The Philadelphia Phillies are more than ready for the MLB postseason to begin. With three regular season series remaining, the NL East champions are rolling. They've proven that they can beat the league's top contenders, as they're an MLB-best 43-33 against teams over .500. They're coming off a series victory against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, who may be their toughest postseason challenger in the National League.
It was huge for them to win the season series over the Dodgers and take a head-to-head tiebreaker that could come into play for the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. They did so by once again rallying late in games against the Dodgers' shaky bullpen, which could be what sets them above the powerhouse teams they'll face in the postseason.
Nobody wants to face the Phillies in the late innings in October
The Phillies have proven that they play their best baseball in the late innings of games. Each of their wins in Dodger Stadium came from rallies in the seventh inning or later, which led to this impressive stat from NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark.
They have scored 279 runs in the seventh inning or later this season, the most in the majors.
Phillies with another comeback. They have scored the most runs in baseball in 7th inning and later
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 17, 2025
Phillies are 30-14 since the trade deadline, best in baseball.
They have won 33 series this year, second most in franchise history
30 games over 500!
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Recent Phillies postseason teams of the past have become infamously known for coming up small when it matters most late. This 2025 squad just feels different though. Nearly everybody in their lineup is contributing, from Otto Kemp to Weston Wilson and even Rafael Marchán, whose seventh career home run was the difference in the ninth inning of Tuesday's win.
The Phillies' all-time record for series victories in a season is 34, set by the 2011 team who won 102 games. Of course, despite setting the franchise record for wins in a single season, that team is known for royally collapsing in the NLDS. The 2025 team could easily top 34 series victories, especially with two home series left against the lowly Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins.
Even in the wake of injuries to key players like Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm, the Phillies once again have a playoff-ready roster with a deep lineup and elite rotation that's been stepping up when they're needed most. Let's hope that the clutch gene of this year's team becomes the difference maker in doing what the 2011 team couldn't — bring a World Series title back to Broad Street.