The Philadelphia Phillies lost Game 1 of the NLDS, but also saw their great trade deadline acquisition in Harrison Bader leave the game early with a groin injury. It's a tough outlook for Bader, and he's at risk of missing some time in the NLDS.
While a report on Sunday morning from Matt Gelb of The Athletic revealed that Bader could still play in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies need to be prepared if he can't make another start in the NLDS.
Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic delved into some of the Phillies' options, including who is the most likely option, and who isn't available for the Phillies in the NLDS.
What are the Phillies' options if Harrison Bader doesn't play in Game 2 of the NLDS?
The current Phillies outfielders, other than Bader, on the NLDS playoff roster are Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler, Weston Wilson, and Otto Kemp. Castellanos is likely to start Game 2 with the left-hander Blake Snell on the mound, but the other positions are up in the air.
Castellanos will be in right field, while Marsh will likely play center field if Bader can't go. Wilson will also be an option in left field with Snell on the mound, leaving Kepler and Kemp on the bench for Game 2 of the NLDS.
Their options on the postseason roster are well known, but what about their options not on the postseason roster?
"As for depth options outside the current roster: Johan Rojas is a strong defender, but he's unavailable for the NLDS while he recovers from a quad injury." Varnes writes. "Justin Crawford, one of the Phillies' top prospects, finished a strong Triple-A season with a concussion."
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Both Crawford and Rojas would be the ideal additions to the roster if Bader misses some time, but neither is likely available for the NLDS, with both dealing with their own injuries.
The only other realistic option is Oscar Mercado, a 30-year-old outfielder who hasn't played in the Majors this season. He's the only healthy outfielder not on the playoff roster, and isn't likely to be brought up unless Bader's injury would hold him out of the NLCS.
While Bader expressed optimism for a potential return, saying, "I definitely feel like I'll be able to come back, for sure," the Phillies outfield without Bader is significantly worse than it is with him in there.
Harrison Bader is in play for Game 2, Rob Thomson said. Exams showed no major groin tear or strain. He'll receive treatment today, then they'll see if he can start or at least come into game later.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) October 5, 2025
Bader could still play in Game 2, but if he doesn't, Marsh will be the center fielder while either Kepler or Wilson will play left field with Castellanos in right. They don't have the best options without Bader, making a comeback NLDS series win a lot more challenging.
Philadelphia, down one game in the NLDS, needs to win three of the final four games of the series. They've shown the ability to get hot at the right time, but without Bader, the task will be a lot more difficult.
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