Phillies Start Nola on Short Rest to Try to Clinch Playoff Spot
The Philadelphia Phillies are trying, for a fourth time, to clinch a spot in the Major League Baseball playoffs. The team wants to make sure of its place before the regular season ends.
So far, the Phillies have failed three times to win the game that would have secured their spot. Because of this, the pressure on the team is growing.
To try to win this time, the Phillies have decided to change their plans. They will start pitcher Aaron Nola with only two days of rest instead of his usual schedule. This is known as pitching on short rest, and it can be more tiring for a pitcher's arm.
The team has also made other changes for the weekend. They have adjusted their rotation, the order in which pitchers usually appear, and their lineup, the group of players chosen to bat in a game.
According to reports, the Phillies are desperate to end their playoff uncertainty. This word shows how important a win has become for the team and its fans.
If the Phillies win, they will secure a place through the NL wild card, a system that allows strong teams to enter the playoffs even if they did not win their division.
Baseball fans will now be watching closely to see whether Nola, pitching with less rest than normal, can help the Phillies finally clinch their playoff spot after three earlier attempts came up short.
The outcome of this game could shape the team's momentum heading into the postseason.
Vocabulary9 words
- clinch
- to make something certain or final
- short rest
- less time than usual to recover before working again
- rotation
- the regular order in which pitchers take turns
- lineup
- the list of players chosen to play in a game
- desperate
- wanting something very badly
- NL wild card
- a way for strong teams to join the playoffs without winning their division
- postseason
- the games played after the regular season, also called playoffs
- pressure
- a strong feeling of needing to succeed
- momentum
- the energy or force that helps a team keep succeeding
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Four times, including this attempt 2. He is pitching on short rest 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 are trying, for a fourth time, to _____ a spot in the playoffs.
So far, the Phillies have _____ three times to win the game.
The Phillies have decided to change their _____.
They will start pitcher Aaron Nola with only two days of _____.
This is known as pitching on _____ rest.
They have adjusted their _____, the order in which pitchers appear.
They also changed their _____, the group of players chosen to bat.
The Phillies are _____ to end their playoff uncertainty.
If they win, they will secure a place through the NL _____ card.
The outcome could shape the team's _____ heading into the postseason.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think teams sometimes ask pitchers to work on short rest?
- Do you think it's fair to change a team's rotation for one important game? Why or why not?
- How do you think pressure affects athletes during important games?
- Have you ever felt 'desperate' to succeed at something? What did you do?
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