banner
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb
@mattgelb.bsky.social
13K followers 79 following 840 posts
Phillies beat writer for The Athletic. One half of Phillies Therapy podcast. Daily Orange U.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 40m
No Harrison Bader in the Game 3 lineup. Same situation; he could pinch-hit.
7 21
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 3h
Quick Phillies Therapy with some thoughts before Game 3. Thanks for listening. open.spotify.com/episode/0J8S...
Casting Call For a Hero
open.spotify.com
1 7
Reposted by Matt Gelb
charlottevarnes.bsky.social
Charlotte Varnes @charlottevarnes.bsky.social · 6h
The Phillies, on the brink of elimination, are fighting to play another day and get back to their home clubhouse this weekend.

On locker room dynamics, the relationships built and how quickly things could change should the Phillies lose in Los Angeles:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
3 3 19
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 21h
Aaron Nola is starting a do-or-die Game 3. Why? The Phillies have their reasons: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
How the Phillies, with Aaron Nola starting, are approaching a do-or-die Game 3
Using Nola, then Ranger Suárez could allow the Phillies to navigate the pitfalls of the sixth and seventh, when the pen has struggled.
www.nytimes.com
7 2 13
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 23h
6 8 86
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
Harrison Bader is a “game-time decision,” Rob Thomson said. He is feeling a little better.
4 2 25
Reposted by Matt Gelb
jaysonst.bsky.social
Jayson Stark @jaysonst.bsky.social · 1d
New column:

For 6 months, the Phillies' formula to win was simple

They had a better starting pitcher than you
Their stars were better than your stars
Their home-field advantage was better than your home-field advantage

Then the Dodgers came to town
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Phillies on the brink: Star-studded Dodgers proving to be nightmare NLDS matchup
www.nytimes.com
6 7 27
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
There was wreckage everywhere after a Game 2 loss that will cast doubt on everything the Phillies have built here. They are on the brink, and it’s hard not to look at them as October relics now. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
The teetering Phillies confront a harsh truth: They have not been good enough in October. Again
The Phillies know there will be widespread changes if they cannot do the improbable and win the next three against the defending champions.
www.nytimes.com
4 4 19
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
Aaron Nola is starting Game 3, Rob Thomson said. Ranger Suárez would pitch behind him.
24 5 27
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
Dodgers 4, Phillies 3. A furious ninth-inning comeback falls short. Turner/Schwarber/Harper were 2-for-21 with 11 Ks and 4 BB in the first two games. The Phillies are on the brink.
6 7 49
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
Harrison Bader is on deck to hit for Brandon Marsh.
1 6 47
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
It's closing time at Citizens Bank Park.
8 7 76
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 1d
Jesús Luzardo has retired 11 in a row. This crowd is just begging to go wild for anything resembling offense from the Phillies.
14 15 190
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
Roy Halladay's sons, Braden and Ryan, are throwing out the first pitch to Carlos Ruiz tonight. It's the 15th anniversary of Halladay's no-hitter.
2 15 160
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
The line is long.
1 5
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
Otto Kemp is making his postseason debut tonight. Hell of a ride for him: www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
www.nytimes.com
34
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
Harrison Bader is out for Game 2. It's Kemp-Marsh-Castellanos in the outfield. Sosa is at second base.
4 6 49
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
Something to listen to while you pace around the room this afternoon: open.spotify.com/episode/6mkW...
NLDS Check-In
open.spotify.com
12
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
I don't think it's a trend. I just think, generally, the focus on the pitching decisions is probably outsized. You win games if you score runs. They haven't scored runs.
1 10
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 2d
Phillies are 1-6 in their last seven postseason games. Runs scored by game:

3
1
2
7
2
2
1

(They won the game when they scored seven runs.)
5 3 40
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 3d
Let's read into some (stunning) Game 1 trends on how Dodgers attacked Phillies hitters, and think forward to Game 2 with that in mind: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Phillies NLDS notes: Harrison Bader in play, in-zone whiffs, solving Blake Snell in Game 2
The Phillies saw a higher percentage of pitches in the strike zone in Game 1 than they have in almost every postseason game since 2022.
www.nytimes.com
1 1 13
Reposted by Matt Gelb
jaysonst.bsky.social
Jayson Stark @jaysonst.bsky.social · 3d
Before last night happened, the Phillies had played 20 postseason games in Philadelphia where they took a lead of 3+ innings into the 6th inning.

Their record in those games was 19-1, with the fabled 15-14 game in the ‘93 World Series as the only loss.

Now…make that 19-2
8 8 61
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 3d
Harrison Bader is in play for Game 2, Rob Thomson said. Exams showed no major groin tear or strain. He'll receive treatment today, then they'll see if he can start or at least come into game later.
1 5 45
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 3d
So many potential outfield and lineup ramifications if Harrison Bader misses even a little bit of time in this NLDS with a groin injury. Here’s @charlottevarnes.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Harrison Bader’s injury looms over Game 1 loss: What it could mean for Phillies’ outfield
Bader, after exiting Game 1 with groin tightness, will undergo imaging on Sunday morning. What are the Phillies' options if he misses time?
www.nytimes.com
1 2 11
mattgelb.bsky.social
Matt Gelb @mattgelb.bsky.social · 3d
The top three hitters in the Phillies’ lineup were 1-for-11 with six strikeouts, and one at-bat in particular stuck out. An era of invincibility at Citizens Bank Park feels like a thing of the past after another Game 1 loss. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Phillies’ stars silent in Game 1 gut-punch, another blow to The Bank’s October invincibility
They have lost four of their last five postseason games at home — a painful reality. It's the opponents who supply the dramatic homers now.
www.nytimes.com
8 3 29