Amid the Philadelphia Phillies' Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, they saw Harrison Bader go down with a groin injury that forced him to come out of the game.
For Game 2, Bader isn't in the lineup against the left-hander Blake Snell, showing how much his injury is impacting him. While he isn't in the lineup, what are the chances he could return this series?
Well, according to a report from Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, Rob Thomson shared Bader's availability for Game 2 of the NLDS, and it's a positive update for the star trade deadline pickup.
Harrison Bader could play in Game 2 of the NLDS
"Bader will not start tonight," Varnes reports. "He will hit in the cage pregame and could possibly pinch-hit tonight, Rob Thomson said."
Bader will not start tonight. He will hit in the cage pregame and could possibly pinch-hit tonight, Rob Thomson said. The Phillies’ outfield tonight: Kemp in left, Marsh in center, Castellanos in right.
— Charlotte Varnes (@charlottevarnes) October 6, 2025
This is a very encouraging update on Bader. While he's not in the lineup to begin Game 2, he is available if needed as a pinch-hitter later in Game 2 of the NLDS.
Bader started in center field for the Phillies in Game 1, but in his absence, despite a left-handed pitcher being on the mound, the Phillies are starting Brandon Marsh in center field.
He's struggled against left-handers all year, with an OPS of .577 in 88 at-bats against lefties this season. Compared to an .834 OPS against right-handers, the Phillies, ideally, wouldn't have Marsh in the lineup for Game 2.
Taking over the corners in the outfield are Nick Castellanos and Otto Kemp. One is a $100 million corner outfielder in a platoon, while the other is an undrafted free agent who is an incredible story for the Phillies this season.
More: Phillies get encouraging Harrison Bader injury update ahead of NLDS Game 2
To overcome the Dodgers and the now longer odds without Bader, the Phillies will need some heroic performances from their stars and their new-look outfield.
If the Phillies can win Game 2 without using Bader at all, to give him the most rest possible for Game 3, it'd be a huge way to rebound from a rough Game 1 loss.
Philadelphia can't take another loss, as going down 0-2 to the Dodgers would spell the Phillies' doom. Making such a comeback is near impossible, as only two teams in NLDS history have made a comeback from being down 0-2.
To avoid such a disastrous scenario, Marsh, Kemp, and Castellanos will need to pick up the slack in the outfield and at the plate, as Bader's presence was felt in just part of Game 1.
He had a sacrifice fly, a walk, and an incredible diving play in center field before being pulled in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Now, while Bader is available tonight for the Phillies, they will begin the game with him sitting on the bench, as they look to tie the series back up in a lefty pitchers' duel between Jesus Luzardo and Snell for Game 2 of the NLDS.
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