The Philadelphia Phillies have been under the microscope this season and last off-season for shortcomings and struggles in the playoffs. This may feel like a now-or-never season to finally reach the mountaintop the team has struggled to get back to in prior playoff appearances dating back to 2022. Can the Phillies conquer these playoff struggles?
Four Ways the Phillies Conquer Struggles in October
Consistent Fundamentals and Execution
The Phillies’ performance and execution tend to disappear at times with not-so-great at-bats and bad defensive play or, whether it’s bad base running or poor execution. The team was almost dead last in every category at one point early on in April and went on an eventual long losing streak. That losing streak, led to the firing of former manager Rob Thomson, after posting a 9-19 record losing streak.
The team turned around a near-dreadful season under interim manager Don Mattingly, with cleaner base-running and better fielding overall since the turnaround under Mattingly happened. Overall, the team has looked better, performing and having the consistent fundamentals that can win a team playoff games in October.
Philadelphia can overcome the struggles of October if they can apply what has turned around the team’s season in a huge way. If the team wants to go far in the playoffs, they must stay consistent.
Bryce Harper’s Big Contributions Can Help Offensive Team Woes in Playoffs
Bryce Harper is having a much better season than the 2025 season, with a .269 batting average in 2026, compared to the .261 he posted in 2025 in 132 games. Overall, the right fielder is still putting up strong numbers in the regular season; however, he has had some shortcomings lately in the postseason. But Harper has stepped up when the lights are bright and the competition has gotten a lot tougher.
Harper’s postseason numbers in October are not bad at all. Harper is at a .274 batting average, with 57 hits, 17 home runs, 34 runs batted in, and 42 runs scored. He is certainly performing when it matters, under the bright lights and high-pressure situations, and every so often, on cold nights in Philadelphia in the postseason.
By all accounts, those stat numbers are still elite in terms of numbers and production in the postseason and the regular season overall. There was, though, a small dip in production that led him to be criticized in the 2025 season and off-season, which still follows into this season in 2026.
The Starting Pitching
The Phillies’ pitching has been overall very good this year, except at the start of the regular season, when the starting rotation posted a 5.03 ERA in April. However, right-hander Zack Wheeler‘s return in May helped the starting rotation, lowering the team’s starting rotation ERA to 2.82. This season, Wheeler has a 3.06 ERA with a 13-5 record.
Other pitchers in the rotation have been performing throughout the regular season, including left-hander Cristopher Sanchez and left-hander Jesus Luzardo. Luzardo is dealing with a shoulder injury and is on the injury list; however, when he is on the mound, his stuff is electric. Luzardo is at a 2.87 ERA after starting off slow at the beginning of the season with a 7.89 ERA. Sanchez has had his bumps in the road this season, but has been stepping up when needed. Sanchez is at a 2.93 ERA with an 18-6 record.
All four pitchers will be needed when the playoffs start.
Lineup Consistency
Now, the lineup has to come together as well; that means besides Harper stepping up, players like designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, shortstop Trea Turner, and second baseman Luis Arraez need to show up. Third baseman Bryson Stott and left fielder Brandon Marsh are part of this equation as well, as the two need to come up with clutch at-bats.
The team’s offensive rankings all year have been in the middle of the pack, runs scored-wise at 14th and the team’s batting average is .241, ranked 19th. Arraez was traded to the Phillies to fix this issue and the issue of runners in scoring position, but Arraez can only do so much when others do not step up. It is worth noting that Arraez left the game on Thursday night with a left ankle sprain, but the Phillies remain hopeful that he will be able to play in the National League Wild Card Series.
The question is, how much longer does the championship window stay open for Philadelphia?
Main Image: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
