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Tag: Phillies

  • Dodgers Head Back to NLCS After Phillies’ Costly 11th-Inning Error – LAmag

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    A costly Phillies error in the 11th inning sealed a 2–1 Dodgers victory

    In the 11th inning of a tight Game 4, Andy Pages hit a slow dribbler back to Orion Kerkering, Philadelphia’s rookie reliever. The play looked routine — until it wasn’t. Kerkering bobbled the ball as it kicked off his feet, glanced toward first, then fired home. His throw sailed wide of catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score what would become the game-winning run. Seconds later, the Dodgers were mobbing and celebrating Pages near first base, celebrating a 2–1 win and a return to the NLCS. (KTLA)

    For Kerkering, who had been a bright spot in the Phillies’ bullpen all season, it was suddenly a nightmare. “Once the pressure got to me, I just thought there’s a faster throw to J.T.,” he said afterward, acknowledging the split-second decision that ended Philadelphia’s year. (ESPN)

    Before the late-inning chaos, the night had been a classic pitching duel. Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow tossed six scoreless innings for Los Angeles, striking out seven, while Rōki Sasaki pulled through with three near-perfect frames in relief. The Dodgers’ bullpen combined for five scoreless innings, keeping the game within reach even as the team struggled offensively. 

    The Phillies had their chance in the seventh, when Nick Castellanos doubled home the game’s first run. But Los Angeles answered almost immediately, tying it after Mookie Betts drew a bases-loaded walk. 

    By the time Pages stepped to the plate in the 11th, who was hitless in his previous 22 at-bats, the Dodgers were ready to finally close out the game and punch their ticket back to the pennant.

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    Anthony Gutierrez

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  • Why the Phillies fell apart, again, in NLDS

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    No, it wasn’t a nightmare. That really just happened.

    The 96-win Phillies, fresh off their best regular-season campaign of their current era, once again collapsed in epic and dramatic fashion.

    Their NLDS loss to the Dodgers — coming after a five-day bye week thanks to them earning the NL’s 2-seed — wasn’t just an early exit for a team favored to make the World Series. It was as agonizing a series loss as any team in any sport can ever have. 

    The Phillies were in every single game, and each of their three losses can be traced back to one mistake, or managerial decision. The Phillies probably should have won this series.

    There will be plenty of time to look forward and decide what this team should do next — we have three weeks of stories planned here at PhillyVoice on that topic. But let’s take one more painful look back at what exactly went wrong, and how hindsight can solve all of the Phillies postseason issues, as it always does.

    1. The bullpen in Game 1

    Thomson’s first controversial decision came in Game 1, as the Phillies were clinging to a one-run lead they gave to ace Cris Sánchez. The Phillies’ manager called on David Robertson to get the last out in the sixth inning, and he did. For some reason, the 40-year-old who was mediocre during the regular season returned for the seventh and put two runners on base.

    A few hitters later Teoscar Hernández hit a three-run homer (off Matt Strahm) and the Dodgers stole Game 1. Thomson’s silent admission of this being a wrong decision came later in the series — as he did not make that mistake again. He went with the best pitcher available in Games 2-4, at basically every inflection point, even calling on closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning of Game 4.

    Had Thomson sent Ranger Suárez, who was said to be available in Game 1, or Duran, or Kerkering — anyone with more recent success than Robertson, the series could have looked completely different.

    2. Harrison Bader’s groin

    This was nobody’s fault, it was simple bad luck. But the Phillies’ trade deadline acquisition was arguably their best hitter over the last few months of the season and when he missed most of the series due to a groin strain, the trickle-down effect was huge.

    First, he forced Brandon Marsh into action. The platooner went 1-for-12 in the series and was essentially a non-factor on offense. Despite that fact Thomson hit him in the 5-spot all series long. The Bader injury also made Nick Castellanos an everyday player again, and while he did deliver in a big way — a two-run double in Game 2 and the Phillies’ only RBI in Game 4 — his defense was clearly the same problem it was all season out in right field.

    3. The bunt in Game 2

    Citizens Bank Park was rocking late in Game 2, as an epic comeback was in the making. Down 4-0, three Phillies runs had crossed the plate and the Phils had a runner on second with nobody out in the ninth.

    Thomson instructed Bryson Stott to bunt — and he did, into a perfectly executed “wheel play” from the Dodgers defense, gunning Castellanos down at third and essentially robbing the Phillies of a golden opportunity. We’ll be questioning this one for years. Had they not bunted, the single that followed off Bader’s bat would have plated the Phils’ fourth run and, once again, this series would have been totally different.

    4. Walking Shohei Ohtani

    When Duran entered Game 4 there were two men on and one man out. The Phillies were up 1-0. After a groundout, the intimidating Ohtani came up and Thomson told the umpires he was intentionally walking the Japanese superstar. This despite the fact that the two-time reigning NL MVP was struggling mightily — he was 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the series.

    Like the bunt decision, this went south quickly as Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded to tie the game. The Phillies had enough faith in Duran to bring him in in the seventh inning against the top of the Dodgers lineup but not enough faith in him to get one of those hitters out with a one run lead? 

    5. Pulling Luzardo

    After the Dodgers evened things out late in Game 4, the Phillies were ready, with Jesús Luzardo ready to pitch multiple innings as the pitcher’s duel went to extra innings. Luzardo mowed down the first four hitters he faced and then went single-line out-single to put two runners on with two outs. For some reason — once again Thomson intervened.

    Orion Kerkering entered and everyone knows what happened next. He walked Enrique Hernández and then on a weak grounder one batter later, he threw the game away, overthrowing J.T. Realmuto at home when a throw to first would have ended the inning and sent the Phillies to the plate in the 12th inning.

    Just like all of the other instances we’ve outlined here, there is no telling whether Luzardo would have been able to get that third out. Or whether pitching to Ohtani would have been the right move. Or whether the Phillies would have plated a tying run if they didn’t give a free out to the Dodgers with a bad bunt attempt. But these decisions were wrong ones. And led to the Phillies being ousted once again way before they were expected to be.

    Red October used to be the most exciting time of year, with temperate weather, great vibes and optimism, with all four major sports overlapping ever so slightly in a sports-crazy city. But they’ve become pure hell for the city in recent years. 

    This one will be hard to forget.

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    Evan Macy

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  • Instant observations: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies come alive to win Game 3, extend NLDS vs. Dodgers

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    The Phillies are still alive, at least for one more night.

    Kyle Schwarber finally connected on his swing and launched two homers into the seats, Ranger Suárez was aces in relief, and though it took the Dodgers handing them a few more golden opportunities, the Phillies’ bats eventually piled on. 

    They took Game 3 of the NLDS in an 8-2 blowout over at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. They’re still trailing the best-of-five series, 2-1, but the important thing right now is that the Phillies are still playing. 

    They’re still breathing. 

    Here’s how…

    The Good

    • It took until the fourth inning of Game 3, stuck in an 0-for-23 drought and with the Phillies’ backs completely against the wall, but Kyle Schwarber finally got one. 

    L.A.’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto left a 2-0 fastball up in the zone, Schwarber got the barrel around to it, and as soon as the pitch cracked off the bat, it was never a question of if it was gone; it was a question of how far it was going. 

    Schwarber obliterated a solo home run 455 feet into Dodger Stadium’s right-field concourse to put his mark on the series after going quiet through Games 1 and 2. 

    He also tied the game up 1-1 after an opening three innings where the Phillies were struggling to get a read on Yamamoto, and the heart of the order followed behind him and started patching something together.

    • Bryce Harper, who had also been struggling to make contact, followed Schwarber up with a base hit and went first to third on a slow-rolling single into center from Alec Bohm right after.

    It was a risky call, but it hurried a throw from outfielder Andy Pages, who was caught off guard and rushed an ensuing bad decision that bounced past Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy and into the L.A. dugout.

    Harper was free to take home on the error. Bohm, who had rushed around to second in the chaos, was awarded third, then scored on a Brandon Marsh sac fly to left.

    The Phillies took a 3-1 lead and some heavy momentum that piled on with a ground-rule double from J.T. Realmuto. They needed that, but the rally halted quickly after, on a Max Kepler flyout and a Nick Castellanos strikeout to let Yamamoto get away.

    • Ranger Suárez was everything the Phillies needed on Wednesday night. That first-pitch homer he gave up to Tommy Edman after he took over for Aaron Nola in the third wasn’t ideal, but the lefty didn’t let it snowball.

    Instead, he posted five innings of one-hit, one-run ball in relief, with four strikeouts and just a walk. Edman’s solo homer was kept to the only damage done, and while it did look a bit dicey at other points, clutch plays like Bryson Stott’s underhanded double-play setup to end the sixth kept the Phillies away from trouble.

    It was a big-time outing, in potentially what could’ve been Suárez’s last appearance as a Phillie, but the curtain hasn’t fallen just yet.

    • Dodgers manager Dave Roberts really seemed to try to hand the Phillies Game 2 back at Citizens Bank Park. Rob Thomson and his club just bafflingly refused to take it, which sent them to L.A. in the 2-0 hole.

    On Wednesday night, Roberts gave them another chance. Longtime lefty Clayton Kershaw, in his farewell season, was called on in relief for the seventh, and thanks to a base-running blunder from Schwarber (see below), the 37-year-old escaped a jam and kept the Phillies to just that 3-1 lead they put together in the fourth.

    Then Roberts decided to leave Kershaw out there for the eighth. What he thought was going to happen? Who knows, but here’s what did…

    J.T. Realmuto homered immediately, Max Kepler drew a walk, Nick Castellanos reached on a fielding error by Max Muncy at third, then after a sac bunt from Stott to move the runners up, Trea Turner looped a base hit to score both runners and put the Phillies up, 6-1. 

