Phillies Start Nola on Short Rest to Try to Clinch Playoff Spot
The Philadelphia Phillies want to reach the playoffs in baseball. They need one more win to make it sure.
The team has already tried three times. Every time, they did not win the game they needed.
Now they will try again. The Phillies will start pitcher Aaron Nola in the next game.
Nola usually rests more days between games. This time, he will pitch on short rest. He will only have two days off, not the usual number.
The Phillies changed their weekend plans. They changed their rotation, which is the order of their pitchers. They also changed their lineup, which is the list of players who bat.
The team is trying hard because they are desperate. This means they want the win very, very much.
If they win, they get a spot in the NL wild card. This is a way for good teams to reach the playoffs, even if they are not the best team in their group.
Fans are waiting to see if Nola can help the Phillies win this important game.
Vocabulary8 words
- playoffs
- special games at the end of a season; only good teams play
- short rest
- less time to rest than normal before working again
- rotation
- the order that pitchers take turns to play
- lineup
- the list of players who play in a game
- desperate
- wanting something very, very much
- NL wild card
- a special way for a team to enter the playoffs
- clinch
- to make something sure or final
- pitcher
- the player who throws the ball in baseball
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Clinch a playoff spot 2. Aaron Nola 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Philadelphia Phillies want to reach the _____ in baseball.
They need one more _____ to make it sure.
The team has already tried three _____.
Now they will try _____.
The Phillies will start pitcher Aaron Nola in the next _____.
Nola will pitch on _____ rest.
The team changed their weekend _____.
They changed their _____, which is the order of pitchers.
They also changed their _____, the list of players who bat.
If they win, they get a spot in the NL _____ card.
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