6 things that went wrong for the Phillies in shocking end to their 2023 season
What didn't go the Phillies' way and led to their early exit from the 2023 MLB playoffs?
On Tuesday evening, the Philadelphia Phillies’ dominant 2023 MLB season came to a sudden end as they were shocked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the NLCS. Many of the Phillies faithful had high hopes of returning to the World Series again this year to avenge their loss from last season. Unfortunately, their revenge tour will have to be put on hold for now.
So, what on earth went wrong for the Phillies? They seemed to be in full control throughout the series when they were up both 2-0 and 3-2 on the Diamondbacks. Here, we take a look at six things that went horribly against the Phillies’ that led to their unexpected exit from the 2023 MLB playoffs.
Home field “dis”advantage
Prior to Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS, the Phillies had been unbeatable at home at Citizens Bank Park. As a matter of fact, they actually held the current MLB record for the best winning percentage in their home ballpark in postseason history. As a result, surely they could pull off at least one win in one of the two games at home to close out the series, right?
Unfortunately, the home field advantage didn’t end up working to plan as the Diamondbacks scored early and often in both Games 6 and 7 to silence the home crowd. At the same time, the Phillies couldn’t really get anything close to a rally going, taking most of the crowd out of the game. As a result, the Phillies became their own undoing, leading to the two losses and ultimately the series.
Diamondbacks began to “run” away from the Phillies
Although the Phillies set a team record earlier this postseason with five stolen bases in a single game and stole ten bases off of the Diamondbacks’ pitching throughout the NLCS, it was actually the Diamondbacks who had the last laugh. At least when they decided to start their own track meet.
During the final two games of the NLCS, the Diamondbacks went running crazy and stole eight bases off of the Phillies when they finally realized they could take full advantage of the pitchers and catcher J.T. Realmuto.
During the 2023 regular season, Realmuto threw out a career-low 22 percent of the baserunners trying to steal, with a total of 81 runners being successful. As a result, the Diamondbacks kept the Phillies’ pitchers off their game once they managed to get on the basepaths and subsequently helped turn the tide in the series.
Phillies’ starting pitching failed to come through at the worst possible time
With two chances to wrap up the series, the Phillies had both their ace No. 2 Aaron Nola and postseason standout Ranger Suárez lined up to finish things off. Both entered their games with an ERA below 1.00 during the 2023 postseason, with a total of four big wins between them.
However, the Diamondbacks would get to Nola early in Game 6, as they managed to score four runs off of the Phillies’ ace, including belting two home runs — Nola’s main nemesis throughout the regular season. In the series finale, Suárez fared slightly better than Nola, giving up only three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched, but with the Phillies struggling to score, it proved to be too much to overcome in the end.
With all their great work during the postseason, the blame shouldn’t be all on both of their shoulders, just that their losses came at the worst possible time, to end the Phillies’ season.
Phillies’ lethal offense suddenly disappeared
With the Phillies’ potent lineup firing on all cylinders, they scored a total of 27 runs in their first five games of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks, all while using the long ball as their main weapon of destruction. It appeared as though they could just power their way right to the World Series.
Unfortunately, they suddenly suffered a severe power outage in the latter part of the series. Despite the Phillies’ pitching holding the Diamondbacks to within striking distance, the offense would wind up just putting up three runs over the final two games of the NLCS, ultimately leading to their downfall.
Bats can be hot and cold over the course of the season, including in the playoffs, but in the case of the Phillies, they just suddenly all went cold at the most inopportune time.
The stars vanished into the sunset
During this postseason, the likes of Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos helped carry the Phillies during their playoff run, all while setting records along the way. However, it sure felt like they were nowhere to be found when the team needed them most in Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS.
In the final two games of the series, the usually reliable quartet would combine to go a woeful 1-for-28 with 11 strikeouts. For those expecting them to rise to the occasion to help put the Phillies into the World Series, they certainly laid a big egg in the end that ultimately led to their demise.
At the same time, some of the lesser lights couldn’t help make up for the lack of production as the Phillies’ season vanished along with the stars.
Phillies couldn’t capitalize on the unknown Diamondbacks bullpen
For many of the playoff-contending teams, their bullpen usually consists of at least some high-profile, dependable arms, like José Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel for the Phillies, Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith of the Texas Rangers, and Ryan Pressly and Hector Neris of the Houston Astros. These heavyweights are usually combined with a strong supporting cast of relievers that have shown to be successful in the past.
The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, comprised a makeshift bullpen that was changed constantly throughout the 2023 regular season.
But when they finally pieced together their current bullpen core of some non-household names such as Ryan Thompson, Joe Mantiply, Andrew Saalfrank, Kevin Ginkel, Luis Frias and others, who would have thought they would become the underrated difference makers for the ballclub down the stretch?
The Diamondbacks' relievers combined to shut out the Phillies over nine innings in the final two games of the NLCS to prevent any chance of a comeback. If the Phillies couldn’t capitalize against the unknown Diamondbacks’ bullpen after forcing their dominant starters out of the game, it's sad to say, but they probably didn't deserve to win in the end.
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