    If you thought that would be a night for Kershaw right there, uhh…no. He stayed in to face Schwarber. Schwarber crushed his second homer of the night, a two-run shot, for an 8-1 lead. That was game, as the seats in Dodger Stadium rapidly emptied out.

    Again, who knows what Roberts was thinking, but it gave the Phillies another day.

    The Bad

    • The bottom of the first was an immediate rollercoaster for the Phillies. 

    Aaron Nola had his velocity, hitting 95 mph with his fastball, and got Shohei Ohtani to fly out for the first out.

    Then Mookie Betts stepped up to the plate and worked into a 2-2 count after five pitches. On the sixth, Nola fired another 95 mph fastball, but left it right over the plate. Betts got a hold of the ball and lined it into center.

    Marsh ran to it, and had he tracked it down and played it on the hop, a runner would be on, but only from a very manageable one-out single. 

    Marsh made a decision, though, and tried diving after the ball for the out. He missed. It went rolling to the wall as he lay there, and Nick Castellanos in right was slow to back up the play, which sent Betts storming off to third for the triple. 

    A runner was in scoring position, which hasn’t been anywhere close to a comfortable scenario to have Nola in all year. He pushed through and struck out Teoscar Hernández in four pitches for the second out, but then hit Freddie Freeman with a 0-1 knuckle curve that didn’t break to put runners at the corners.

    Tanner Banks got up in the bullpen and started warming up. 

    Nola fought back for a huge strikeout of Will Smith looking on a full count to get the Phillies out unscathed. But from the jump, they were teetering on disaster, and after Nola had burnt through 22 pitches with movement going on in the pen, it was clear he only had so long.

    • Nola returned for the second and put up a quick 1-2-3 inning, but that was as far as he was going after only 31 pitches, that lone triple allowed, the hit by pitch, and three strikeouts. 

    Suárez finally came in from the bullpen for his first appearance all series, but on the lefty’s very first pitch to start the third, Tommy Edman took him yard. 

    The Phillies, in a do-or-die, were working from behind, 1-0. They would have to climb back to survive.

    Suárez turned it around quickly with a groundout of Ohtani, a lineout of Betts, and another groundout from Hernández to escape, but not before the Dodgers struck that first run. Still, he went on to recover beautifully.

    • The Phillies, starting with Schwarber’s missile of a homer, finally got to Yamamoto in the fourth. In the fifth, they chased him from the game and looked like they were about to go on another rally, but stopped themselves short. 

    Stott singled in the nine hole, Turner followed with a base hit of his own in the next at-bat, and the two executed a double steal of second and third to put runners in scoring position with no one out. 

    Schwarber was up, and Roberts took that as his cue to take the ball from Yamamoto and hand it off to reliever Anthony Banda.

    This was a crucial opportunity for the Phils to build up insurance, but Schwarber struck out swinging on a full count, Harper flied out on the first pitch to shallow right to hold the runners, and after the Dodgers elected to intentionally walk Bohm to load the bases, Banda had Marsh at the plate in the lefty-on-lefty matchup. 

    Marsh, who has notoriously been incapable of handling left-handed pitching, went down swinging on three pitches to let the Dodgers out of the jam. 

    Runs were left on the table. The Phillies still remained up two, but knowing how Game 1 went for them, they were tempting fate.

    • Worse yet, they let the Dodgers exploit that matchup a second time. 

    In the seventh, L.A. called to Kershaw out of the pen. Turner immediately singled off him, Schwarber drew a walk, and Harper lined out to right, but it was a pretty well-hit ball that Hernández couldn’t get a read on until the last second. 

    Then, with Bohm back at the plate, Schwarber gave Kershaw and the Dodgers a gift. 

    A breaking pitch spun into the dirt and got away from catcher Will Smith, but he recovered it and Schwarber caught himself between committing to the steal of second and retreating back to first. 

    He had nowhere to go. 

    Smith made the throw to first, and Freddie Freeman tagged him up for the second out. Turner took third in the process, but Roberts recognized that the Dodgers could intentionally walk Bohm again and have the lefty Kershaw take his chances against Marsh.

    Marsh battled to a 2-2 count, but he flied out to Hernández in right with little concern this time.

    The Dodgers were let off scot-free again, and this one could’ve stood to really haunt the Phillies…

    Had Roberts not stuck with Kershaw for the eighth. He really gave that gift right back to them with that call.

    The End?

    • Not just yet. Game 4 is Thursday night back at Dodger Stadium. 

    The Phillies are still breathing, and Cristopher Sánchez will get another turn up against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow.

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    Nick Tricome

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  • Phillies Offense Disappears, Rob Thomson Strikes Again – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Phillies had the entire city riled up and ready for another deep postseason run after finishing 96-66 and getting a first-round bye. Everyone knew the Dodgers wouldn’t be easy, but when your top three guys refuse to show up when it matters most and your manager continues to make terrible decisions, you won’t often find yourself in a winning situation.

    To be very blunt, the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies are who we thought they were.

    Same Results, Different Year

    The Phillies are down 0-2 and would need to win three games in a row against the Dodgers, with the next two games in Los Angeles. I’m not gonna sit here and feed optimism when this team has given nothing for us to be optimistic about.

    The Phillies are 1-7 in their last eight playoff games. They refuse to work any ABs, and when they do, they end up swinging at what would be ball four most of the time. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper have disappeared. Those three in this series are 1-21. I’m gonna say that again. The top three hitters in this lineup are 1-21. I don’t care if you’re playing the Colorado Rockies, you aren’t gonna win games with the top three guys on your team going 1-21 at home in a series. The middle and bottom parts of the order haven’t been any better. This team couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat right now.

    No one in the order has stepped up and tried to provide a spark. Nick Castellanos had a two-run double in the 9th inning of game two that barely got me excited because I just knew the Phillies were gonna find a way to ruin the situation.

    Rob Thomson Strikes Again

    Following the double from Castellanos, Bryson Stott then bunted with 0 outs, runner at second, which resulted in Castellanos being thrown out at third. I nearly turned the game off. Bunting in that situation comes from the manager, and boy oh boy would I love to know Rob’s thought process behind this one.

    You are handcuffed because, with Bader dealing with a groin injury, you had to save a pitch runner for Bader. You can’t run for Castellanos, but Castellanos doesn’t run well, so what do you do? HAVE STOTT SWING THE BAT. THIS IS BASEBALL!

    I understand the concept of moving the runner over, but once again, Thomson’s lack of baseball feel strikes again. The crowd was finally into it, the tying run is at second with 0 outs, and you bunt into an out at third and kill any rally you had. Just to top it off, Bader would single in the next AB that would’ve likely scored Castellanos. Can’t make this stuff up.

    This 9th-inning debacle by Rob Thomson wasn’t even his worst moment of the night. Thomson decided to go with Orion Kerkering out of the bullpen first when Jesus Luzardo ran into trouble in the 7th. Luzardo pitched a gem in this game and is the only Phillie worth noting from last night. Luzardo had runners on second and third when Thomson pulled him and put in Kerkering.

    Let me remind you, Kerkering has been terrible inheriting runner all season. One look at a stat sheet and anyone who works in baseball would be able to tell you that. Everyone but Rob Thoms, apparently. He puts in Kerkering, who immediately gives up two runs after nearly getting an out at home. The Dodgers would add on, giving themselves a 4-0 lead in the 7th. Since August, Kerkering has let 8/13 inherited runners score when he comes out of the bullpen. That is not good. Going to Kerkering in that situation is a terrible decision, knowing he’s not good with runners on base. I would’ve much rather seen Strahm in that situation, who was up and warm.

    If the Phillies go to LA and lose game three, getting swept in this fashion is more than enough of a reason for the organization to have a long conversation this offseason about the players and staff on this ball club. The team has gotten better every year since 2022, and yet the results are worse and worse. At this point, players and coaches need to be held accountable.

    Heading to LA

    The Phillies will travel to Los Angeles today and play game three of the series Wednesday night at 9:08. The Dodgers will start Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA, 201 Ks), and the Phillies will start Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01ERA, 97 Ks). As you can tell, the pitching matchup heavily leans in the Dodgers’ favor. Maybe the struggling offense will get going since they are away from home.

    The Phillies will be playing for their season Wednesday night and avoid getting swept 3-0 in embarrassing fashion.

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    Matt Saglembeni

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  • Instant observations: Phillies’ NLDS Game 2 rally falls short, season on the brink

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    The Phillies, winners of the NL East and 96 games this season, are on the brink of seeing their season end early once again after a painful 4-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS.

    Dodger Blake Snell and Phillie Jesús Luzardo traded zeros on the scoreboard for about two hours before Los Angeles finally broke through in the seventh inning.

    The Phillies fought back with three late runs of their own but they couldn’t dig themselves out of a deep late hole and their 2025 season now hangs by a thread.

    Philadelphia is once again reeling from cold bats in the wake of another bye week. They’ll have a day to lick their wounds before trying to achieve the impossible at Chavez Ravine on Wednesday, looking to come back from down 0-2 in the best of five series.

    Just why this team, built on paper to compete in October, continues to fall on its face when the nights get crisp is a conversation for later (maybe for as soon as Wednesday). But right now, let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the only really special moment from a forgettable Game 2 in South Philly:

    The good

    • Max Kepler came off the bench and drilled a lead-off triple in the eighth inning to give a little life to the dreary onlooking sell-out crowd. He had a double in Game 1 — you can bet he’ll be in the lineup for Game 3.

    Trea Turner then proceeded to put the Phillies on the board with a no frills RBI-single a few pitches later. I have to admit, I didn’t think the crowd would be able to turn it back up to 11 after the 4-0 deficit but credit to the Philly faithful they got back into it quickly (just in time to see Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper end the threat).

