The Philadelphia Phillies lost Game 1 of the NLDS in 2025 to the Los Angeles Dodgers and are now just two games away from elimination. They are still in the fight, but it's no longer a standard path to the NLCS, let alone the World Series.
For the Phillies, down 1-0 in the NLDS, they will need to win three of the final four games to advance to the next round. After the heartbreaking loss in Game 1, there is a lot at stake for each game and every moment of the rest of the series.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, as Bob Vetrone Jr. of BoopStats.com shares, the Phillies are facing more than just an uphill battle to take the series from the Dodgers. Philadelphia will need to make franchise history if it wants to keep its playoff hopes alive.
The Phillies need to make franchise history to advance past the Dodgers
As Vetrone Jr. mentions, the Phillies are one of two teams in baseball history to not have a postseason series win after losing the first game of the series. Across their long franchise history, the Phillies have never won a series after losing Game 1.
The Phillies are one of only two current MLB franchises that have never won a postseason series in which it lost Game 1 --
— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) October 6, 2025
>>> PRINTABLE version at https://t.co/eDYSU3eAPT pic.twitter.com/L7h6WQk45g
Since 1903, the Phillies have been 0-8 in playoff series after losing Game 1. Only the Colorado Rockies, who are 0-4 in playoff series after losing Game 1, remain without a series win after losing the first game of a series.
Advancing past the Dodgers was going to be hard enough before the series began, but now, after losing Game 1, not only will the Phillies have to be near perfect, they'll also have to make franchise history in the process.
On the mound for the Phillies is offseason trade pickup Jesus Luzardo, while the Dodgers are sending out Blake Snell, who signed a massive deal to come to Los Angeles in November of 2024.
Both of these two top National League contenders are sending out their star left-handed pitchers, each of who've had their ups and downs this season. Snell started just 11 games all year. In the Wild Card round against the Cincinnati Reds, he allowed two runs in seven innings to help advance the Dodgers to the NLDS.
More: Phillies' Kyle Schwarber vows to be better after 0-4 NLDS Game 1
Luzardo had a 3.92 ERA this season, which would've been a lot better had it not been for two terrible starts in the middle of his season, where he allowed 20 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
The veteran left-hander will need to pitch much better in the NLDS than he did at the end of May and start of June; otherwise, the Phillies will be on the verge of elimination with the series heading out west to Los Angeles.
As Vetrone's stat showcases, the Phillies will need to make some franchise history to move on to the NLCS. While they're capable of making such a comeback, it won't be easy, especially against a strong Dodgers team.
Game 2 of the NLDS between the Phillies and Dodgers might determine who comes out on top, as the Phillies could carry positive momentum out to Los Angeles for Game 3 of the NLDS.
More Phillies News:
- How the Phillies can replace Harrison Bader for Game 2 of the NLDS
- Phillies get encouraging Harrison Bader injury update ahead of NLDS Game 2
- Matt Strahm blasts MLB analyst after Phillies' NLDS loss
- Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez shares four-word message ahead of NLDS