Sep 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Harrison Bader (2) scores a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the tenth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Following their 8-2 victory in Arizona on Friday night, the Phillies did not have an enjoyable weekend following a pair of losses on Saturday and Sunday. Philadelphia took an early lead on Saturday but watched Arizona tally four runs, leading to Aaron Nola’s 10th loss of the season. While many in the Delaware Valley were enjoying the results of the NFL’s Eagles comeback victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Phillies fans were sour as the Diamondbacks scored six runs over the first two innings in a 9-2 blowout win for Arizona.
Saturday – Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 3
Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott all recorded two hits in Saturday afternoon’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unfortunately for Philly, those were six of the seven hits recorded in the ball games against the Diamondbacks. Two players who have swung the bat really well over the last few weeks, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler, finished the contests 0-4 with three strikeouts. Philadelphia struck out 10 times in the contests.
The Phillies took the early lead in the first inning as Schwarber’s double scored Harrison Bader for a 1-0 advantage. Phillies backstop J.T. Realmuto added a second run on a sacrifice fly that scored Schwarber for a 2-0 Philadelphia lead after a half inning of play. Nola took the mound and conceded a run right back to Arizona after Corbin Carroll’s ground ball reached Kepler in right field to score Geraldo Perdomo to half the Phillies’ lead, 2-1.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Diamondbacks tied the game in the third inning as Ketel Marte’s single deflected off Harper and into right field, making it a 2-2 ballgame. Bohm responded in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to give the Phillies the lead right back at 3-2.
In the sixth inning, James McCann tied the game, 3-3, on a double to center field that scored Blaze Alexander. Ildemaro Vargas provided the DBacks their first lead of the afternoon on a single to left field that plated McCann for a 4-3 Arizona advantage. The Diamondbacks bullpen finished out the contest, allowing just three hits to secure the win.
Sunday – Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 2
Sunday’s game was forgettable from the start as Arizona teed off against starter Ranger Suarez, who allowed eight hits and six earned runs over four innings. Carroll opened the scoring on a fielder’s choice that scored Marte for a 1-0 Diamondback lead. Arizona scored two more runs on a Marte single with the bases loaded in the second inning, extending the lead to 3-0. Carroll stepped up and swatted a three-run home run to break the game wide open at 6-0 in favor of the home team.
Philadelphia struggled against Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who allowed six hits and no runs over six innings on Sunday. The Phillies generated some hits against Arizona’s bullpen, but those two runs were not enough to erase the massive early-inning deficit in the 9-2 loss.
Phillies Trail Brewers by 3 Games
With two homestands and six games remaining in the 2025 season, Philadelphia (92-64) has minimal time to make up ground on the National League-leading Milwaukee Brewers (95-61). While they haven’t wrapped up the first round bye yet, the Los Angeles Dodgers (88-68) would need a magical finish (combined with a lousy end for the Phillies) to avoid the Wild Card round. Currently, the Phillies need a combination of three wins and/or three Dodgers defeats to clinch the second bye in the National League.
The Chicago Cubs (88-68), San Diego Padres (85-71), Cincinnati Reds (80-76), and New York Mets (80-76) are battling for the final N.L. playoff spots. Cincinnati currently holds the tiebreaker over the Mets, leaving New York in a precarious position for the final week of the season.
In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays (90-66) are looking to hold off the New York Yankees (88-68) for the A.L. East crown, the Detroit Tigers (85-71) and Cleveland Guardians (84-72) are battling for the A.L. Central title, and the Seattle Mariners (87-69) are within reach of claiming the A.L. West over the Houston Astros (84-72). While the Boston Red Sox (85-71) won’t battle for the A.L. East title, they are currently projected to earn an American League Wild Card spot.