    • An inning later, they were chirping again. Better late than never, right? Alec Bohm hit a single and J.T. Realmuto a double against Blake Treinen — a pitcher this team has owned when facing him. The bloopiest of bloop doubles you’ll ever see from Nick Castellanos scored two runs and made this a ballgame.

    Harrison Bader, injured groin and all, hit a single after a failed sac bunt from Bryson Stott, but the rally would end there, as Kepler and Turner quietly grounded out. 

    • The entire season has been a roller coaster for both Luzardo and for Phillies fans. He was at one point a surefire All-Star and Cy Young candidate before he historically fell apart and allowed 20 runs over a pair of disastrous starts in June and July. The Phillies were treated to the ace version of Luzardo Monday. After he wiggled out of an early jam with runners on the corners, thanks to a well-fielded line drive to Nick Castellanos and weak ground out, he retired 17 straight hitters. 

    In the seventh frame, Luzardo finally surrendered, with a single and double knocking him into the dugout for righty reliever Orion Kerkering. He was credited for two runs as Kerkering couldn’t clean up the mess. In a vacuum, six-plus three-hit innings is a pretty solid day. But without an offense to support it, it’s a wasted start.

    The bad

    • The Phillies were 42-24 after a loss in the regular season, the second best in baseball behind the Cubs. So much for that.

    • “Moneyball” is one of my favorite movies. And it convinced me that bunting is stupid in basically every situation. With a runner on second and no one out, Stott tried to bunt Castellanos to third base and he failed, as the Dodgers got Castellanos out at third base. Some old school baseball is good. This particular old school baseball tactic is outdated and a losing idea. Of course, the very next hitter got a single — one that would have tied the game.

    • Before Monday’s game, Rob Thomson told the media that he stressed controlling the strike zone to his players ahead of Game 2. 

    “Snell likes to induce a lot of chase,” Thomson said. “You’ve got to be aware of what’s going on.”

    That scouting report proved prophetic. After the team marginally improved its swing and miss rate from 25.9% to 25.7% from a year ago, they were really letting the bats fly Monday — and whiffing. Against the Dodgers’ starter alone, Phillies hitters swung and missed 23 times (13 of them in the first three innings). For some context, most MLB games see each batting order whiff somewhere between 14-to-18 times in an entire game. 

    Snell was as masterful as was expected, striking out nine Phillies hitters and pitching around four walks in his six innings.

    • After reaching with a third-inning walk, Brandon Marsh essentially handed the Dodgers an out for free when he was caught stealing by a mile. With Schwarber at the plate, working the count, why, oh why, would you try and steal a base?

    • It’s hard to win when your best hitters don’t hit. Combined with their nearly absent (save for a Harper single) showing in the first game, the Phillies’ superstar 1-through-3 hitters were a combined 1-for-18 to start the series until Turner drove in a garbage time run in the eighth. 

    The first hit for the Phillies didn’t come until an Edmundo Sosa single with two outs in the fifth — so it wasn’t just those three guys.

    Schwarber especially has been invisible. The MVP candidate and National League leader in homers and RBI — the only player ever to have a home run in the ALWC, ALDS, ALCS, NLWC, NLDS, NLCS and World Series — is 0-for his last 21 dating back to September. He did walk with Turner on second in the sixth inning to create the Phillies’ first real scoring opportunity — but Harper and Alec Bohm failed to plate anyone.

    The good news is the last time he slumped like this, he blasted himself out of it with a four home run game. The bad news is the team might not be playing for much longer.

    • A bad throw from Turner was responsible for the Dodgers’ first run, as a weak groundout with runners on second and third prompted the shortstop to correctly fire for home, but the throw was on the wrong side of J.T. Realmuto at the plate and the tag was a hair late. That’s what kind of margins these postseason games can have. Had that throw been on the mark we could be writing a different story.

    The floodgates opened quickly after, as Kerkering walked the bases loaded and then gave up two runs on a single to Will Smith. Matt Strahm was knocked for another run when Shohei Ohtani’s bat finally arrived in Philadelphia. 

    The Dodgers are too good a team to be kept at bay for nine innings in this environment, and the Phillies’ lack of offense will likely be how this series is remembered if they can’t complete an epic comeback out west in L.A.

    • One more note here, the Jhoan Duran entrance is epic — but for the second straight game the lights went down and the bellowing LED flames throughout welcomed the closer to the mound with the Phillies losing. ‘El Incomprendido’ was blasting as fans filed for the exits in the ninth. Woof.

    The ugly legendary

    • We’ll finish on a positive note. This happened 15 years ago tonight:

    Roy Halladay was one of the best to ever do it. 

    There have been some pretty awful dry spells — namely from 2012-2021 when the team was either way too old or badly run — but this city has seen some pretty amazing baseball over the last two decades. The fact that it’s only brought one World Series is pretty mind boggling.

    The Phillies are nothing but class, and trotted out Halladay’s kids Braden and Ryan to toss the first pitch to Carlos Ruiz. 

    👌 

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    Evan Macy

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  • NLDS: Harrison Bader leaves Phillies’ Game 1 loss with ‘groin tightness,’ but believes he’ll be back

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    Harrison Bader believes he’ll still be able to play in the NLDS. 

    The centerfielder had to exit the Phillies’ 5-3 Game 1 loss to the Dodgers in the seventh inning on Saturday night, with what manager Rob Thomson said postgame was “groin tightness.”

    Nick Castellanos took up Bader’s No. 8 spot in the batting order, and Brandon Marsh slid over to center field from left for the last two innings. 

    The Phillies are off Sunday. Bader will have imaging done in the morning, and he and the club will go from there as they approach Game 2 Monday night back at Citizens Bank Park.

    He seemed optimistic in the Phillies’ clubhouse. 

    “Definitely feel like I’ll be able to play,” Bader said. “Just running between first and second base, kind of pulled it at second base, just felt a little weird. I don’t know really what it attributed to.”

    He was running, though, on Bryson Stott’s single in the bottom of the fifth, which Thomson confirmed is where the tightness started to set in (via MetroPhilly’s Kyle Fisher).

    In the top of the fifth, Bader tracked down a liner hit by L.A.’s Andy Pages to right-center and dove out to make the catch for the out. 

    Bader stayed in for the sixth, and was only pulled once his turn to bat was back up in the seventh.

    He said in the clubhouse that something felt “strange” while standing on second when he was said to have suffered the injury, and felt that he couldn’t fully sprint in center field, which all factored into the decision to sit down the rest of the way. 

    “I just think random things happen, unfortunately. But in terms of the preparation leading up to the event and whatnnot, I really wu;dn’t change anyhting. 

    “I think it’s a tough decision to be made,” Bader said. “But, again, I do feel like if something did have to happen, you risk obviously being more injured, and we have a lot of baseball ahead of us. Win or loss tonight, we have a lot of baseball ahead of us.

    “So I think it was just the smart decision given how I felt in terms of my symptoms to make that decision. But like I said, there’s imaging tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

    The Phillies started Bader in center, Marsh in left, and Max Kepler in right field for Game 1.

    Should Bader not be ready in time for Game 2, Marsh will likely stick in center as the Phillies’ most athletic outfielder, while Castellanos would regain his former everyday spot in right, with either Kepler or Weston Wilson back in left. 

    That was the Phillies’ outfield look before Bader was acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline. However, it was a group that was inconsistent and left a lot to be desired offensively. 

    The Sunday off day will buy the Phillies a bit of time and clarity on Bader’s status once the imaging comes through. 

    They’ll hope he won’t be down long, if at all.

    “If there’s an absolute chance in hell, you better believe I’m gonna be in there,” Bader said of playing again this postseason.

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  • J.T. Realmuto thinks the 2025 Phillies are ‘the deepest team we’ve had.’ This might be their best shot at a World Series.

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    The Phillies are about to begin their fourth consecutive postseason run, still in pursuit of a World Series title. 

    They came close when they finally broke out in 2022, and have assembled some strong rosters for October in the couple of years since, but for one reason or another, it all just hasn’t fully added up yet. Something, or multiple things, always stopped them short. 

    But they’re back again, as a 96-win club, as the NL East champions for a second straight year, and as the No. 2 seed on the National League side of the postseason field. 

    If you ask J.T. Realmuto, this might be their best group. This might be their best shot.

    “In my opinion, this is probably the deepest team we’ve had,” the Phillies catcher said Friday. “I think the lineup’s as deep as we’ve had it. I think our bullpen is, in my opinion, the best top to bottom that we’ve had since I’ve been here. Obviously, it’s tough losing [Zack Wheeler]. You can’t replace a guy like that, but our starting pitching is still very deep. We’ve got guys that throw the ball really well and have had success at this stage. 

    “Obviously, we’ve had some good teams here, but I do feel like this is probably our deepest team we’ve had.”

    That’s saying something, and up against superstar Shohei Ohtani and the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the NLDS, it’s what the Phillies are going to need if they’re really going to see this October through all the way to the end. 

    As Realmuto mentioned, the Phillies lost their longtime ace Zack Wheeler for the rest of the year due to a blood clot, but in the face of sunddenly having a massive hole at the top of the rotation, left-hander Cristopher Sánchez rose to the occassion as a potentially Cy Young caliber No. 1, while fellow lefties Jesús Luzardo and Ranger Suárez shored the picture up behind him. The Phils’ starting pitching 1-3 can arguably still go toe-to-toe with anyone’s. 

