As the Philadelphia Phillies face elimination in the National League Division Series, star player Bryce Harper believes the team must "flip the script" in their upcoming games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the situation appears dire, as the Phillies' top players, including Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos, have struggled significantly during the series. Collectively, these five players have managed just 5 hits in 35 at-bats, resulting in 13 strikeouts and no home runs over the first two games.
The Phillies, with a staggering $291.7 million payroll, find themselves in a familiar pattern of underperformance during October, reminiscent of their previous playoff outings. In Game 2, the Dodgers thwarted a late rally, securing a 4-3 victory and leaving the Phillies on the brink of elimination. Manager Rob Thomson noted that his players seem to be pressing, urging them to focus on simple base hits instead of trying to hit home runs. “The power will come,” he reassured.
In Game 2, the trio of Turner, Schwarber, and Harper combined for a dismal 1-for-10 with five strikeouts. Their performance in Game 1 wasn't much better, as they went 1-for-11 with six strikeouts and zero RBIs. Harper commented on their struggles, stating, “We’re missing pitches over the plate. They’re making good pitches when they need to. That’s kind of how baseball works sometimes.”
In a surprising move during the ninth inning, Bryson Stott was asked to sacrifice bunt with no outs and Castellanos on second base. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the Dodgers executed a perfect defensive play, resulting in an out at third base and a lost opportunity to score. Stott defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of getting the tying run on third with fewer than two outs.
With the absence of ace Zack Wheeler, who is recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot from his shoulder, the Phillies have relied on pitchers Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo in the first two games. As they head into Game 3, the team will turn to former ace Aaron Nola in a bid to save their season. Nola's performance has been inconsistent this year, marked by injuries and a 5-10 record with a 5.01 ERA, but he remains a key player in Philadelphia's postseason hopes.
The statistics are not in the Phillies' favor; teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have won 80 out of 90 times, with 54 of those resulting in sweeps. However, Harper remains optimistic, stating, “First one to three. They’re not there yet. We’ve just got to play the best baseball we can and understand we’re a good team in here. Anything can happen over the next couple of days.”
As the Phillies prepare for a critical Game 3, they must confront the reality that a sweep could signal the end of their season and potentially impact key players who may become free agents, including Schwarber, Realmuto, and Suarez. With their backs against the wall, Manager Thomson maintains faith in his team’s resilience, asserting, “We’ve just got to come out fighting.”
With the stakes higher than ever, the Phillies must rediscover their offensive prowess if they hope to advance in the postseason and avoid another disappointing exit.
