ESPNO Oct 12, 2023, 11:16 PM ET6 Minute Read
Castellanos’ two home runs make Philly fans tremble
Nick Castellanos hits two home runs for the Phillies in Game 4 against the Braves.
With a thrilling 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, the Philadelphia Phillies became the fourth team to secure a spot in the championship series.
On Wednesday night, the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks punched their tickets to the next round, a day after the Texas Rangers were the first team. The Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers with 100 wins, the Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays with 99 wins and the Baltimore Orioles with 101 wins – and now the Atlanta Braves are also eliminated with 104 wins.
How did the Phillies manage to eliminate the Braves for the second straight year? Will Philadelphia get past the D-Backs and make it to the World Series? And what should Atlanta think of a record-breaking regular season followed by another early postseason exit? We’ve got it all covered with updates, insights and ESPN MLB experts Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers and David Schoenfield breaking down what this means for both teams.
Important links: What you need to know | Complete playoff schedule
Takeaways
Philadelphia Phillies 3, Atlanta Braves 1: Two straight showdowns between Braves and Phillies in the NLDS – and two straight trips to the NLCS for the Phillies as they eliminated the Braves again with a win in Game 4 on Thursday night. There’s just an inertia that works in the Phillies’ favor when they play at home. They fell early in Games 3 and 4 before quickly storming back to eliminate the mighty Braves. Atlanta will say the right things, but they looked intimidated — and it showed both at the plate and on the mound. And just when you think you’re safe because you managed to silence Harper and Schwarber, along comes Nick Castellanos. He had a three-hit day, including two home runs, while Trea Turner had four hits. The Phillies are simply rolling at home – and now have home advantage in the next round. -Jesse Rogers
Aside from Playoff Bryce, which other Phillies player impressed you the most in this series?
Olney: Ranger Suarez started two of the four games in this series and worked so well that it seemed like Rob Thomson’s confidence in the left-hander was growing. In Game 4, Thomson seemed to let Suarez in the game a little longer due to the confidence he had gained in Game 1, and in response, Suarez continued to spin his break ball with the confidence that seems to influence him. Thomson will certainly be happy to hand Suarez the ball in Game 3 or 4 of the NL Championship Series.
Schoenfield: Going into the postseason, I felt like Aaron Nola was one of the most important players of the entire postseason. He’s been prone to home runs in the off-and-on regular season, but he’s had two strong starts so far, with wins over the Marlins and Braves. Heck, Buster says if you bring in Suarez, the Phillies suddenly have a strong 2-3 in the rotation behind star player Zack Wheeler.
Rogers: Nick Castellanos. He’s called a professional hitter, and he showed why by striking out Spencer Strider – the majors’ strikeout leader – twice in Game 4 after hitting a home run twice in Game 3. No player has ever achieved that. Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner get most of the headlines, but Castellanos has stolen them in this series. The guy can hit at full speed.
What is it about Philly that can compete so well against Atlanta in the postseason?
Olney: I don’t think it’s about being a good fit; I think it’s more about timing. In 2022 and again in ’23, the Braves’ rotation was hit hard by injuries before the playoffs. This year, Max Fried had a blister problem and was clearly out of shape when he started Game 2. Charlie Morton was not available at all. And in all of these matchups of divisional rivals — the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Arizona Diamondbacks is another example — there is no awe, no unfamiliarity. These teams have faced each other so many times that there is no mystique left.
Schoenfield: Well, the Phillies led the majors in home runs over the last two months, so despite the dominance of the Atlanta offense all season, the Philly lineup was arguably just as good with its hitting power. Considering the Braves’ smaller rotation with no Morton and Fried to solve his blister problem, the Phillies were poised to beat the Braves. And that’s exactly what happened.
Rogers: Their respective crowds? Okay, that may sound a little dramatic, but there’s a reason Atlanta took so long to name a Game 3 starter. Their choice came down to inexperience vs. inexperience – and inexperience simply doesn’t matter at Citizens Bank Park. Bryce Elder wilted after taking a 1-0 lead – and a night later even their ace, Strider, did the same. It’s not the matchup. It’s the atmosphere – and a better starting team.
104 wins, but another early playoff exit – how would you describe the Braves’ season?
Olney: Deeply frustrating. After being eliminated by the Phillies last year, they climbed back up the regular season rocks and then got crushed in exactly the same way as last year. Now the same group of players will face the same challenge next year, and the prospect of that will either propel them or keep them stuck in Season 24.
Schoenfield: This is playoff baseball. The Braves won the World Series in 2021 when they won just 88 games and the World Series games were started by – I’m not making this up – Tucker Davidson and Dylan Lee. The 2022 and 2023 Braves were much better teams, but just didn’t get going at the right time. Ask Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz: There is no secret formula to knowing how to win in October.
Rogers: Disappointing, but you can point to those pitching injuries as the main reason. Still, Atlanta needs to check the mix in the room if disaster strikes. Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson are no longer there to lead the group. Brian Snitker said the whole room takes the lead – which usually means no one does. Fighting the Phillies on the road is a real thing, and they need real leadership to do it.
What do you expect from the Phillies in the NLCS against the Diamondbacks?
Olney: The Diamondbacks beat two division champions to start the postseason with a 5-0 record, so you should stop underestimating them. But the Phillies and Braves were the most complete teams on the NL side of the table, and it still seems like the D-Backs – with so many young players – have a middleweight versus a heavyweight on the Phillies’ roster. Philadelphia is in search of a vision right now, and it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the Astros having a chance of beating them.
Schoenfield: They’ll be big favorites, of course, but don’t sleep on the Diamondbacks. The problem for Arizona: Do they have enough starting pitching beyond Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly? Brandon Pfaadt got off to a good start against the Dodgers, but delivered a lot of home runs – which, as we just saw, is what the Phillies are very good at. Arizona hasn’t even had to add a fourth starter, and with fewer days off, the bullpen will be tested more than before. It wouldn’t shock me to see a sweep, but I’d say the Phillies in five as they overwhelm the D-backs.
Rogers: I think the Phillies are moving on – but they better not underestimate the D-backs. One thing is for sure: Arizona will not come to Philadelphia scared. The D-Backs pitch as well as anyone in the postseason. That alone should keep her going.