    Their bullpen, in a far, far cry from how it looked to begin the year, also has its clear and dependable order now. Tanner Banks, Matt Strahm, and David Robertson are the immediate arms to call on, and beyond them, Orion Kerkering, and potentially Walker Buehler, Taijuan Walker, or maybe even Aaron Nola. They all just need to get the Phillies to the ninth, then leave it to Jhoan Duran, as the first clear and effective closer the organization has had in a long time, to shut the door. 

    Jhoan-Duran-Save-Phillies-2025.jpgBill Streicher/Imagn Images

    The Phillies have felt like a different ball club since acquiring Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline.

    Then there’s the lineup. 

    Trea Turner went into the season with a renewed emphasis on getting on base in the leadoff spot, and that took him all the way to the NL batting title, while setting up the rest of the order to pile on. Kyle Schwarber, in a noted contract year, took off to MVP level power-hitting numbers; Bryson Stott lowered his hands and rediscovered his swing near the bottom of the lineup late in the year, and further up, Realmuto and Bohm are still a threat to do damage, while trade acquisition Harrison Bader came in and seems to have given the Phils just the kind of complement of outfield depth they were looking for. 

    Then, of course, Bryce Harper still sits at the heart of all of it, as the face of the franchise and the superstar who just seems made for the moment. 

    Against an L.A. lineup that could very well be their toughest competition out of any other club in the mix, the Phillies are going to need everyone, everything, and then some.

    Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park is only a few more hours away on Saturday at 6:38 p.m. ET.

    “I think that’s what this series is going to be all about,” Realmuto said. “In my opinion, the talent is pretty evenly matched across both teams. [The Dodgers are] extremely talented over in that clubhouse, and we obviously have confidence in the guys we have, so the series is going to come down to who’s able to get those big hits in the big moments and command the strike zone, both pitching and hitting. And then not trying to do too much when the runners are on base and being able to shorten up, put the ball in play, find the holes, it’s going to be a very evenly matched series.

    “Whoever comes up in those big spots and is able to put the ball in play, find the gap…It might not necessarily be the big home run that wins the series. I think it’s going to be doing the little things correctly.”

    It might be their best shot.

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  • What we know about the Phillies vs. Dodgers NLDS schedule

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    The Phillies already know their National League Division series opponent, and already know the start time for Game 2. Other than that, the schedule remains incomplete.

    Game 2 between the Phillies and Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park will start at 6:08 p.m., Major League Baseball announced Thursday night. Still up in the air are the times for Game 1 and any other games in the best-of-five series.

    Game 1 will either begin at 6:08 p.m. or 6:38 p.m., depending on the outcome of the ALCS Wild Card series between the Yankees and Red Sox, which will be decided Thursday night in Game 3. 

    Whatever time MLB decides for Game 1, “The Bank” will surely be rocking as the Phillies welcome the Dodgers, who swept the Reds in two games in the NL Wild Card series. 

    Phillies ace left-hander Cristopher Sánchez will toe the rubber for the Phils, and Red October will officially begin.

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  • Phillies will face Dodgers in the NLDS

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    It will be Phillies-Dodgers in the NLDS.

    Los Angeles put away the Cincinnati Reds, 8-4, on Wednesday night to take their NL Wild Card Series in a 2-0 sweep. They’ll be on their way to Philadelphia. 

    Game 1 is Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, with either a 6:08 p.m. ET or 6:38 p.m. ET first pitch, pending the outcome of the Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card series over in the AL. 

    Star left-hander Cristopher Sánchez is set to take the mound for the Phillies. Two-way megastar Shohei Ohtani, since he didn’t pitch in the Wild Card round, is likely to get his turn for the Dodgers in Game 1 now instead. 

    The Phillies won the regular season series over the Dodgers, 4-2, which earned them the postseason tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed and the right to a bye into the NLDS had their 96-66 record not proved enough. 

    The latter part of that series also included the Phillies clinching their NL East title and taking two of three games over in LA the last time the two clubs met midway through September. 

    None of that is to say that the Phillies have an outright advantage, though. 

    The Dodgers are coming in with a ton of star power between Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the two-way, game-breaking force that is Ohtani, and all as the defending World Series champions.

    That said, the Phillies are bringing their heavy hitters, too.

    Phillies-Bryce-Harper-Game-162-Twins-MLB-2025.jpgEric Hartline/Imagn Images

    Bryce Harper and the Phillies’ journey to a World Series will have to go through the defending champion Dodgers.

    Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, and Jesús Luzardo make up a lefty-heavy, though just as dominant starting rotation in the face of the club having lost longtime ace Zack Wheeler for the year due to a blood clot. 

    At the plate, Trea Turner leads off as the NL batting champion, Kyle Schwarber waits in the wings as the MVP-caliber power hitter who is always ready to launch a ball into the seats, and then, as always, there’s Bryce Harper, who lives to make the moment in October. 

    A big-time best-of-five series is on deck, and for Philly fans, hopefully it’s another Phils-Dodgers playoff matchup that will be looked back on fondly – up there with Matt Stairs ripping one into the night or Jimmy Rollins walking them off in the ninth.

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  • Why Philadelphia Is a Must-Visit City for International Sports Fans – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: Leo SERRAT-Unsplash

    Sports enthusiasts look for places where they can not only watch their favorite games but also participate in the local sporting culture.

    Philadelphia is one of those cities.

    Known as the ‘City of Brotherly Love’, Philadelphia has a reputation as a sports city. The city has a unique blend of history, culture, and energy, irrespective of the sport: baseball, football, basketball, or hockey.

    Sports travel has to be planned in advance, so it’s good to keep all the important things in mind. For example, a traveler from Australia visiting Lebanon after the US will need to discover if Australians require insurance in Lebanon. The same goes for any country you are going to visit.

    If you are planning to visit Philadelphia, here is why it should be the number one place on a sports-inspired trip to the States.

    1) Philadelphia and the World Sports Market

    Credit: Leo SERRAT-Unsplash

    Philadelphia is not like the other American Cities, and it is not simply because it has sports franchises. It is because of the bond and relationship the people of the city have with the sports franchises. The people of the city don’t just watch a game. They are part of it. Watching and celebrating a game is a family and a community event that is handed down for generations.

    Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and Wells Fargo Center are indeed important parts of the city’s landscape. Whether it’s tailgating at the football parking lots or at a buzzing hockey match, the whole city seems like one big party.

    Watching a game here gives overseas visitors the feeling of being at a huge public event. The noise and passion of the crowd, and even the friendly disputes between rival teams, present the best of American sporting traditions.

    2) The Sports Heritage of Philadelphia

    Like the city’s historic buildings and delicious food, Philadelphia’s sports history is also important to the city. Sports are a big part of the city’s identity, and you’ll learn that when visiting from abroad.

    Important milestones in its legacy:

    • Baseball and the Phillies. Established in 1883, the Phillies are the oldest, continuously active one-name, one-city franchise in all of Major League Baseball. Their 2008 World Series victory is one of the most memorable moments, and a trip to Citizens Bank Park allows fans to experience over a century of baseball history.
    • Football and the Eagles. The Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in 2018 was more than a title. It was a testament to the city’s tenacity and determination, and it was celebrated with over a million people at a parade on Broad Street.
    • Basketball and the 76ers. The Sixers are a staple of the local basketball history and pride, and they’ve impacted many generations with the likes of Julius Erving and Allen Iverson, as well as numerous current players.
    • Hockey and the Flyers. The Flyers changed the game and influenced generations of fans with their teamwork and toughness during the 1970s, especially in the “Broad Street Bullies” era.

    These are some of the stories these cities can share with international tourists. The countless celebrations, chants, and treasured moments are present in the statues and monuments, and every game has a history of triumphs and defeats.

    3) Important Sites Every Supporter Should Visit

    You cannot finish a sports journey in Philadelphia without visiting its magnificent arenas. Each one has a unique culture and value, and different fans’ perspectives and experiences.

    Citizens Bank Park (Baseball)

    • Has a reputation for its open layout and views of Philadelphia’s skyline. People enjoy its family-friendly atmosphere and being able to relax.
    • Tip: Grab a cheesesteak or crab fries to enjoy while watching. Arrive early to see batting practice to maximize your fun.

    Lincoln Financial Field (Football)

    • Home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
    • Gets very popular in the winter for matches and has an incredible atmosphere for fans.
    • Tip: Buy your tickets early and experience the legendary tailgating in the parking lots.

    Wells Fargo Center (Basketball & Hockey)

    • Home to the 76ers and the Flyers. Primarily for sport, however, it has concerts and special events in the arena.
    • Tip: Look at the schedule before planning your visit. You can watch a basketball game one day and a hockey game the next.

    These places are part of Philadelphia culture. United by the spirit of the city, they include songs in the stands, and giant pretzels and other snacks.

    4) Fan Culture in Philadelphia

    If people love or even fear them, Philadelphia fans are known for being unforgettable. They are known all over the world, and for good reason. Joining fans at Philadelphia games feels like joining a big and passionate family that refuses to sit quietly.

    What makes fans in Philadelphia unique:

    • Tailgating – Before games even start, fans set up outdoor picnic-style Tailgating. They set up their cars in the parking lots, where they grill food, play music, and celebrate in large social gatherings.
    • Chants and songs – Singing the ‘E-A-G-L-E-S’ cheer at a Philadelphia football game, hockey fans become a part of a united and single voice in a chant.
    • Rivalry – Philadelphia fans get really excited for games, especially the rival games. The greatest rival games in all of the United States are the games Philadelphia fans play against New York and Dallas. Rivalry games are unforgettable for international fans and increase the enjoyment for all the Philadelphia fans.

    When a sports fan travels, the experience and culture are just as important as the scoreboard. Participating in sports, chants, and tailgating, and sharing food as they celebrate, is a unique experience.

