The Philadelphia Phillies fell to the 2024 World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss on Thursday Oct. 9, ending their short-lived postseason run. Four postseason appearances in four seasons, all ending in increasingly painful ways, have left Phillies fans exceedingly disappointed. Ever since that seemingly magical 2022 run, which ended with a Phillies loss to the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the World Series, Red October has lost its charm.
After a 96-66 regular season and claiming their second consecutive National League East Division title, all seemed great. But they just couldn’t get it together this October. Eager Phillies fans poured into Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia on Saturday Oct. 4 for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. A three-run second inning had fans waving their Red October rally towels, but hopes were dashed when the Phillies offense failed to produce any more runs the rest of the game. They lost 5-3 following Dodgers’ heavy-hitter Teoscar Hernández’s three-run home run in the seventh inning.
Game 2 on Monday Oct. 6 brought similar disappointment. Both teams remained scoreless until the seventh when the Dodgers scored four runs. The Phillies offense sparked hope with one run scored in the eighth and a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth by Phillies Right Fielder Nick Castellanos. Ultimately, the 9th inning rally was snuffed out with a game-ending scoop at first base by Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman on a ball hit by Trea Turner. The Dodgers won with a final score of 4-3.
Those first two losses of the series proved detrimental to the Phillies postseason odds—along with the enthusiasm of fans and players alike. According to the Society for American Baseball Research, teams who win the first game of a best-of-five series have gone on to win the series almost 73% of the time. The fact that these losses occurred at Citizens Bank Park, known for a great home-field advantage due to its rowdy atmosphere and dedicated fanbase, was disheartening to say the least.
Like many other Phillies fans, I went into Game 3 on Wednesday Oct. 8 with the expectation of a loss. But the Phillies offense proved me wrong. Empowered by their throwback powder-blue uniforms (typically not worn during away games), Phillies top hitters finally delivered in Los Angeles in front of a crowd of thousands of Dodgers fans. Dodgers’ Tommy Edman’s home run put his team up by one in the third inning. Kyle Schwarber quickly matched the score with a solo home run in the fourth, measuring at 455 ft. (one of the longest in Kyle’s postseason career)! A combination of stellar defense and multiple hits put the Phillies up 6-1 until the eighth inning. Schwarber’s second home run of the night solidified an 8-1 lead later in the eighth. The Phillies went on to win 8-3, giving fans a sliver of hope.
Game 4 rolled around on Thursday Oct. 9. The Phillies and Dodgers seemed to match each other in fielding and hitting as the game was held scoreless until they tied at one in the seventh inning. Phillies relief pitchers kept Dodgers hitters at bay and forced the game into extra innings. Then came the bottom of the 11th inning. Phillies’ Orion Kerkering was pitching. The Dodgers had runners on second and third. 2 outs. Dodgers’ Andy Pages hit a bouncer to Kerkering, who threw to J.T. Realmuto at the plate and … the Dodgers walked it off on an errant throw to home.
As a diehard Phillies fan, this was the most painful way this game could have ended. They were so close to forcing a Game 5 at home. I know for certain that Phillies fans would have brought the energy and their cheering to Citizens Bank Park. But we lost. So where do the Phillies go from here?
I, for one, have become attached to a lot of the players on this current team. I’m not ready to let some of them go, but there will be changes made to the clubhouse this offseason. According to the MLB, Manager Rob Thomson has been confirmed to return next season, much to the dismay of many fans who blame him for the team’s recent struggles. It has been rumored that the Phillies are expected to release outfielder Nick Castellanos following fewer regular season appearances and a controversial comment made earlier in the season. Questions surround the return of outfielders Max Kepler and Harrison Bader, both former Minnesota Twins who joined the Phillies this season.
The biggest potential losses come with catcher J.T. Realmuto, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez, who all became free agents at the end of the 2025 season. My opinion? Resign all three. They were fundamental to the regular season success this year. Also, they want to be in Philly. Watching the interview with a teary Schwarber following the Game 4 loss was enough to make me cry a little.
Whatever happens this offseason, I just hope that the next Red October regains some of its lost Philadelphia magic.
