1 of 5 | Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) is taken out of the game with two Los Angeles Dodgers runners on base in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Photo by John McCoy/UPI | License Photo
An error at home plate broke the hearts of the Philadelphia Phillies as they were eliminated in the NLDS, triggering an uncertain road to the off-season.
With a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 on Thursday in Los Angeles, the Phillies again failed to win their first title since 2008. Their status as lavish spenders — with Top-3 payrolls over each of the last three seasons — only amplifies noise from their critics.
“You could look at it any way you want, from numbers, payroll, pitching, bullpen, offense, we’ve got it all,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told reporters. “It’s not always the roster or the talent or all that, it’s who plays the best this time of year. We just haven’t gotten it done.”
Major roster and coaching changes could come this off-season, with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitcher Ranger Suarez — three All-Stars — headed to free agency. Manager Rob Thomson, who led the Phillies to progressively better records in each of his first four seasons, is signed through next season, but is also under a microscope.
“I’m not really sure what happens or what goes into this off-season and where we kinda go from here,” Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said. “But, obviously, those two guys [Realmuto and Schwarber] are going to be a main decision for us and a main conversation for us as a team and as a club. Obviously, I love those two guys and want them back.”
Harper and Turner were among the Phillies’ players to also voice support for Thomson after their Game 4 loss, which ended with a walk-off throwing error by pitcher Orion Kerkering.
The Dodgers had the bases loaded with the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 11th inning when outfielder Andy Pages came to the plate. Pages hacked and missed at Kerkering’s first offering. He then chopped at a 1-1 sinker, hitting the pitch back to Kerkering.
The Phillies’ pitcher bobbled the ball before throwing it home, instead of likely sealing the third out of the inning at first base. His throw sailed out of the reach of Realmuto and allowed pinch runner Hyeseong Kim to score the final run of the series.
Right fielder Nick Castellanos gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with a seventh-inning double Thursday at Dodger Stadium. Phillies relief pitcher Jhoan Duran issued a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning, tying the score.
Thomson said his fate as Phillies manager in 2026 is “out of my control,” when asked about it at his postgame news conference.
“I’m not even thinking about it,” Thomson said. “I’ve got 60 people in there that are brokenhearted right now. So I’m thinking about that more so than my job right now.”
Thomson led the Phillies to a 346-251 record over his first four seasons, including a 96-66 mark in 2025.
The Phillies, fueled by the third-highest payroll ($290.2M) in MLB, led the National League in hits and tied for the league-lead in batting average (.258) during the regular season.
Phillies pitchers posted the fourth-best ERA (3.79) in the National League, with the top pitching staff (3.53 ERA), but 10th-best bullpen (4.27 ERA).
Phillies starters logged a 2.25 ERA over four postseason appearances, which trailed only the Dodgers (2.02) in the National League. Phillies relief pitchers logged a 3.57 ERA this postseason, which ranked fourth among six National League playoff teams.
Turner, who signed a $300 million deal with the Phillies in 2022, led the National League with a .304 batting average in the regular season, but hit .235 in the postseason. He went 0 for 5 in Game 4.
Harper, who signed a $330 million deal in 2019, hit .261 with 27 home runs over 132 regular-season games. He hit .200 with one extra-base hit — a double — in the NLDS, including going 0 for 4 Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
Realmuto, who signed a $115.5 million contract in 2021, hit .257 in the regular season. He hit a career-high .353 this postseason, with six hits in 17 at-bats against the Dodgers.
Schwarber, who signed a $79 million deal in 2022, hit .240 and led the National League with 56 home runs, while recording an MLB-best 132 RBIs this season. He hit .188 with two postseason homers, which both game in Game 3 — the Phillies’ lone win of the series. Schwarber went 1 for 5 — with the Phillies’ lone extra-base hit, a double — in Game 4.
Castellanos, who signed a $100 million deal in 2022, hit .250 — his worst average for a 162-game season — over 147 appearances in 2025. He hit .133 in the playoffs, with two hits in 15 at-bats. Castellanos is not set to become a free agent until 2027, but has been involved in trade rumors the last two off-seasons.
Suarez, who avoided arbitration with a one-year, $8.8 million pact in January, went 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA over 26 regular-season starts. He allowed five hits and one run in the Phillies’ Game 3 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
“I want everyone back,” Turner said. “We’ve got a great group. We talk about it all the time. It’s not fake. We love hanging out with each other. We have great clubhouse chemistry.
“I don’t know the financials. I don’t know everyone’s situation. That’s always kind of a case-by-case thing. But it’s a great spot to play. We love being here. We’ve got a great team, great ownership, great front office and great coaching staff. I think they think that, as well.”
The third-seeded Dodgers will take on the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers or No. 4 Chicago Cubs after eliminating the No. 2 Phillies. The Cubs beat the Brewers 6-0 in Game 4 of the NLDS on Thursday in Chicago to force a decisive Game 5. That matchup will take place at 8:08 p.m. EDT Saturday in Milwaukee.
The No. 2 Seattle Mariners will take on the No. 6 Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS at 8:08 p.m. Friday in Seattle. The winner of that series will face the top-seeded Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS.
MLB playoffs: Los Angeles Dodgers eliminate Philadelphia Phillies
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andy Pages (C) celebrates with Mookie Betts (R) and Freddie Freeman after driving in the winning run as the Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in 11 innings to take the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on October 9, 2025. The Dodgers won the series 3-1 and advance to the National League Championships. Photo by John McCoy/UPI | License Photo
