Things are already tense in Philadelphia. For better or for worse, the Philadelphia Phillies have had some time to think about what went wrong in Saturday's Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Sunday's day off, NLDS Game 2 is on tap for Monday evening at Citizens Bank Park.
The bullpen couldn't hold a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning in the 5-3 loss on Saturday, leading the Phillies to desperately need a bounceback win to even the series at one game apiece before heading off to the West Coast.
The biggest question Phillies fans had on their minds coming into Monday was about the status of center fielder and sparkplug Harrison Bader. The trade deadline addition left Game 1 in the seventh inning with a groin injury. After Sunday's update from Phillies manager Rob Thomson there was hope that Bader would be able to play in Game 2.
That's about all the good news you're going to get.
Harrison Bader missing from Phillies' starting lineup for NLDS Game 2
Unfortunately, Bader is sitting out Game 2. From the sounds of things, there's a good chance he could be ready for Game 3 in Los Angeles. As The Philadelphia Inquirer's Lochlahn March reported, he can't run at 100 percent yet but could be available to pinch hit on Monday.
Between not having Bader available and facing left-hander Blake Snell, the Phillies' outfield looks a little different today. Nick Castellanos draws in in right field, while Brandon Marsh slides over to center and Otto Kemp gets the start in left for his postseason debut.
- 1. SS Trea Turner (R)
- 2. DH Kyle Schwarber (L)
- 3. 1B Bryce Harper (L)
- 4. 3B Alec Bohm (R)
- 5. C J.T. Realmuto (R)
- 6. RF Nick Castellanos (R)
- 7. 2B Edmundo Sosa (R)
- 8. CF Brandon Marsh (L)
- 9. LF Otto Kemp (R)
Lining up for Game 2#RedOctober pic.twitter.com/4ryCwQAUWh
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 6, 2025
Phillies vs. Dodgers starting pitchers for NLDS Game 2
Jesús Luzardo gets the Game 2 start for the Phillies. The left-hander had a fantastic first year in Philadelphia, going 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA and a career-high 216 strikeouts in 183 2/3 innings, also a career high. This is his fourth postseason, after two playoffs with the Athletics in 2019 and 2020 and with the Miami Marlins in 2023. Luzardo faced the Dodgers twice this season. He threw a seven-inning, eight-strikeout shutout in April and then allowed four runs in seven frames just a few weeks ago at Dodger Stadium.
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will take the ball for the Dodgers. The lefty made only 11 regular season starts this year but had a 2.35 ERA. He dominated the Phillies in September, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out 12. Snell picked up the win in his Wild Card Series start against the Cincinnati Reds, giving up two runs over seven innings and striking out nine.
How to watch Phillies vs. Dodgers NLDS Game 2
Fans can watch NLDS Game 2 on TBS, truTV, HBO Max and also on MLB.TV in the US and internationally, except in Canada. Sportsnet is the exclusive Enlgish broadcast rights holder in Canada, with TVA Sports and RDS broadcasting in French.