The Philadelphia Phillies have a golden opportunity.

Starting Friday, the Phillies’ next 14 games are against the Pittsburgh Pirates (three game-series), Miami Marlins (four games), Kansas City Royals (three) and Washington Nationals (four). Except for the Marlins (55-48), the Pirates (45-57), Royals (29-75) and Nationals (43-59) have losing records.

The Phillies (55-47) need to take advantage. 

Taking two of three against the Baltimore Orioles, who have the best record in the American League, was very awesome, to say the least. Not only did the series win send the Phillies back to a Wild Card spot, the Phillies also proved what they are capable of. 

The Phillies came back from 3-0 and 2-0 deficits in both wins, and against a quality opponent. That is very telling for a hopeful return to the postseason.

But the Phillies have struggled against teams that have losing records, which makes up 10 of the next 14 games. So, that can’t happen over the next couple of weeks.

The series with the Pirates opens at 7 p.m. Friday with Zach Wheeler on the mound. On Saturday and Saturday, Aaron Nola and Christopher Sanchez are scheduled to start. Assuming those three can give the Phillies solid outings, it should be a sweep, right?

One should think.

But the Phillies did not win Wednesday (or even the series) against Baltimore due to Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos or Kyle Schwarber. Jack Cave made an amazing catch to help prevent runs and Edmundo Sosa hit a crucial homer. 

That’s all good, but Cave and Sosa are bench players. Sure, they did what they are supposed to do. But our “top guys” have to start stepping up, especially against the Pirates. Schwarber is batting an atrocious .182. He has been a disappointment, and that’s an understatement. Schwarber leads the team with 134 strikeouts! And he cannot even make up for his bad performance at the plate in the outfield. The errors he has recently made and missed catches/opportunities have been just as bad. 

Turner has to be better, and we all know that. That is an obvious statement. Batting .297, he has not lived up to his massive contract. Where is the Turner we thought we would get? Turner is third on the team with 107 strikeouts. 

Castellanos has had a nice season, which is why he made the N.L All-Star team. But he has not been great since the All-Star break, and that’s not good. The Phillies need him back. Right now, it’s really hard to give as much blame to him as Turner and Schwarber, but Castellanos needs to step up and playing the Pirates could be the spark he needs. 

Some guys who are the only trustworthy hitters right now (besides Harper)? Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm are just really hot right now, especially Bohm. Hopefully that continues because the Phillies need them. That walkoff from Bohm on Tuesday was perfect. But if you remember when that ninth inning started, Turner, Harper and Castellanos were the three batters. That should’ve been enough, but only Harper got on base. 

Gotta love our “top guys.” ….. 

Thank goodness for Stott and Bohm.

That brings us to the lineup. Schwarber should not be leading off. He’s home run or nothing. It would would be better to bump him down so, if he homers, it would be more than just a solo shot (hopefully). Turner should lead off, then go Bohm, Castellanos, Harper and Stott, J.T. Realmuto, Brandon Marsh and then whomever they have in the lineup that specific game. But Stott and Bohm need to be batting higher.

After the Pirates’ series, the Phillies head to Miami, which are 0.5 out of the Wild Card right now. The Phillies have to do well in that series. But the Phillies are 9-15 against division opponents, so anything could happen in that series. The Phillies lost two of three against the Marlins earlier this month, and two of those games featured close scores. Hopefully this time around the Phillies can finish Maiami off. The Phillies could really help create some breathing room withMiami in the Wild Card race, especially if they sweep (that may be wishful thinking, though).

But it should not be wishful thinking against Kansas City. The Phillies better sweep the 29-win Royals. The Phillies are currently in the second Wild Card spot and are only a half game back from the Giants for the top spot. Even if the race stays like that by the time this series starts, a sweep would be huge. Then the Phillies have the Nationals, who they should take at least three out of four against.

After that, the Phillies have a three-game home series against the Minnesota Twins (54-50), a series the Phillies should win.

The Phillies are in a great position to create some cushion in the Wild Card race. 

We will soon find out if they take advantage.