The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS, putting themselves in a great position to move on to the NLCS.
Going up 2-0 in this series is obviously a huge outcome for the Dodgers, but in the Dodgers-Phillies NLDS, this 2-0 lead is a lot more massive than it already is.
Luke Arcaini of Crossing Broad shared comments from Freddie Freeman postgame, where he revealed just why winning Games 1 and 2 in Philadelphia is so huge for the Dodgers.
Freddie Freeman reveals why the Dodgers' 2-0 lead is so 'massive' for Los Angeles
"We are just sitting at our locker, and Kike Hernandez goes, 'We just took two here.' " Freeman said. "This is a hard place to play. Incredible fan base, and it is loud here. (Before the series), We were like, 'Get one.' To get two in this environment is obviously massive. You can't understate it. This is a really hard place to play in the regular season, let alone here (in the playoffs)."
“We were getting dressed, and Kiké looked at me and said ‘we really took 2 (games) here”
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) October 7, 2025
Freddie Freeman talks about how hard it is for players to play at Citizens Bank Park pic.twitter.com/dZ0sMkX0VO
Philadelphia is a notorious fanbase, and to take both Game 1 and Game 2 in Philadelphia not only puts the Dodgers in complete control of the series, but it also shows Los Angeles' resistance to one of the toughest places to play in baseball.
Beating Philadelphia, which was one of the toughest competitors this postseason, will have the Dodgers in great shape to make another World Series run. The Phillies' rotation has a case to be the best in baseball this season, and the Dodgers were able to get over them so far in the NLDS.
Barring one of the worst collapses in baseball history, the Dodgers should easily cruise to an NLDS win over the Phillies. While their 2-0 lead is impressive, doing so with both wins coming in Philadelphia is a massive outcome.
More: Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw gets brutally honest on bullpen demotion in final MLB season
If the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead with the series heading back to Philadelphia, it would be a tough time closing out the series before Game 5. But now, the Dodgers have two home games to end the NLDS. And with the Phillies' offense being shut down, there's no reason to believe the Dodgers won't secure the series win in short order.
The NLDS has both teams up 2-0, but the Dodgers have the luxury of coming back home to clinch, while the Milwaukee Brewers head on the road to try and secure the series.
As Freeman said, heading into the series against the Phillies, if the Dodgers took one game in Philadelphia, it'd be a great outcome. Instead, they have taken both games and now have a much easier path to the NLCS, as they need just one win in two home games to advance.
On the mound for the Dodgers in Game 3 is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the Phillies are sending out Aaron Nola with Ranger Suarez close to follow. It's a big advantage for the Dodgers, as the series looks to be all but wrapped up in their favor heading into Game 3.
More Dodgers News:
- Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto achieves feat not done since Bob Gibson's "The Year of the Pitcher"
- Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani on verge of shattering franchise record he set just a year ago
- How many blown saves? The stats that have kept the Dodgers from running away with the NL West
- Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim opens up about playing in the minor leagues