After a close pitchers' duel that went into extra innings, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers were on the verge of heading to the 12th inning. With Jesus Luzardo putting men on base, Orion Kerkering came in to try and get the Phillies one more chance.
But, after walking one batter to load the bases, Kerkering got a soft grounder to the mound, which he initially bobbled, and then threw home, missing JT Realmuto wide, allowing the Dodgers to win on a walk-off error.
This play was not just a brutal one, but it's one of the worst in Major League Baseball history. It's an unfortunate mistake from Kerkering that happened in the biggest moment, and it made MLB history in the worst way possible.
Orion Kerkering's walk-off error has a case to be the worst play in MLB history
According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, Kerkering's extra-inning error was the first time in MLB postseason history that a team was eliminated on a walk-off error. Bill Buckner's blunder is an infamous moment, but it didn't directly lead to the Boston Red Sox's elimination.
That was the first postseason series in history to end on a walkoff error.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 10, 2025
What a crushing way for any team to end a season.
Bill Buckner might come to mind, but that was only Game 6.
Kerkering's error lost the Phillies the game, the first postseason walk-off on an error since 2014, but more importantly, it was the first time a team was eliminated on a walk-off error in MLB postseason history.
Getting eliminated stings no matter how it comes, but to be eliminated on an error is about as brutal as it can get. Kerkering has been a solid reliever for the Phillies, pitching to a 3.30 ERA this season in 69 games. But this error goes into the record books, and Kerkering's name will always be attached to such a play.
There's been plenty of bad and unfortunate plays in Major League Baseball history, but this Kerkering error is one of the worst ever. No team has ever been eliminated in the playoffs on a walk-off error, until Kerkering's 11th-inning error against the Dodgers.
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Even if this were a regular-season loss, it would be a brutal way to lose a game. But, for this to happen in the playoffs and lead to an elimination is about as brutal a play and error as there is in Major League history.
Kerkering appeared in all four games of the NLDS against the Dodgers, allowing two earned runs in Game 2 and striking out three across 2.2 innings pitched. But, even though he's had some positive moments this series, he'll unfortunately always be tied to this walk-off error that eliminated the Phillies from World Series contention.
After the blunder, Kerkering's teammates, along with Rob Thomosn, consoled the young reliever. It's a brutal play for Kerkering, as he'll face the brunt of the blame for the Phillies' NLDS loss. But, with the offensive struggles and other bullpen struggles, the Phillies losing the NLDS isn't solely on Kerkering's shoulders.
It wasn't an unrealistic error, nor is it that surprising a mistake. Pitchers make similar errors all season long. But the circumstances surrounding the play and the outcome of it make it one of the worst plays in baseball history.
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