Braves' Keuchel teases Phillies for not signing him

Dallas Keuchel has been everything the Atlanta Braves needed him to be since they signed him in June.

Plenty of other teams had the opportunity to pluck the veteran southpaw out of free agency, including the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Keuchel had a little extra fun at Philadelphia's expense after earning the win at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.

"If you don't come calling, what is there for me to be mad about?" Keuchel said, according to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I think a lot of those guys over there in the front office are second-guessing themselves. I mean, I would, too."

Keuchel struck out eight and allowed one run on three hits over six innings to earn his fifth consecutive victory. He's put together an 8-5 record to go with a 3.35 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 96 2/3 innings for his new club.

"He's a Cy Young for a reason," Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper said. "If you have an opportunity to go out and get a guy like that, I think all 29 teams should have that. But that's how the game is right now and that's how it goes. I thought Keuchel came out tonight and threw the ball really well."

The Braves inched closer to clinching the National League East with the 3-1 win. Their 91-56 record puts them 9 1/2 games ahead of the Washington Nationals. The Phillies, meanwhile, are tied with the New York Mets at 75-70, two games back of the second wild-card spot.