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. Your manager continues to make terrible decisions, so 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 2-21. I’m gonna say that again. The top three hitters in this lineup are 2-21. I don’t care if you’re playing the Colorado Rockies; you aren’t going to win games with the top three guys on your team going 2-21 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, which barely got me excited because I just knew the Phillies were going to 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 as an 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 3, getting swept in this fashion is more than enough reason for the organization to have a long conversation this offseason about the players and staff on this ball club. The team has improved every year since 2022, yet the results have worsened. 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. Perhaps the struggling offense will get going now that they are away from home.
The Phillies will play for their season on Wednesday night and avoid getting swept 3-0 in an embarrassing fashion.
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