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| 1982 Donruss #585 |
Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in about 125 days.
Friday, October 10, 2025
Thursday, October 9, 2025
NLDS Game 4 - Season Ends on Heartbreaking Walk-Off Error
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 2 |
11 Innings
Thursday Night, October 9th
Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
Dodgers win series, 3-1
Dodgers win series, 3-1
One Sentence Summary: The Phillies and Dodgers battled through 10 innings, only for the game, the series, and the season, to end on a walk-off error from reliever Orion Kekerking in the bottom of the 11th.
What It Means: I tend to compose these posts the day or days after the end of a game, as I'm typically too tired to put thoughts together after 9pm on most nights. Tonight, I'm writing this partly because I don't know what else to do, but mostly because I want to get it out of the way. This is the fourth year in a row the Phillies season ended without a World Series victory despite the highest of hopes, and each time the season has ended in 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2025, it's gotten progressively more gut-wrenching.
What Happened: In case there were any lingering doubts, Cristopher Sanchez cemented himself as the staff ace in this game, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing only four hits until the seventh. He was lifted from the game with one out in the seventh with runners on first and second. Jhoan Duran entered, recorded the second out on a ground out and intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani to load the bases. Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded, tying the game at 1-1. The Phillies had scored their lone run in the top of the seventh when Nick Castellanos doubled home J.T. Realmuto, who had singled to start the inning. The Phillies offense had four hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
What It Means: I tend to compose these posts the day or days after the end of a game, as I'm typically too tired to put thoughts together after 9pm on most nights. Tonight, I'm writing this partly because I don't know what else to do, but mostly because I want to get it out of the way. This is the fourth year in a row the Phillies season ended without a World Series victory despite the highest of hopes, and each time the season has ended in 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2025, it's gotten progressively more gut-wrenching.
What Happened: In case there were any lingering doubts, Cristopher Sanchez cemented himself as the staff ace in this game, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing only four hits until the seventh. He was lifted from the game with one out in the seventh with runners on first and second. Jhoan Duran entered, recorded the second out on a ground out and intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani to load the bases. Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded, tying the game at 1-1. The Phillies had scored their lone run in the top of the seventh when Nick Castellanos doubled home J.T. Realmuto, who had singled to start the inning. The Phillies offense had four hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
The two teams traded scoreless frames in the ninth, tenth and 11th innings, with Duran, Matt Strahm and Jesus Luzardo, the scheduled Game 5 starter, shutting down the Dodgers. The Phillies had the go-ahead run at second base in Bryce Harper in the top of the 11th, but pinch-hitter Harrison Bader struck out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the 11th, Luzardo recorded two outs, but singles from Tommy Edman and Max Muncy put runners on first and third. Kerkering entered and walked Kiké Hernandez to load the bases. With pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim on third, Andy Pages bounced a ball back to Kerkering. The pitcher fielded the ball, and rather than throw to first for the sure out, he opted to throw wildly home, allowing Kim to score the winning run. Game over, series over, season over.
Featured Card: I'm going to take a little break from this blog and the Phillies for a few weeks. This one hurts, and reminds me of the heartbreak of losing the 2011 NLDS to the Cardinals.
Featured Card: I'm going to take a little break from this blog and the Phillies for a few weeks. This one hurts, and reminds me of the heartbreak of losing the 2011 NLDS to the Cardinals.
NLDS Game 3 - Phils Battle Back, Offense Shows Life in Win
| Philadelphia Phillies | 8 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 2 |
Late Wednesday Night, October 8th
Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
Dodgers lead series, 2-1
Dodgers lead series, 2-1
One Sentence Summary: Crooked numbers from the Phillies offense in the fourth and eighth innings, paired with gutsy outings from Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez, led to this season-saving 8-2 win over the Dodgers.
What It Means: There's hope. Cristopher Sanchez takes the mound for Game 4 for the next must-win game tonight.
What Happened: Facing elimination from the postseason and in danger of being swept, the Phillies sent Aaron Nola to the mound as their unlikely Game 3 opener with the task of navigating successfully through the Dodgers' line-up just once. Nola did that, pitching two scoreless innings, before yielding to Ranger Suarez. Suarez was greeted by a Tommy Edman home run on the first pitch he threw in the bottom of the third, and he then settled in to shut down the Dodgers through the seventh inning. Combined, Nola and Suarez pitched seven innings, allowing a run on six hits while striking out seven.