    5) Tips for Travelers Coming From Overseas

    Philadelphia is a friendly city. However, a little homework can make your visit even better.

    Here are the most important things for overseas sports fans to know.

    • Entering the country – Almost all overseas travelers need a visa or ESTA approval. Make sure to check your country’s visa and travel requirements early to avoid last-minute issues.
    • Getting around – Parts of the city are very walkable, and public transport is available. You can take the SEPTA trains and buses to the games, and rideshares are easy to get.
    • Where to stay – Center City has a good mix of sports venues and cultural sites. If you are looking for a hotel, be sure to do it early because the demand increases in the playoffs and major events.

    Because of the demand, sports fans will often build a multi-country itinerary to visit other countries. However, if your next stop is Philadelphia and you are going to the Middle East, it is worth it to check travel requirements to save time at the airport. For example, Australians need to check if they need travel insurance when going to Lebanon. This type of travel planning helps prevent your sports trip from having issues when moving from one place to the next.

    6) Food, Culture, and Entertainment Around the Games

    Between the matches, there is a lot to see, do, and eat.

    There are lots of things to enjoy in Philadelphia.

    • Don’t forget to eat a Philly cheesesteak. There are lots of great and rival cheesesteak shops, including Pat’s and Geno’s.
    • Check out the cultural districts to appreciate the attractions and sites. You can see the Old City for some history, Fishtown for arts, and South Street for cool and eclectic shops and food.

    You can go get a cheesesteak and then go to a baseball game. In the morning, you can get a cheesesteak, go to the historic district, and then go to the Wells Fargo Center to see a basketball game.

    7) Why Every Sports Fan Needs to Visit Philadelphia

    For international sports fans, Philadelphia is no longer just a stopover. It is worth visiting.

    This is because:

    • It has one of the best sporting cultures in the world.
    • The city has a rich history, boasting great teams and players.
    • The city boasts new, fan-friendly stadiums rich in history.
    • The city’s food, cultures, and attractions spice up any visit.

    All of these make the city unique. It feels like you are part of something larger. Standing among thousands of fans, you realize you are not just seeing a game but are part of a great Philadelphia tradition.

    For the sports fan, Philadelphia is beyond a visit; it is a city that will stay with you forever.

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  • Phillies Postseason Expectations and Predictions – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After a grueling 162-game season, the Philadelphia Phillies finished their season with a record of 96-66, good enough for the second-best record in all of Major League Baseball. They won the NL East with a 13-game lead over the New York Mets, a team that won’t be playing into October after a historic second-half collapse. The Phillies have the luxury of a first-round bye and will open the NLDS at home on October 4th against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Cincinnati Reds. The best time of year is here; nothing beats October baseball.

    Playoff Expectations

    Win the whole thing.

    The end.

    All jokes aside, this team is more than capable of delivering a World Series title to Philadelphia. The loss of Zach Wheeler is massive, and not having him throughout this postseason run will sting. However, I trust Christopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, and even Aaron Nola enough to hopefully get us deep into the postseason.

    Looking at the pitching first, I would say this is the best overall staff the Phillies have had in recent years. Not only are the starters great, but the bullpen, with guys like Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Jhoan Duran, rounds out one of the best staffs in the postseason. The last few seasons, the Phillies have lacked solid bullpen arms, and this year is the complete opposite. I feel comfortable knowing Duran is pitching in the 9th if we have a 1-2 run lead late.

    As for the offense, that will be the biggest question mark. Last postseason, the bats disappeared. This year, that simply can’t happen. This team is way too talented offensively to go through a slump this time of year. Led by Kyle Schwarber, this Phillies offense should be able to put up runs. The Phillies’ ability to weather the storm with starting pitching to get into the opponent’s bullpen will be interesting to see. They chased too much out of the zone last year, and it eliminated easy walks and ways to get guys on base. If this lineup can stay consistent and play within itself, the team can put up 5-7 runs per game in the postseason.

    Getting Trea Turner will be massive for the top of the order, especially since with Bader moving back down, it will make the lineup longer in terms of depth. Harrison Bader has been the best trade deadline acquisition Dave Dombrowski has made in recent years. His play in CF will be an integral part of a potential Phillies World Series run. The Phillies have lacked a true centerfielder over the last few playoff runs, so hopefully, Bader will be another spark for this team.

    Postseason Predictions

    Right now, I can see the Dodgers beating the Reds easily in the Wild Card round to set up a NLDS matchup with the Phillies. While the Phillies will have home-field advantage, it’s a best-of-5 series for the NLDS. Truthfully, if the Phillies play their brand of baseball, I could see the Phillies taking the series 3-2

    Next, they would face the Brewers in the NLCS, who I’m predicting will go on to beat the Padres in the NLDS 3-1. A Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies NLCS with the Phillies winning 4-2 in 6 games.

    I do believe this team is good enough to make a run through the National League and win the Pennant this year. The way the Phillies played in the second half makes me highly optimistic that this team will be able to make it to the World Series.

    As for who they will play, my two guesses are the New York Yankees or the Seattle Mariners, which I know could be a shock to some people. I think the Mariners have the offense and the pitching staff that could help spark a run for them. It would be exciting to see Seattle playing in a World Series. If the Yankees end up making it, then it’s time for us to get our revenge for what happened in 2009.

    My overall prediction is the Phillies win the World Series in 6 games, and we’ll have our second championship parade of the year on Broad Street in November!!

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  • Phillies clinch berth into NLDS

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    By virtue of their dominant 11-1 win over the Marlins Wednesday, the Phillies have officially clinched a spot in the NLDS the first weekend of October. This about a week after they clinched an NL East title in Los Angeles.

    They’ll get some much deserved time off as they await their opponent in the five-game series. They will host the winner of the National League’s 3-vs-6 Wild Card round. The 3-seed is very likely to be the Dodgers. The 6-seed will be the Mets, Reds or Diamondbacks — all tightly contesting the final spot in the bracket. 

    In 2024 they were also the 2-seed, and fell to the Mets in four games to open their playoff run. The Phils are obviously hoping to go much deeper into October this fall.

    While we don’t know their opponent yet, nor the timing of first pitch, we do know the overall schedule.

    Date Location
    Game 1 Sat, October 4 Citizens Bank Park
    Game 2 Mon, October 6 Citizens Bank Park
    Game 3 Weds, October 8 Away
    Game 4* Thurs, October 9 Away
    Game 5* Fri, October 10 Citizens Bank Park 

    *If necessary, best three out of five

    Home-field advantage is a big deal for the Phillies. If you reference the table above, it’s possible that a Game 5 in Philadelphia could involve both teams flying from Los Angeles late the night before, after Game 4. You’d much rather be the home team in that scenario.

    As a whole, the Phillies have been among the best teams at home in baseball, with their 52-25 record as the top mark by total wins and win percentage in the majors. They hit better at home, and pitch better there too.

    The fans for Red October are among the loudest and rowdiest in the world.

    And now, thanks to their latest clinch, we know exactly when and where Red October will begin.

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  • Hundreds of people will sleep at the Phillies ballpark on Nov. 20. Here’s why.

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    On a November night a few weeks after the baseball season ends, the outfield at Citizens Bank Park will be filled with people in sleeping bags.

    The Phillies are partnering with Covenant House, a nonprofit that provides services for young people experiencing homelessness, for a “sleep out” fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 20, when participants will stay at the ballpark from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

    MORE: Estate that was George Washington’s headquarters during Revolutionary War hits market for $3.3 million

    “It’s not a slumber party. It’s not a camping trip. It’s not pretending to be homeless,” said Colleen Veldt, Covenant House’s vice president of peer-to-peer fundraising. “It’s really a very strong act of solidarity to call attention to this issue and to raise money.”

    Covenant House operates in 19 states and five countries providing shelter, housing support and other resources to people ages 16-21 who are on the street or have been victims of human trafficking. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Pennsylvania and wanted to revisit a yearslong partnership with the Phillies, who once had former managers Charlie Manuel and Larry Bowa spend a night on the street in Center City to raise money for the nonprofit.

    Covenant House, based in New York City, once had a sleep out at Yankee Stadium with about 250 people on the field overnight. The organization hopes to bring about 750 people to Citizens Bank Park this year, making it the largest sleep out event to date. Covenant House also will host events nationwide the same night, including smaller sleep outs at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

    “The premise of the event is that you’re giving up your bed for one night so that a young person facing homelessness can have a safe bed at Covenant House,” Veldt said.

    Covenant House estimates more than 4.2 million young people experience homelessness in the United States each year, including more than 10,000 children and youth in Philadelphia and over 46,000 statewide. Many young adults lose their safety nets when they age out of the foster care system. Others struggle with mental health and legal issues. Some lack basic documents needed to access housing and other necessities.

    “It’s a less visible population than the adults who are facing homelessness, and that’s really part of the issue,” Veldt said. “Young people are really good at flying under the radar. They have really been let down by the adults and institutions in their lives, so they’re hesitant and afraid to come forward to ask for help. They couch surf and try to make it on their own as long as they can.”

    People who want to participate in the sleep out at Citizens Bank Park must be at least 13 years old and will need to raise a minimum of $1,000 using Covenant House’s fundraising portal. Those who sign up for the event can customize their pages and share links on social media, in group texts and by email to raise money.

    “Our team gives weekly coaching tips to try to make it as easy as possible for them,” Veldt said.

    On the night of the sleep out, Covenant House will provide participants with a sleeping bag, a cardboard box and light refreshments. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The event will go on rain or shine. Based on the weather or the amount of space occupied in the outfield, some people will sleep in covered areas of the ballpark concourse. There will be access to bathrooms and Covenant House staff will be available to offer emotional support.

    “It’s meant to be uncomfortable. It’s a challenge,” Veldt said. “It’s not homelessness by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not usually a comfortable night.”

