The Philadelphia Phillies secured a bye in the National League Wild Card round of the 2025 MLB playoffs. Manager Rob Thomson will assess his options as the club prepares for Game 1 of the NLDS on Oct. 4, where they’ll face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Cincinnati Reds.
This postseason may represent the final chance for this core group to capture a World Series title. Another early exit would likely spark mounting pressure from fans and local media for the front office to overhaul the roster.
Keep Harrison Bader at the top of the Phillies’ lineup
With Trea Turner sidelined by a hamstring strain in September, Harrison Bader stepped into the leadoff spot. Rob Thomson could revisit that idea in October, slotting Bader at the top of the order alongside Turner — either Bader/Turner or Turner/Bader — ahead of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
Bader’s September numbers weren’t encouraging — he hit just .188/.235/.271 with a .506 OPS after Sept. 14. Still, before that slump, he was one of Philadelphia’s hottest bats. From Aug. 23–26, he collected eight hits across four games, and later recorded multiple hits in six straight games from Sept. 8–13.
Despite this, Bader is projected to open the postseason in the middle of the lineup. If Thomson wants to be aggressive and shuffle things around, moving Bader up could provide a spark.
Give Lou Trivino a bigger role in the Phillies’ bullpen
Lou Trivino closed out the regular season on a high note, posting a 2.57 ERA across 10 appearances in September. The Green Lane, Pennsylvania, native also brings an impressive playoff track record, having allowed just one run in nine career postseason outings (0.96 ERA).
Meanwhile, right-handers Orion Kerkering and David Robertson faltered down the stretch. Kerkering surrendered runs in four straight outings from Sept. 15–23, while Robertson struggled even more, giving up seven earned runs on 12 hits — including three homers — in 11 appearances, finishing September with a 6.30 ERA. Despite his struggles, Robertson does carry a wealth of playoff experience, with a 3.04 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 42 postseason games.
While elevating Trivino’s role over Robertson wouldn’t necessarily be a headline-grabbing decision, Thomson will need to weigh Robertson’s rough September against his playoff résumé when shaping the bullpen for October.
Start Walker Buehler instead of Aaron Nola in the Phillies’ rotation
Walker Buehler impressed in limited action with the Phillies, recording a 0.66 ERA with eight strikeouts while allowing just one earned run over three outings. Given his background as both a starter and reliever, Rob Thomson has leaned toward deploying him out of the bullpen.
Aaron Nola, on the other hand, has never pitched in relief. Although he turned in two of his strongest outings of the year on Sept. 8 and Sept. 26, the veteran endured the toughest season of his career overall, finishing with a 6.01 ERA and surrendering 18 home runs in 17 starts.
Aaron Nola’s season was derailed by injuries, first a right ankle sprain and later a stress fracture in his rib cage during rehab. The Baton Rouge native never found his rhythm, often undone by a single rough inning in several starts. That inconsistency is especially troubling given his standing as one of the Phillies’ frontline starters.
Rob Thomson’s response to questions about Nola potentially shifting to the bullpen suggested it’s an unlikely scenario. Using him in relief would carry significant risk, yet relying on the 32-year-old in a starting role also comes with uncertainty after such an up-and-down regular season.