What It Means: There's hope. Cristopher Sanchez takes the mound for Game 4 for the next must-win game tonight.
What Happened: Facing elimination from the postseason and in danger of being swept, the Phillies sent Aaron Nola to the mound as their unlikely Game 3 opener with the task of navigating successfully through the Dodgers' line-up just once. Nola did that, pitching two scoreless innings, before yielding to Ranger Suarez. Suarez was greeted by a Tommy Edman home run on the first pitch he threw in the bottom of the third, and he then settled in to shut down the Dodgers through the seventh inning. Combined, Nola and Suarez pitched seven innings, allowing a run on six hits while striking out seven.
Down 1-0 and with no sign of life from the Phillies' bats, Kyle Schwarber shifted the narrative immediately with an absolute moon shot of a home run off Dodgers' starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start the fourth. Schwarber's bomb could hopefully serve as a momentum shift for the entire series, as the Phillies would go on to score twice more that inning and threaten to score more in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Following Schwarber's big home run, Bryce Harper singled to left and he'd come around to score on Alec Bohm's single, coupled with a throwing error from center fielder Andy Pages. Bohm went to third on the error and came home on a Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly, giving the Phillies a tenuous 3-1 lead.
Phillies fans collectively exhaled in the eighth when the offense piled on five more runs off future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. J.T. Realmuto led off with a home run, and a few batters later Trea Turner singled home a pair of runs to make it 6-1, Phillies. Schwarber capped the scoring and sealed the win with his second home run of the game.
Featured Card: These cards are way more fun to create following a win.
Featured Card: These cards are way more fun to create following a win.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers - Hoping for a Game 5
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Wednesday, October 8th - 9:08
Thursday, October 9th - 6:08
Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
The Phillies hope to win the next two games to send the NLDS back home for Game 5.
Philadelphia Phillies 96-66
National League East Champions
Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01)
Ranger Suarez (12-8, 3.20)
Phillies Postseason Leaders
Average: J.T. Realmuto - .375
Runs: Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto - 2
Home Runs: N/A
RBIs: Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto - 2
Stolen Bases: Trea Turner - 1
Wins: N/A
ERA: Jesus Luzardo - 3.00
Strikeouts: Cristopher Sanchez - 8
Saves: N/A
National League East Champions
Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01)
Ranger Suarez (12-8, 3.20)
Phillies Postseason Leaders
Average: J.T. Realmuto - .375
Runs: Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto - 2
Home Runs: N/A
RBIs: Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto - 2
Stolen Bases: Trea Turner - 1
Wins: N/A
ERA: Jesus Luzardo - 3.00
Saves: N/A
Los Angeles Dodgers 93-69
National League West Champions
Dodgers Probables
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49)
Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.19)
Dodgers Postseason Leaders
Average: Teoscar Hernandez - .412
Runs: Enrique Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez - 4
Home Runs: Teoscar Hernandez - 3
RBIs: Teoscar Hernandez - 9
Stolen Bases: N/A
Wins: Blake Snell - 2
ERA: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 0.00
Strikeouts: Blake Snell - 18
Saves: Roki Sasaki - 2
National League West Champions
Dodgers Probables
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49)
Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.19)
Dodgers Postseason Leaders
Average: Teoscar Hernandez - .412
Runs: Enrique Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez - 4
Home Runs: Teoscar Hernandez - 3
RBIs: Teoscar Hernandez - 9
Stolen Bases: N/A
Wins: Blake Snell - 2
ERA: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 0.00
Saves: Roki Sasaki - 2
NLDS Game 2 - Too Little, Too Late in Latest Loss
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 4 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 3 |
Monday Night, October 6th
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Dodgers lead series, 2-0
Dodgers lead series, 2-0
One Sentence Summary: The offense continued to sputter and the bullpen again couldn't get the job done in this 4-3 loss to the Dodgers.
What It Means: The Phillies head to Los Angeles where they need to win both games in order to force a Game 5 back in Philadelphia on Saturday night. I could insert a lengthy rant here, but I've already spent too much energy trying to figure out why this team has crapped out two years in a row in the NLDS.
