It has simply been a series to forget for the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Game 1 seeing the reigning World Series champions come back in the late innings and then outlasting the Phils in a pitcher's duel during Game 2, quickly putting the team down 2-0 in the series.
At the helm of the struggles sit the team's two best sluggers, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, who combined are 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts through the two games so far, a stark contrast from their regular season performances.
And Phillies skipper Rob Thomson thinks he knows why.
"They're Trying To Do Too Much"
After the Phillies 4-3 loss in Game 2 Monday night, Thomson talked with the media afterwards, pinpointing the tandem's struggles at the plate.
""Yeah, I think those guys are trying to do a little too much right now, instead of just being themselves and looking for base hits and the power will come," Thomson said.
Harper, a two-time NL MVP in 2015 and 2021, chalks his struggles up to simply missing pitches when he swings the bat.
“I wouldn’t say we’re pressing,” Harper said. “I just think we’re missing pitchers over the plate. They’re making good pitches when they need to.
Schwarber, an NL MVP candidate this year after belting 56 home runs, didn't blame anyone else for his tough times in the box.
“I can speak for myself, I know that I haven’t (performed),” Schwarber said. "I just didn’t come through in that situation.”
Unfortunately for the Phillies, it doesn't get any easier from here, as they now must fight to avoid elimination in front of what should be a jam-packed crowd at Dodger Stadium tomorrow.