It seemed that the Philadelphia Phillies were on track for a victory in NLDS Game 1 against the New York Mets on Saturday. Kyle Schwarber kicked things off with a record-setting home run, and ace Zack Wheeler complemented that by delivering an outstanding performance, allowing only one hit over seven innings.
However, everything began to unravel in the eighth inning when the Mets rallied for five runs against the usually dependable Phillies bullpen. Meanwhile, the Phillies struggled to find any answers against New York’s solid pitching throughout the game. Ultimately, this resulted in a disappointing 6-2 loss for Philadelphia in Game 1.
So, who should be held accountable for the Phillies’ poor performance in NLDS Game 1?
3 Phillies to blame for wasting Wheeler’s gem in brutal NLDS Game 1 loss to Mets
Jeff Hoffman
After being one of the team’s most dependable relievers during the regular season, Jeff Hoffman had a disastrous outing in his 2024 postseason debut. Having not recorded a blown save since May 16—also against the Mets—Hoffman picked the worst moment to add another one to his record.
He failed to record a single out, allowing two hits and a walk, which resulted in the game being tied. This marked his second consecutive poor performance, dating back to his last appearance at the end of the regular season. Hoffman was eventually replaced by Matt Strahm, who unfortunately became the next player to falter.
Matt Strahm
Like Hoffman, Matt Strahm was incredibly effective for the Phillies during the regular season. With an impressive 1.87 ERA and 0.75 WHIP heading into the postseason, he quickly faltered, allowing two runs on two hits and a sacrifice fly.
Surprisingly, according to Paul Casella of MLB.com, Strahm didn’t throw a single ball among the 17 pitches he delivered. It’s no wonder the Mets were able to hit him hard, especially since they were likely anticipating strikes every time. This allowed the Mets to take a 3-1 lead, which they would hold onto for the rest of the game. The collapse certainly wasn’t how Philadelphia had envisioned their playoff opener, reminiscent of the struggles they faced with Craig Kimbrel in past postseason games.
Trea Turner
While it’s easy to blame the bullpen for the Phillies’ struggles, had the team scored more runs throughout the game, the high-pressure situations may not have affected the relievers as much. One player who particularly missed crucial opportunities was star shortstop Trea Turner.
After Schwarber’s leadoff homer in the first inning, Turner had a chance to capitalize on that momentum but ended up striking out. In the third inning, he stalled a Phillies rally by grounding into a force out after Schwarber’s single. Again in the fifth, with Johan Rojas in scoring position and one out, Turner weakly popped up to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Finally, with a chance to contribute to a potential comeback in the bottom of the eighth, he struck out once more, finishing the game 0-for-4—disappointing for one of the team’s supposed big-game players.
Of course, this is just one playoff game for the Phillies, with many more likely ahead. As a result, this trio will have opportunities to redeem themselves in the coming days, and hopefully, they can turn from zeros to heroes in leading Philadelphia to success.
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