    The morning after the sleep out, Covenant House leaders and alumni who once stayed at the organization’s shelters will hold a reflection period for people to talk about their experiences. Holding the sleep out on Thursday is an intentional way to help people understand the difficulty of going to work or school after a night without their usual comforts. 

    “You get a full, immersive experience in our work, our mission and our world when you come to our events,” Veldt said.

    Covenant House has a 24/7 youth crisis center and shelter in Germantown that serves about 300 people every year. The nonprofit also has additional beds at other locations in the city, a mobile outreach unit and a transitional housing facility serving youth in York.

    Veldt said the Covenant House’s goal is to bring in more than $1.5 million from the sleep out event at Citizens Bank Park. All proceeds from the event will support young people in Pennsylvania, and those who wish to participate in the sleep out virtually from another location also are invited to sign up. 

    “We want people to know that this is a really pressing issue and that there is something they can do to help,” she said.

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    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • Phillies Enter the Final Week of the Regular Season – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Last week, the Phillies clinched the NL East title, guaranteeing another year of Red October and the opportunity to play for a World Series. While winning the NL East is nice, getting a first-round bye would be amazing for a team that’s been banged up down the stretch. With six games remaining in the regular season, the Phillies look forward to closing out the season and then preparing for what is hopefully a memorable Red October run.

    Six Games Remain

    The Phillies return home this week with an off day on Monday, so they have time to settle in after the West Coast road trip. While on the road trip, the Phillies took 2/3 from the Los Angeles Dodgers, including the NL East clinching win Monday night. After the emotional series win over the Dodgers, the Phillies would lose 2/3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team fighting for that last spot in the NL Wild Card race.

    I’m not putting much stock into the series loss to the Diamondbacks because they did take the series from the Dodgers. By Sunday, I could imagine the team just wanting to return home.

    The Phillies have six games remaining in the season, all of which are at home. In fact, the Phillies have an opportunity to play at home until game 3 of the NLDS, which would be Wednesday, October 8th. That leaves 17 days in between road games for the Phillies. Something I think will help this team a lot. The Phillies have a three-game series against the Miami Marlins (76-80) and the Minnesota Twins (67-89). It’s kind of poetic that the Phillies are ending their season against the team that traded them their two most important deadline acquisitions. Harrison Bader and Jhoan Duran have been amazing for the Phillies and have certainly performed above expectations. Those six games are very winnable, but the Phillies are still three games back of the Brewers for the one seed, so they would need a miracle to secure that top seed.

    Playoff Positioning

    The Phillies will most likely finish with the two seed in the National League, which is good for the sake of the first-round bye. While some are scared about the time off during Wild Card games, this team needs to get healthy and also give the pitching staff a much-deserved rest. Trea Turner is expected to return for the last series of the season, and Alec Bohm made his return against the Diamondbacks. Bohm homered in his second game back and made his impact felt immediately. Having Bohm back in this lineup is huge, especially with runners on base. Getting Trea Turner back will be another massive boost for the offense, in hopes that he returns to the player he’s been all year. Turner was hitting .305 when he was placed on the IL a few weeks ago.

    While the top three seeds are all solidified, with the Brewers, Phillies, and Dodgers, the other three spots could all be shuffled come next week. The Chicago Cubs are 88-68 and hold the top Wild Card spot, followed by the 85-71 San Diego Padres. Those two spots are very likely to remain the Cubs and Padres. That last spot, however, is completely up for grabs. Yes, that means the New York Mets might miss the playoffs (Bummer). The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets are both tied with the same record, 80-76, with the Reds holding a tiebreaker over the Mets. The Arizona Diamondbacks are 79-77, just one game back of that last spot. The final six games for these teams are going to be must-watch TV, so if you are a baseball fan, I suggest you tune in.

    While anything can happen in these final six games, I don’t think any Phillies fan would be opposed to the Mets not making the playoffs. The Cincinnati Reds have been a team I’ve liked all year and would be an interesting club to see make the postseason. As for the Diamondbacks, I want our revenge from 2023.

    Upcoming Week

    I expect the Phillies to hopefully win 4/6 games to close out the season. I would like them to finish strong so they go into the bye with some confidence before having to ramp it up again for postseason baseball. We are nearly one week away from the greatest time of year. Buckle up, Phillies fans.

    Prediction of the week: Alec Bohm homers twice at home this week, continuing his great performance since returning from injury.

    Oh, and the Mets miss the playoffs, and the Reds take the last spot.

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  • Ranger Suárez, Phillies drop D-backs series, but with focus on final postseason prep

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    The Phillies dropped two of three in their weekend series to the Diamondbacks down in Arizona, which Sunday’s finale made quickly apparent when they fell into a hole of a 9-2 final.

    Arizona lefty Eduardo Rodriguez tossed six shutout innings on 93 pitches, while Ranger Suárez had a rough day on the mound because of a blow-up second inning that did him and the Phillies in fast. Suárez received the losing decision and dropped to 12-7 after getting tagged for six runs and lasting just four innings.

    It’s hard to get too up in arms about it, though. 

    The Phillies’ postseason ticket is punched. They’ve already won the NL East, and if they can just stay the course at minimum for the last six games coming home, they should outlast even a crazy surge from the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed in the postseason bracket (which is boosted by having the tiebreaker over L.A., too). 

    They’re October-bound, their roster for it looks mostly set, and they appear on track to getting healthier right before. 

    At 92-64, they’re in good shape. It’s just a matter of putting those finishing touches on to clinch that vital bye into the NLDS, and clear up those last couple of lingering questions. 

    The remaining six games against the Marlins and then the Twins coming home to Citizens Bank Park to close out should be more than enough runway for it. 

    Here are a few beats on how they’re looking coming back to South Philly for the last handful of games in the regular season…

    • Alec Bohm returned on Friday night, and in a big way. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI double in the second, then a two-run single in the ninth for the Phillies’ 8-2 pile on in Game 1. He went 2-for-4 with a fourth-inning solo homer in Saturday night’s Game 2 loss, and went 4-for-4 with a walk in Sunday’s overall whimper of a finale. 

    It’s been a rocky, somewhat injury-plagued season for Bohm, but the Phillies’ best chance in October is with him at third. The same goes for Trea Turner at shortstop and at the top of the order, where he should be able to return from a Grade 1 hamstring strain before it’s playoff time. 

    Having Edmundo Sosa as that ever-versatile and dependable bench bat is a boost, too, but his stint on the 10-day Injured List ahead of the postseason seemed more like a precautionary measure than anything. If anyone needed time to heal up, these last couple of weeks were when to do it.

    • The Phillies are going to be lefty-heavy heading into the postseason with Cristopher Sánchez, Suárez, and Jesús Luzardo as the leading three in their rotation. 

    Suárez ran into trouble on Sunday, but has an overall body of work this season that points to the idea that he won’t have any trouble bouncing back from it.

    But as far as any right-handed depth goes, well, Aaron Nola’s turn was up Saturday. He got through five innings to maintain a 3-2 lead, then the sixth struck, the signs showed, and Blaze Alexander and James McCann hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game before Nola was pulled. The winning run at second for Arizona was surrendered by Tanner Banks two at-bats later, but was still charged to Nola.

    Was it the veteran right-hander’s worst start? No, but it wasn’t anything more encouraging either, because it was another scenario where fans watching were fearfully just waiting for the bottom to fall out. 

    Nola’s 4-10 and his ERA is at 6.46 in what’s just been a brutal year for a longtime face of the club. It’s a tough argument to say he should be trusted with a start in the postseason.

    The other righty option that might be under consideration, though, is interesting. Taijuan Walker started through four decent innings on Friday night, then essentially handed the ball over to Walker Buehler in a long reliever transition. They combined for 7.2 innings with five strikeouts, allowing seven hits, a walk, and two earned runs (both from Taijuan in the first). 

    Maybe that hybrid sort of bullpen game is a way to catch opponents off-guard when a series pushes later into a Game 4 or 5 or 6.

    • Arizona taking the series does play into the Wild Card picture. As of Sunday night, the Diamondbacks’ consecutive wins over the Phils are keeping them afloat and just a game out from the third and final spot behind the Reds and Mets. 

    Obviously, there are scars for fans from the 2023 NLCS with Arizona, but there are even fresher ones from last year’s NLDS against New York, along with the longstanding and heated rivalry. 

    Even if the Phillies’ work ahead of their postseason run is about 95 percent done, there’s still some intrigue for fans, rivalry-wise, on that last push coming down the stretch.

    The Mets, by the way, dropped two straight to the basement-dwelling Nationals and are 4-6 in their last 10.

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  • Phillies weekend rooting guide: A lot to play for, and also the nagging Mets

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    The Phillies have clinched the NL East, but the next week will be incredibly important to their hunt for the World Series.

    First, they are hoping for healthy returns from infielders Alec Bohm, Trea Turner and Edmundo Sosa prior to the end of the regular season. Shoulder inflammation sent Bohm to the IL, but he is expected to be playing in Arizona. The other two players could follow back in Philly next week.

    Second, they are playing for a first-round bye and for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. They’re also keeping an eye on the pestering Mets, who are fighting to remain the final Wild card team.

    Here’s a look at what the Phillies are still playing for, and then a rooting guide for fans who enjoy scoreboard watching:

    The 2-seed

    The Phillies have a five game lead over the Dodgers for the 2-seed in the National League. With nine games left to play and a regular-season tie-breaker in their back pocket, the Phillies’ magic number is four to earn this important prize.

    They have the best home win percentage (.680) of any team in the majors this season.

