The National League Division Series is already living up to its billing as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies lock horns in a best-of-five battle that has seen momentum swing wildly in front of raucous crowds. After a dramatic Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park, the Dodgers hold a 1-0 series lead, but the Phillies have shown plenty of fight—and the story is far from over as Game 2 looms.
Game 1, played on October 4, 2025, was a showcase of late-inning heroics, missed opportunities, and standout performances. With 45,777 fans packing Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies looked poised to seize the opener, jumping to a 3-0 lead by the second inning. J.T. Realmuto lit up the home crowd with a no-out triple into the right-field gap, driving in two runs and setting the tone early. Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm crossed the plate, and Harrison Bader’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0 against Dodgers ace Shohei Ohtani. The noise was deafening, and the Phillies faithful had every reason to believe their team would ride the early surge to victory.
But baseball, as ever, is a game of inches and late drama. The Dodgers, who posted a 93-69 record in the regular season and finished first in the NL West, have made a habit of coming back in big moments. They chipped away at the Phillies’ lead, first in the sixth inning when Kike Hernandez lashed a two-out, two-run double into the left-field corner, scoring Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman. That hit chased Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez from the game, despite his strong showing through six innings, which included eight strikeouts and only four hits allowed.
The seventh inning proved pivotal. With the Phillies clinging to a 3-2 advantage, the Dodgers found life. Andy Pages singled, and a hit batter put two on with two outs. Phillies reliever Matt Strahm struck out Ohtani and got Mookie Betts to pop out, but then Teoscar Hernandez stepped to the plate. The crowd braced for the moment, but Hernandez delivered a crushing blow—a 394-foot, three-run homer to right-center field, vaulting the Dodgers ahead 5-3. The stadium, which had been rocking moments before, was stunned into near silence.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson summed up the missed opportunities, saying, "It’s more about turning the lineup over with [Bader] and Stott at the end, then we get to Trea and Schwarber and Harper." The strategy nearly paid off in the eighth, when the Phillies loaded the bases with two outs. Bryce Harper’s single and two walks set the table, but Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia retired pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa on a flyout, ending the threat. In the ninth, Max Kepler doubled off Roki Sasaki to give the Phillies a glimmer of hope, but Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott couldn’t bring him home.
The Dodgers’ bullpen, featuring an unusual relief appearance from usual starter Tyler Glasnow, locked things down late. Ohtani, despite being struck out four times by Phillies pitchers, contributed on the mound with a solid start, keeping the Dodgers within striking distance. The Dodgers’ recent run of form—8-2 in their last 10 games, outscoring opponents by 25 runs—showed in their resilience and ability to capitalize on mistakes.
For the Phillies, the loss stung, especially after such a promising start. Their regular season was nothing short of impressive: a 96-66 record, first in the NL East, and a fourth-best team slugging percentage of .431. At home, they’ve been especially tough, going 55-26 in Philadelphia. Kyle Schwarber, who blasted 56 home runs and drove in 132 runs this season, anchors a potent lineup. Alec Bohm has been hot of late, hitting .436 over the last 10 games with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Harrison Bader, a midseason acquisition who has set career highs in virtually every offensive category this year, has been a spark plug at the bottom of the order. His defensive prowess was on full display in Game 1, making a lunging, sliding catch to rob Andy Pages and keep the Phillies in front early. Phillies manager Rob Thomson has praised Bader’s energy and confidence, stating, “He’s played great for us, and I love the energy and I love the confidence he brings to the team.” Bader, playing on a one-year contract with mutual options, has embraced the Philadelphia crowd, saying, “The fans play a large role in what makes this place so special. I learned that very quickly.”
Unfortunately for the Phillies, Bader exited Game 1 in the eighth inning with a left hamstring strain, casting doubt on his availability for the rest of the series. The injury bug has bitten both teams: the Phillies are also missing Jose Alvarado, Daniel Robert, Zack Wheeler, and Jordan Romano, while the Dodgers have a long list of sidelined arms, including Nick Frasso, Tony Gonsolin, and Brusdar Graterol.
Looking ahead to Game 2, set for Monday, October 6 at 6:08 p.m. EDT in Philadelphia, the pitching matchup promises fireworks. The Dodgers will send Blake Snell to the mound, who finished the regular season 5-4 with a stellar 2.35 ERA and 72 strikeouts. The Phillies counter with Jesus Luzardo, who went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA and a whopping 216 strikeouts. Phillies manager Rob Thomson explained the choice, saying, “He’s just pitched so well the last month, and he had pitched prior to Ranger [Suarez] during the regular season and it just made the most sense to me.”
The Dodgers have had the upper hand in games when they go deep, boasting a 53-22 record when hitting at least two home runs. Shohei Ohtani, despite his struggles at the plate in Game 1, remains a threat with 25 doubles, nine triples, and 55 home runs this season. Kike Hernandez, too, has been clutch, hitting .333 over his last 10 games with five doubles and a home run.
The season series between these two powerhouses has been tight, with the Phillies holding a 4-3 edge in the regular season. Now, with the Dodgers up 1-0 in the NLDS, every pitch, every at-bat, and every defensive play will be magnified. The Phillies, backed by their passionate fans and a lineup capable of explosive innings, know they can’t afford to fall behind 2-0 before the series shifts to Los Angeles.
As the teams prepare for a critical Game 2, all eyes will be on Luzardo and Snell, and whether the Phillies can bounce back from a gut-wrenching loss. The stage is set for another classic October showdown in Philadelphia, where the energy—and the stakes—couldn’t be higher.