What Happened: Jesus Luzardo was fantastic. He matched Blake Snell through six scoreless innings, departing with runners on second and third and no outs in the top of the seventh, after Teoscar Hernandez singled and Freddie Freeman reached on a double that should have been a single, if not for Nick Castellanos playing in right field. (Castellanos is only playing because Harrison Bader injured his groin in Game 1.) Orion Kerkering entered, allowed both inherited runners to score, and yielded to Matt Strahm. Shohei Ohtani greeted Strahm with a single and just like that it was 4-0, Dodgers, and given the anemic Phillies offense, the game was all but over.
What It Means: The Phillies head to Los Angeles where they need to win both games in order to force a Game 5 back in Philadelphia on Saturday night. I could insert a lengthy rant here, but I've already spent too much energy trying to figure out why this team has crapped out two years in a row in the NLDS.
What Happened: Jesus Luzardo was fantastic. He matched Blake Snell through six scoreless innings, departing with runners on second and third and no outs in the top of the seventh, after Teoscar Hernandez singled and Freddie Freeman reached on a double that should have been a single, if not for Nick Castellanos playing in right field. (Castellanos is only playing because Harrison Bader injured his groin in Game 1.) Orion Kerkering entered, allowed both inherited runners to score, and yielded to Matt Strahm. Shohei Ohtani greeted Strahm with a single and just like that it was 4-0, Dodgers, and given the anemic Phillies offense, the game was all but over.
Snell held the Phillies to one hit through six innings, a bloop single from Edmundo Sosa with two outs in the fifth. The Phillies had a chance once they got to the Dodgers' bullpen, as pinch-hitter Max Kepler tripled and was singled home by Trea Turner with Emmet Sheehan on the mound in the eighth. In the ninth, with Blake Treinan pitching, Alec Bohm singled, followed by back-to-back doubles from J.T. Realmuto and Castellanos to make it 4-3, Dodgers. An odd decision to have Bryson Stott bunt with nobody out and Castellanos on second backfired when Stott bunted into a fielder's choice to erase Castellanos from third. A few batters later, with runners on the corners and two outs, Roki Sasaki got Trea Turner to weakly ground to second, ending the threat and the ballgame.
Featured Card: Turner, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are a combined 2 for 21 in the first two games of the NLDS with 11 strikeouts. Five of those strikeouts belong to Schwarber, who is 0 for 7.
Featured Card: Turner, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are a combined 2 for 21 in the first two games of the NLDS with 11 strikeouts. Five of those strikeouts belong to Schwarber, who is 0 for 7.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
NLDS Game 1 - Offense, Bullpen Stumble in Loss to Dodgers
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 3 |
Saturday Night, October 4th
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Dodgers lead series, 1-0
Dodgers lead series, 1-0
One Sentence Summary: The top of the Phillies line-up was 1 for 11 with six strikeouts, while David Robertson and Matt Strahm couldn't contain the Dodgers in the seventh inning in this gut-wrenching 5-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1.
What It Means: Emphasis on gut-wrenching.
What Happened: Game 1 starter Christopher Sanchez was locked in until the sixth inning, allowing one hit, a walk and a hit batter through the first five. In the bottom of the second, the fans got their only real chance to go wild when Alec Bohm drew a lead-off walk, Brandon Marsh singled to center and J.T. Realmuto tripled to the center field wall on a ball Teoscar Hernandez seemed uninterested in cutting off. Harrison Bader next just missed a home run, settling for a sacrifice fly to score Realmuto. That 3-0 score held until the top of the sixth. With two outs, Freddie Freeman walked, Tommy Edman singled, and Kiké Hernandez brought them both home with a double to left.
What It Means: Emphasis on gut-wrenching.
What Happened: Game 1 starter Christopher Sanchez was locked in until the sixth inning, allowing one hit, a walk and a hit batter through the first five. In the bottom of the second, the fans got their only real chance to go wild when Alec Bohm drew a lead-off walk, Brandon Marsh singled to center and J.T. Realmuto tripled to the center field wall on a ball Teoscar Hernandez seemed uninterested in cutting off. Harrison Bader next just missed a home run, settling for a sacrifice fly to score Realmuto. That 3-0 score held until the top of the sixth. With two outs, Freddie Freeman walked, Tommy Edman singled, and Kiké Hernandez brought them both home with a double to left.
