Phillies’ postseason fate rests on their slumping sluggers 

Down 0-2 within the best-of-five NLDS, the Philadelphia Phillies are on the ropes, outclassed by their fellow NL heavyweight Los Angeles Dodgers. In each losses, the Phillies discovered themselves unable to use the Dodgers bullpen, their one main flaw. Whereas the circumstances differed, the outcomes had been shockingly comparable, falling brief in each video games by lower than three runs and scoring solely three in every. Low scores comparable to these don’t totally mirror the prolific energy profile the Phillies are identified for, however that is in all probability as a result of their finest bats have gone reasonably silent.

Their typical run-scoring culprits, Bryce Harper (1-for-7, BB), Trea Turner (1-for-7, two BB) and Kyle Schwarber (0-7, BB), have scuffled mightily in opposition to Dodgers pitching this playoff cycle. And though a lot of the lineup is in the same rut, these three top-of-the-order bats have mixed to attain just one run of the Phillies six whole runs, coming within the type of an RBI single from Turner. Evaluate this to the common season, the place they mixed to attain 277 of the Phillies’ 778 whole runs and 276 of their 753 whole RBI.

Of their respective postseason careers, each Harper and Schwarber have been absolute lightning rods whereas, to a lesser extent, Turner has been a stable producer. To have every of their brightest stars dimmed when they’re wanted most has crippled the Phillies on this sequence, leading to dropping two shut video games and threatening a fast demise. 

On the Dodgers aspect of the diamond, the pitching workers has been efficient in limiting harm and preserving the ball within the park. As a complete, the Phillies have but to hit a house run. This makes any contribution from their high three hitters all of the extra essential.

On the cusp of elimination in opposition to what now appears to be a superior adversary, Philadelphia can’t afford to be something lower than good. If the Phillies are going to outlive, they may want no scarcity of run assist from the struggling trio of Harper, Turner and Schwarber. Except they’re firing on all cylinders, we will solely anticipate another disappointing postseason finish for Philadelphia.