The Philadelphia Phillies struggled in the final week of the season and missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year.

After the conclusion of his second season with the Phillies, Bryce Harper spoke to reporters about the future of teammate J.T. Realmuto.

Harper said that Realmuto "needs to be our catcher next season. Plain and simple. I don't think that should even be a question."

Philadelphia acquired Realmuto in a February 2019 trade with the Miami Marlins.

San Diego pitcher Mike Clevinger got a cortisone shot for his ailing right elbow Friday and the Padres are hopeful he'll be OK for the playoffs. And after Friday night's second game of a doubleheader split with the Giants in San Francisco, the team now has questions about the health of Dinelson Lamet, as well.

The right-hander gave them a scare when he reported biceps tightness and left in the fourth inning -- but, for now, Lamet will throw in a couple of days with expectations of pitching Wednesday at Petco Park in San Diego's first postseason berth in 14 years.

"Everybody is pretty optimistic right now,'' manager Jayce Tingler said.

Ken Giles will soon undergo Tommy John surgery, the Toronto Blue Jays have revealed.

Giles will miss the remainder of the 2020 season and, barring a very fast recovery, likely all of the 2021 season too.

The reliever, who turned 30 on Sunday, has made only one appearance in 2020. In 2019, he pitched to a 1.87 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 23 saves in 53 innings for Toronto.

Cole Hamels is out for the remainder of the season after just one start with the Atlanta Braves.

The left-hander was scheduled to start Tuesday against the Miami Marlins, but he reported before the start of the series on Monday that he didn't feel like he could get anything on the ball.

Hamels has struggled throughout the year to overcome shoulder and triceps issues.

The Braves signed Hamels to a one-year, $18 million deal in the offseason.

Bryce Harper left the Philadelphia Phillies' 6-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday with lower back stiffness.

The Phillies are looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2011.

Harper exited after he struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

"He'll get a lot of treatment and we'll keep our fingers crossed," Joe Girardi said.

Philadelphia has seven games remaining and entered Monday's action as the No. 7 seed in the National League.

Astros right-hander Justin Verlander is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, he said in an Instagram post Saturday.

Verlander hasn't pitched since his season debut on July 24. He said in a video that he "felt something in my elbow" during a simulated game this week and that after consulting with doctors, Tommy John surgery was determined to be the best option.

Caleb Ferguson is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery next week, a procedure that will end his season and could potentially make him unavailable for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021.

The 24-year-old left-hander had been an important member of L.A.'s bullpen. He had a 2.89 ERA, 27 strikeouts and only three walks in 18⅔ innings.

Hamstring spasms forced Jacob deGrom to leave Wednesday night's start against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The New York Mets ace hopes the injury won't mean an early end to his season.

deGrom, 32, said he first felt issues with the hamstring in his previous start, but he didn't tell the Mets.

"I think it's just day by day," he said. "What's weird is running around, playing catch, it seems fine. Then once I get to full intensity in a game is when I feel it. Hopefully it's something we can treat and get back out there as quick as possible."

Jake Arrieta left Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets with a hamstring injury.

The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-1. Arrieta pitched effectively into the sixth inning when the injury occurred.

"I'll be back for the playoffs, there's no question in my mind about that. I think I can be back sooner than that," Arrieta said.

The pitcher says he suffered a similar injury while a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2017.

"In 2017, I had to miss two starts, but that's because I tried to come back prematurely," Arrieta said. "There's no need to rush this, but I'm going to do everything in my power with treatment with soft tissue work, making sure my tissue is hydrated and everything's ready to go. If I continue to do that and take care of myself, I don't intend to miss too much time."

The Phillies are 4 games back of first place in the National League East, but the expanded playoff field has the club as the seventh out of eight seeds in the NL entering Wednesday's action.

Carlos Correa has a bone bruise in his left ankle after fouling a pitch off of it on Tuesday night.

Dusty Baker said X-rays were negative, and the Houston Astros should know more about Correa's status on Wednesday.

Correa, 25, is hitting .274/.346/.396 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.