That chased Sanchez (prematurely?) from the game, and Robertson entered. Robertson got out of that inning but was immediately in trouble in the top of the seventh. He allowed a lead-off single to Andy Pages and then hit Will Smith to put two runners on. Matt Strahm replaced Robertson, struck out Shohei Ohtani looking and got Mookie Betts to pop up to third. Hernandez launched the first pitch he saw from Strahm into the right-center field stands and that was essentially the ballgame.
Ohtani got the win, allowing the three runs on three hits and striking out nine. Trea Turner (0 for 3), Kyle Schwarber (0 for 4) and Bryce Harper (1 for 4) came up small in the loss, with a combined six strikeouts.
Featured Card: I hate making these cards when the Phillies lose.
Featured Card: I hate making these cards when the Phillies lose.
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Field Report: Doug and I watched/agonized over this game from our preferred Section 315. I reminded him before the game we were lucky to be attending postseason games for the fourth year in a row, to which he responded, like a true Phillies fan, "But we haven't won anything yet." We did a full, pregame lap of the ballpark, buying a few NLDS souvenirs and choosing Uncle Charlie's Steaks as our playoff dinner.
As usual, the pregame ceremony was fantastic, the crowd was raucous and the energy levels were high. Similar to a year ago in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Mets, the crowd fell flat when the Phillies went inning after inning without scoring any more runs. If all is right with the world, our next game will be NLCS Game 1 against either the Cubs or Brewers.
Transaction: Garrett Stubbs (c) and Lou Trivino (rhp) were omitted from the postseason roster with the Phillies opting to go with Otto Kemp (inf) and Tim Mayza (lhp).
Transaction: Garrett Stubbs (c) and Lou Trivino (rhp) were omitted from the postseason roster with the Phillies opting to go with Otto Kemp (inf) and Tim Mayza (lhp).
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies - 2025 NLDS
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Saturday, October 4th - 6:38
Monday, October 6th - 6:08
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
The Dodgers defeated the Reds, 2-0, in the Wild Card Series to advance to the NLDS. This is the fifth time the Phillies and Dodgers have faced off in the postseason. The Dodgers won the 1977 and 1978 NLCS, but the Phillies have won the last three NLCS match-ups, in 1983, 2008 and 2009.
Los Angeles Dodgers 93-69
National League West Champions
Dodgers Probables
Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87)
TBD
Dodgers Leaders
Average: Freddie Freeman - .295
Runs: Shohei Ohtani - 146
Home Runs: Shohei Ohtani - 55
RBIs: Shohei Ohtani - 102
Stolen Bases: Shohei Ohtani - 20
Wins: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 12
ERA: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 2.49
Strikeouts: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 201
Saves: Tanner Scott - 23
National League West Champions
Dodgers Probables
Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87)
TBD
Dodgers Leaders
Average: Freddie Freeman - .295
Runs: Shohei Ohtani - 146
Home Runs: Shohei Ohtani - 55
RBIs: Shohei Ohtani - 102
Stolen Bases: Shohei Ohtani - 20
Wins: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 12
ERA: Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 2.49
Saves: Tanner Scott - 23
Philadelphia Phillies 96-66
National League East Champions
Phillies Probables
Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.50)
TBD
Phillies Leaders
Average: Trea Turner - .304
Runs: Kyle Schwarber - 111
Home Runs: Kyle Schwarber - 56
RBIs: Kyle Schwarber - 132
Stolen Bases: Trea Turner - 36
Wins: Jesus Luzardo - 15
ERA: Cristopher Sanchez - 2.50
Strikeouts: Jesus Luzardo - 216
Saves: Jhoan Duran - 16
National League East Champions
Phillies Probables
Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.50)
TBD
Phillies Leaders
Average: Trea Turner - .304
Runs: Kyle Schwarber - 111
Home Runs: Kyle Schwarber - 56
RBIs: Kyle Schwarber - 132
Stolen Bases: Trea Turner - 36
Wins: Jesus Luzardo - 15
ERA: Cristopher Sanchez - 2.50
Strikeouts: Jesus Luzardo - 216
Saves: Jhoan Duran - 16
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