    Heading into Friday, here’s a look at some of their numbers at home this season, with six home games left to play:

    Category Stat MLB Rank
    Batting average .280 1st
    Runs scored 410 2nd
    OPS .822 1st
    Home runs 110 4th
     ERA 3.83 15th
    Strikeouts 735 3rd
    WHIP 1.190 8th

    Home-field advantage will be huge for the Phillies in October. They didn’t have it in their World Series run in 2022, when they were the last Wild card team, but they blew home-field advantages in series against the Diamondbacks and Mets in 2023 and 2024, respectively. They were not as dominant at home in those seasons as they have been in 2025.

    The Dodgers play the Giants, Diamondbacks and Mariners to finish their season — three teams in playoff races themselves.

    The 1-seed

    The 1-seed is much less likely, but no less important. Due to the NL being better than the AL in the standings this year, at least up to this point, the Phillies or Brewers are likely to have homefield advantage in the World Series, as both are clear of the AL-best Blue Jays.

    The Phillies are one of the best teams in the sport at home, as we just mentioned, so if they are somehow able to catch Milwaukee, a team that holds a tiebreaker over Philadelphia, it would be extremely helpful.

    The Brewers lead the Phils by three games, and Philly would need to be a game clear of them, so they are essentially four games back with three series left to play. Milwaukee has a magic number of six to boot the Phillies from 1-seed contention. 

    Milwaukee faces the Cardinals, Padres and Reds down the stretch, three teams that are also currently contending for a playoff spot.

    The Mets and the 6-seed

    Thanks to a messy recent eight-game losing streak — with four of them coming to the Phillies in Philly — the Mets are scratching and clawing to hang on to the final playoff spot in the National League. This is of interest to Phillies fans who simply want to relish the schadenfreude of a potential full collapse, or who want to avoid having to play at all in Citi Field in a potential NLDS match up. Philly has been dreadful in Queens over the last few seasons.

    The Mets’ tumble has brought a few teams back into the race, and those teams just happen to be playing the Brewers and Dodgers over the next 10 days. The longer the Mets keep this a lingering race, the more the Reds, Diamondbacks and Giants have to play for. And if those teams play hard, it could indirectly help the Phillies clinch the 2 or even the 1 seed.

    Here’s how things stand heading into the weekend:

    Team GB Remain
    Brewers — STL, SD, CIN
    Phillies 2 ARI, MIA, MIN
    Dodgers 8 SF, ARI, SEA
    Cubs WC1 CIN, NYM, STL
    Padres WC2 CHW, MIL, ARI
    Mets WC3 WAS, CHI, MIA
    Reds 1.5 CHI, PIT, MIL
    Diamondbacks 3 PHI, LAD, SD
    Giants 4 LAD, STL, COL

    The top three teams are more or less locked in as division-winners, though the Padres have an outside chance of catching the Dodgers (three games back) and the Cubs are six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. 

    As you can see from the upcoming slate, there will be a lot of games of interest for seeding purposes over the week and a half.

    So, now the rooting guide — preferred winners in bold:

    Phillies at Diamondbacks 

    Even though the D-backs winning would help the Mets collapse, the Phillies are more interested in homefield advantage.

    Brewers at Cardinals

    The Phillies need at least four Brewers losses, probably more, to get that 1-seed.

    Cubs at Reds

    The Reds winning puts pressure on the Mets. It also keeps them relevant — Philadelphia hopes — until their season-ending series against the Brewers.

    Giants at Dodgers

    The Giants winning this series kills two birds with one stone. It keeps the Giants on the Mets’ heels in the race for the final Wild Card spot. And it also helps the Phillies in their quest for the 2-seed, needing the Dodgers to lose a few more times.

    Nationals at Mets

    The Nats are the second-worst team in the National League and don’t have anything to play for but pride. Hopefully they can give the Mets a test this weekend.

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  • Essential Info as Philadelphia Sports Heads Into Fall – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: Mick Kirchman/Unsplash

    There is still time before this becomes the most significant story involving the Philadelphia Eagles, but if the NFL has taught us anything, it is this.

    Time goes, and nothing endures forever.

    Consider Jalen Carter. His rookie contract is about to reach its third year. Although Philadelphia may exercise the fifth-year option that is built into his contract, it won’t be long before it’s time to back up the Brinks truck. Milton Williams usually occupied the third or fourth spot on the depth chart as a defensive tackle during his four seasons in Philadelphia. 

    Raising awareness of the Every Kid Sports Pass and promoting youth sports participation in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas are the goals of the cooperation. The NFL’s Eagles are the second team to formally declare their support for Every Kid Sports.

    With its major league teams—the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Phillies (MLB), 76ers (NBA), and Flyers (NHL)—and other professional teams in rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and ultimate disc, Philadelphia has a fervent sports culture.

    The city has a strong history of winning championships in all of its main sports, a passionate and informed fan base, and renowned tailgating customs.

    Sports-Related Injuries

    Sports-related injuries are rather prevalent. Indeed, we are confident that the Philadelphia Eagles and their supporters have a large number of personal injury attorneys on hand in case they are needed. For instance, statistics from local law companies indicate that a sizable portion of the state’s population has the phone numbers of several lawyers or law firms on their phones.

    Remember to consult a Wunderdog Sports Picks LLC attorney if you find yourself in difficulty! Finding the top personal injury attorney in Philadelphia may be a challenging task, but it is not impossible with a little investigation. To give you the greatest chance in court, we at Philadelphia Injury Lawyers consider every little detail.

    The Eagles Cannot Afford to Lose a Quick Advantage

    We sincerely apologize if these kinds of talks cause you needless worry. Encourage yourself. When it comes to these kinds of organizational decisions, the Eagles excel. You can be confident that Howie Roseman will solve this problem. Indeed, that raises another theory. Philadelphia is well-positioned for success in the near future, as many of its young players are on rookie contracts and deals that are relatively inexpensive by NFL standards. They have the least expensive defense in the NFL.

    Partnership

    In an effort to expand access to young sports, the Philadelphia Eagles are happy to announce their partnership with Every Kid Sports (EKS), a nationwide nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. A $10,000 initial community contribution and a pledge to cover the sports registration fees for 500 young people in the Greater Philadelphia Area are part of the activation relationship. Through grants from Every Kid Sports’ flagship program, Every Kid Sports Pass, the funds will assist in paying registration fees for families with limited incomes.

    The partnership’s goals are to promote kids’ sports participation in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas and raise awareness of the Every Kid Sports Pass. The NFL’s second professional football team to formally collaborate with Every Kid Sports is the Eagles.

    The Football Culture of Philadelphia

    Fans in Philadelphia are renowned for being fervent, intense, and incredibly devoted. Whether it’s playing fantasy football, betting on their team, or tailgating before the game, many people in the city love the extra activities that come with football.

    These events further heightened the city’s passion for football, and when legislation permitting greater sports betting in Pennsylvania was eventually passed, supporters had even more options, at least in terms of betting. Philadelphia’s first sportsbooks opened their doors in 2018. Apart from the ease of use, the absence of physical bookmakers in the city may also contribute to the popularity of online casinos among Philadelphia gamblers.

    2026: Philadelphia’s Biggest Year for Sports

    PHOTO: Mick Kirchman/Unsplash

    2026, when the USA celebrates its 250th anniversary, is expected to be a historic year for Philadelphia sports. The city will host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at Lincoln Financial Field after being selected as one of the host cities. Five group stage matches and one round of 16 match—which will take place on July 4—are on the schedule. At the FIFA Fan Festival, which takes place at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park, fans from all around the world may watch every World Cup match.

    Symbolism in Culture

    The sports clubs in Philadelphia have become potent representations of the city’s tenacity and unwavering spirit. Famous sporting events, like the Flyers‘ historic wins or the Philadelphia 76ers‘ championship victories, are ingrained in the city’s culture and serve as enduring symbols of pride and tenacity. The teams’ colors and logos have influenced many aspects of Philadelphia’s aesthetic environment and have come to represent the city’s character.

    In addition, Philadelphia’s sports teams’ stories of success and hardship echo the city’s own path, showing its capacity to overcome obstacles and come out stronger. These stories strike a deep chord with Philadelphians, strengthening a sense of pride and resilience that goes well beyond sports.

    Professional Teams & Collegiate Sports

    The Philadelphia Wings are a National Lacrosse League team that plays at the Wells Fargo Center. On its campus in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Villanova sports also hosts games at Finneran Pavilion and Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia is also home to Temple University, whose free football predictions at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia is also home to the University of Pennsylvania, whose sports teams play in The Palestra.

    For many years, the Philadelphia Big 5 schools—Saint Joseph’s, Penn, La Salle, Temple, and Villanova—have been vying for the city’s unofficial sports championship.

    Honoring Philadelphia Sports’ Tenacity and Glory

    These kinds of moments define Philadelphia sports. times when players step up to the plate and give performances that will live on in the memories of future generations.

    From Graham’s revolutionary strip-sack to Hamel’s supremacy, these performances have influenced the city’s fervent sports culture.

    Conclusion

    Philadelphia football has been a journey filled with victories, disappointments, and unrelenting commitment.

    Generations of supporters grew up yearning for success to return to the city, and decades went by. Philadelphians’ enduring devotion to their team has never faltered, even in hard times.

    With two Super Bowl victories in the past ten years, fans have never had it so good, and the festivities have hardly subsided since.

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  • Phillies continue dominance over Dodgers, take another series from defending World Series champs

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    If they meet the Dodgers again before the season is over, the Phillies have to feel pretty good about their chance of dethroning the defending World Series champs.

    Not only did the scorching hot Phillies come to Los Angeles this week and celebrate a National League East division clinch in the Dodgers’ home stadium by winning the opener of a three-game series, they proceeded to win the series along with the season series (4-2) and bolster their confidence that the Dodgers shouldn’t be viewed as an insurmountable obstacle in their way if both teams meet in the playoffs.

