Phillies Near Elimination After Dodgers Take 2-0 NLDS Lead

The Philadelphia Phillies are struggling in the 2025 National League Division Series, with their star players, including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, underperforming notably in the postseason. Harper himself is hitting just .143, drawing criticism and comparisons to Aaron Judge's similarly disappointing playoff performance. Despite a late ninth-inning rally led by Nick Castellanos, the Phillies fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2, putting them on the brink of elimination with an 0-2 series deficit. Phillies manager Rob Thomson acknowledged that the team's high-priced roster is pressing too hard, leading to poor results, and emphasized the need for players to focus on base hits rather than power. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell dominated early, holding the Phillies to few hits through six innings, and the Dodgers executed key defensive plays to secure their win. With ace Zack Wheeler sidelined due to surgery, the Phillies face a critical Game 3 in Los Angeles needing to reverse their fortunes to stay alive in the postseason.