are 9-6 against the Nationals this season but lost two of three to them earlier this month in Washington.
The Mets host the Florida Marlins, who would love to spoil their season like they spoiled it last year. The Mets are 9-6 against the Marlins.
The Brewers host the Cubs, who gave the Mets fits this week at Shea Stadium. Milwaukee is 5-8 against the Cubs and has lost five of its last six games against them.
If the Phillies win, they won't have anything to worry about. The division is theirs. If they lose, they'll need help from the Mets and Brewers. So let's take a look at the all-important pitching matchups in these series:
Phillies vs. Nationals. Phillies righthander Joe Blanton (3-0, 4.45 ERA) faces righthander Collin Balester (3-6, 4.83) tonight. Lefthander Jamie Moyer (15-7, 3.78) takes on Washington's John Lannan (9-14, 3.86) tomorrow afternoon, and Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09) faces lefthander Odalis Perez (7-11, 4.27) on Sunday.
Blanton is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in his last two starts, although he has an 8.00 ERA in two starts against the Nationals this season. Moyer is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA in four starts against Washington this year.
