The Philadelphia Phillies seemed poised for a Game 1 victory in the NLDS against the New York Mets on Saturday. Kyle Schwarber set the tone with a record-breaking home run, and ace Zack Wheeler delivered a stellar performance, dominating the Mets with seven innings of one-hit ball.
However, the game unraveled in the eighth inning when the typically dependable Phillies bullpen gave up five runs in a Mets rally. Meanwhile, the Phillies’ offense struggled against New York’s pitching throughout the game. In the end, it resulted in a disappointing 6-2 loss for Philadelphia in Game 1.
But who is to blame for the Phillies’ Game 1 collapse?
3 Phillies to blame for wasting Wheeler’s gem in brutal NLDS Game 1 loss to Mets
Jeff Hoffman
After a solid regular season as one of the Phillies’ most dependable relievers, Jeff Hoffman had a disastrous 2024 postseason debut. He hadn’t blown a save since May 16—ironically, also against the Mets—but chose the worst possible time for his next one. Failing to record a single out, Hoffman gave up two hits and a walk, allowing the Mets to tie the game at 1. This meltdown followed another poor performance in his final regular-season appearance.
Hoffman was pulled and replaced by Matt Strahm, who unfortunately also struggled, becoming the next player on the list of those responsible for the Phillies’ collapse.
Matt Strahm
Like Hoffman, Matt Strahm had been a dominant force for the Phillies throughout the regular season, posting an impressive 1.87 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP leading into the postseason. However, in his playoff appearance, Strahm allowed two more runs on two hits and a sacrifice fly.
In a surprising detail reported by Paul Casella of MLB.com, Strahm didn’t throw a single ball among his 17 pitches. With every pitch landing in the strike zone, the Mets were ready to capitalize, taking advantage of the predictability. This gave New York a 3-1 lead, which they would hold onto for the rest of the game. The collapse evoked painful memories for Phillies fans, reminiscent of Craig Kimbrel’s struggles, and was far from the playoff debut the team had hoped for.
Trea Turner
While it’s easy to place blame on the bullpen for the Phillies’ loss, the offense, particularly star shortstop Trea Turner, also failed to deliver in crucial moments that could have eased the pressure on the relievers.
After Kyle Schwarber’s leadoff homer in the first inning, Turner had a chance to build on that momentum but struck out instead. In the third inning, he hindered a Phillies rally by grounding into a force out after another Schwarber single. In the fifth, with Johan Rojas in scoring position and one out, Turner popped up weakly to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Finally, in the eighth inning, when the Phillies had an opportunity for a comeback, he struck out again, finishing the game 0-for-4—disappointing for a player known for performing in big moments.
However, this was just one playoff game for the Phillies, and they will have plenty of opportunities ahead. This trio, including Hoffman and Strahm, will likely get their chances for redemption in the coming days. Hopefully, they can turn things around and help lead Philadelphia to success once again.
