After the Philadelphia Phillies’ Game 3 loss to the New York Mets in the NLDS, a somber atmosphere filled their clubhouse as they faced the possibility of an early postseason exit. With two deep playoff runs in recent years, the pressure to meet expectations weighed heavily on the team, and key players voiced their thoughts on the looming elimination.
The situation mirrors what the New York Yankees could face if they lose their own Game 3 in Kansas City. Like the Phillies, the Yankees would fall behind 2-1 in their series, though they have the advantage of being able to use ace Gerrit Cole again thanks to the scheduling gap. The Phillies, however, don’t have that luxury, as Aaron Nola, who started Game 3, won’t be available for another appearance. In that game, Nola’s lineup struggled, managing just five hits and falling behind early, ultimately losing 7-2.
Nick Castellanos delivered a particularly striking comment after the loss, reflecting on the gravity of their situation. “As a group, this is the closest to death as we’re ever gonna get,” he said, emphasizing that this moment was their chance to show everything they had left. With elimination looming, the Phillies have just one more opportunity to fight for their season.
“Instead of just moving on and forgetting about it, it’s crucial to acknowledge where we are,” Nick Castellanos said. “If we lose, we’re going home, and our baseball season is done. But it’s also a great opportunity—if we can scrape out a win, I know they don’t want to go back to Philly for a Game 5.”
Bryce Harper followed, addressing the same group of media members. He reflected on missed opportunities, particularly against Sean Manaea, a pitcher he had previously had success against. “We had some chances—me included—where we didn’t deliver,” Harper noted, recounting his sixth-inning at-bat. “He made some good pitches. That first-pitch changeup was a good one to hit, then he followed up with two nasty sliders.”
Next was Aaron Nola, who kept his remarks brief. He regretted a few misplaced pitches, especially the ones Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker sent over the right field wall. Still, Nola expressed confidence in Game 4 starter Ranger Suárez, saying, “He’s a bulldog and a competitor. He had some ups and downs after the All-Star break, but he’s healthy now and loves pitching in the postseason. He’s going to fight for us.”
Kyle Schwarber was the final player to speak, just a day after Salvador Perez’s home run put pressure back on the Yankees in their series. Schwarber emphasized the Phillies’ confidence: “We believe in ourselves and this group. We’ve faced a lot of challenges, and this is just another one. We’ll come together, win a game, and get back to Philadelphia.”
The Yankees, like the Phillies, want to avoid needing to return home for a decisive game. The Yankees must win both remaining games in Kansas City, a city hosting playoff baseball for the first time in nine years.
After the Yankees’ loss on Monday, frustrations were evident. Jazz Chisholm Jr. suggested the Royals “got lucky” when asked how the series felt after Game 2 compared to Game 1. His full response, though, expressed optimism: “It still feels the same—we’re going to win. No one feels different. We’ll go out there and do our thing. We missed a lot of opportunities tonight, so they got lucky.”
The Yankees’ missed opportunities were numerous, as they failed to capitalize on 13 walks and went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position. Yet, the offense looks stronger than two years ago when they barely survived Cleveland, only to hit a dismal .162 while getting swept by Houston in the ALCS.
Aaron Judge echoed the sentiment that the Yankees’ offense is hitting the ball hard, but with unlucky results: “[Alex Verdugo] hit some good balls to right. Jon [Berti] lined out a couple times. Big G [Stanton] always hits it hard. If a couple of those fall through, it’s a different game.”
Just like the Yankees, the Phillies hit the ball hard but often to the wrong spot. Now, with elimination looming, both teams face questions about their future with just one more loss.
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