    The Phils didn’t just beat the Dodgers; they sent a message by rallying from deficits in both of their wins. They have now won five straight regular-season series against the Dodgers going back to 2023.

    Looking for the sweep with Jesús Luzardo on the mound Wednesday, the Phillies couldn’t summon the magic one more night, but they did put runners in the ninth to cause a brief scare.

    But the damage was done Monday and Tuesday, as both games were won by the Phillies in final last at-bat.

    J.T. Realmuto plated Harrison Bader from third in the 10th inning on Monday, capping a comeback from down 3-1 in the fifth and clearing the way for the bubbly to pop inside the visitors locker room. 

    The next night, the Phils were staring down a 4-0 deficit – understandable given their postgame festivities the night before – but erupted for a six-run sixth and then got a three-run homer from catcher Rafael Marchan in the ninth that broke a 6-6 tie.

    By the end of Tuesday night, the Phillies had not only clinched the NL East but also made sure that they owned any tiebreaker scenario over the Dodgers for postseason seeding.

    The Phillies left L.A. 5.5 games ahead of the Dodgers in the overall NL standings and just 2.5 games behind the Brewers for the NL’s best record and top seed. More impressively, they wrapped up a streak of 15 games in 15 days in which they went 11-4. They’ also won their sixth straight series since that late-August sweep to the Mets in Queens.

    Some other storylines from the three-game series:

    Bullpen beatdown

    The Phillies, as they typically do, bludgeoned the Dodgers’ bullpen. On Monday, they scored five of their six runs from the seventh inning on, with Byrce Harper belting his 27th homer in the eighth off Dodgers southpaw Alex Vesia, a major piece of their 2024 World Series bullpen.

    On Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani blanked the Phils lineup for five innings but five Dodgers relievers combined to give up nine runs, with lefty Justin Wrobleski getting hammered for 5 runs in one-third of an inning and Marchan touching up Blake Treinen for a three-run shot.

    Really, this is what the Phillies have done all season. According to Stat Muse, the Phillies had scored MLB’s fourth-most runs (743) against relief pitching and had the second-highest batting average (.260) among all MLB teams against bullpens going into Wednesday’s action.

    Schwarber chase

    Kyle Schwarber clubbed his 53rd homer Monday night, making him five away from tying Ryan Howard’s record of 58 from 2008. Schwarber has nine games left to tie or break the record.

    Has he hit five homers in a nine-game span this year? Thanks for asking. The answer is yes. Several times. 

    Schwarber belted five homers in seven games from April 29-May 6, and from May 2 to May 11, and from May 11-20, and from July 2-11, and … well, you get the picture. He’s more than capable of doing it, and the Phillies next stop in Arizona’s homer-friendly Chase Field sure doesn’t hurt his chances.

    What’s Next?

    The Phillies are off Monday before finishing their West Coast trip – and entire road schedule – against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field with a three-game series. Per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies will piggyback Taijuan Walker and Walker Buehler on Friday as they set up their rotation to make sure Cristopher Sánchez is their Game 1 starter in the playoffs.

     

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  • Phillies odds and ends: Comeback puts Dodgers in rear view, keeps pace with Brewers

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    Many fans were sleeping when the Phillies clinched the NL East on, well, Tuesday morning – well after 1 a.m. – with a 10th-inning win over the Dodgers.

    Likewise, folks were probably shocked on Wednesday to discover that the Phillies had beaten the Dodgers again in the second game of a three-game set despite trailing 4-0 after four innings and generating no offense against Shohei Ohtani. 

    The hangover should’ve been expected as the Phillies partied hard after their Monday night/Tuesday morning division-clinching win, but the Phillies beat up on the Los Angeles bullpen, scoring all nine runs off five different Dodgers relievers in the 9-6 win.

    Bryce Harper’s two-run double, Brandon Marsh’s three-run homer and Max Kepler’s two-run shot highlighted a six-run fifth inning for the Phils, and Rafael Marchán’s improbable three-run homer in the ninth broke a 6-6 tie. Jhoan Duran, who blew the save in Game 1, needed just 12 pitches to mow down the Dodgers for his 31st save.

    Here’s the big blast from Marchán, who started in place of J.T. Realmuto:

    In rallying back, the Phillies actually secured another milestone for the season – they ensured that any tiebreaker between them and the Dodgers in the National League playoffs would favor the Phillies.

    The Phillies, who will finish their six-game season series against the Dodgers tonight, have taken four of the five games so far and can finish no worse than 4-2, giving them a head-to-head advantage in a tiebreaker scenario.

    Is it moot? Probably, as the Phillies entered Wednesday’s action 6.5 games ahead of the Dodgers, who would fall into the Wild Card round as the third-ranked divisional leader. The Phillies also own any tiebreaker over the Cubs, who currently sit in the top Wild Card spot, 3.5 games behind the Phils, who also own the tiebreaker against them thanks to a 4-2 series win.

    The Phils also entered Wednesday 1.5 games behind the Brewers for the top seed, but the Phils went 1-5 against the Brew Crew this season, so any tiebreaker would favor Milwaukee.

    Another injury

    As if the recent losses of Trea Turner and Alec Bohm weren’t enough, the Phillies took another hit to the infield when they placed Edmundo Sosa on the 10-day Injured List before Tuesday’s game with a groin strain.

    Per Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation, Sosa’s groin strain is considered minor:

    The infield prospect they called up from Triple-A, Rafael Lantigua, was slashing .252/.359/.333 in 124 games with the IronPigs. He had seven HRs and 56 RBIs to go along with 17 SBs.

    Painter improvement? 

    Top Phils prospect Andrew Painter didn’t get that call-up that the Phillies had predicted in the spring would come in July, but he’s on the mound for the IronPigs at home Wednesday against Syracuse, trying to string together two positive outings.

    In his last start, Sept. 10 at Scranton/Wilkes Barre, he scattered three hits and didn’t allow a run through five innings. He also struck out six in a 74-pitch effort – one of his sharpest outings of late. Painter had given up six runs in each of his prior two starts as his ERA ballooned to 5.62, the highest it’s been this season.

    Painter is 1-1 in three starts this season against the Syracuse Mets, allowing 10 runs in 15.1 innings against them with 10 strikeouts and just three walks, but he’s also allowed six homers.

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  • Phillies clinch NL East out west, still have a lot left to play for

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    The Phillies won their second straight NL East title Monday while you were sleeping with a 6-5 win in 10 innings over the Dodgers in L.A.

    J.T. Realmuto’s sac fly plated Harrison Bader from third in the top of the 10th for the go-ahead run and David Robertson pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam by getting  Miguel Rojas to pop out and then Max Muncy to end the game on a groundout to Bryce Harper.

    The victory gives the Phils a ridiculous 12.5 game lead over the Mets, with 11 games left to play. The race is over. The Phillies can celebrate.

    On Aug. 27, just two and a half weeks ago, the Phillies were swept in Queens and a seven-game NL East Lead had evaporated to just four. This days before news that Zack Wheeler was finished for the year, and days before Alec Bohm and Trea Turner (a real MVP candidate) were added to the Injured List.

    In the time since, the Phillies have gone 13-4, including six in a row (that included a four-game sweep at home of the Mets). New York has gone 4-13. The Phillies are NL East champs. The Mets are looking over their shoulders at the Giants, Reds Diamondbacks and Cardinals — all four teams are within four games of the last Wild card spot.

    If they miss the playoffs this could go down as one of the all-time collapses.

    Philadelphia overcame inconsistent pitching, a bullpen that was cause for headaches on a nightly basis, and an outfield that took months to finally become productive. 

    However, it isn’t time to start resting and preparing for October yet.

    Though they have the second-best record in the National League by a decent margin (5.5 games over the Dodgers after Monday’s win) they still need to clinch a first-round playoff bye — which means the next magic number to watch is seven, the number they need to eliminate the Dodgers from home-field contention.

    There are two games left in the series in Los Angeles, and winning the series would go a long way toward helping Philly sew up the right to skip a best of three first-round series. The Phillies will most certainly need to keep their foot on the gas for a little longer with meaningful games out west (the Diamondbacks follow the Dodgers).

    The Phillies were two games behind Milwaukee for the No. 1 seed when Monday began, which is another extremely important milestone and one that could help them in their quest to win the World Series next month. Here’s a look at the remaining schedules for these three NL contenders:

    Phillies Dodgers Brewers
     at Dodgers (2) vs. Phillies (2) vs. Angels (3)
    at Diamondbacks (3) vs. Giants (4) at Cardinals (3)
    vs. Marlins (3) at Diamondbacks (3) at Padres (3)
    vs. Twins (3) at Mariners (3) vs. Reds (3)

    The Dodgers have the toughest remaining slate of the three, facing four teams currently in postseason contention (bolded).

    That No. 1 seed could be a big asset if the Phillies want to have their best chance at winning a World Series. They have had incredible play in their friendly confines this season. They have the best home win percentage (.680) of any team in the majors this season.

    Heading into Monday, here’s a look at some of their numbers at home this season:

    Category Stat MLB Rank
    Batting average .280 1st
    Runs scored 410 2nd
    OPS .822 1st
    Home runs 110 3rd
     ERA 3.83 13th
    Strikeouts 735 2nd
    WHIP 1.190 6th

    Home-field advantage will be huge for the Phillies in October. They didn’t have it in their World Series run in 2022, when they were the last Wild card team, but they blew home-field advantages in series against the Diamondbacks and Mets in 2023 and 2024, respectively. They were not as dominant at home in those seasons as they have been in 2025.

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