The Philadelphia Phillies have established themselves as a formidable force in the postseason, boasting the best home-field advantage in recent history. Over the past two postseasons, they have held an impressive 12-4 record at home, with half of those losses coming from a single series. The Phillies have proven to be the toughest opponent for any National League team in the postseason.

Last year, the Phillies faced their division rivals, the Atlanta Braves, and started the series with a 2-0 lead. In a crucial moment, with a runner on first and one out, Braves center fielder Michael Harris II made a play against the wall, doubling off Phillies superstar Bryce Harper. The crowd’s roar was so intense that it registered as an earthquake warning on Atlanta’s Richter scale.

The next game in the series was a Phillies home game. The stadium averaged 120 decibels throughout the entire game! The Phillies secured a 3-0 victory, with Nick Castellanos hitting his fourth home run of the series in a historic postseason. Phillies fans chanted the name of the Braves star pitcher and All-Star, Spencer Strider, as the game was effectively decided after the third solo home run of the night.

Despite their strong performance, Philadelphia went on to lose the National League Championship Series in seven games, upset by the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, this year, the Phillies have a guaranteed playoff spot. Bryce Harper, after nearly confirming a playoff spot in mid-August, expressed his excitement, saying, “I love August, I love September, and I definitely love October.” 

With the playoffs starting in less than a month and a still tight wild card race making the playoff schedule unclear, the Phillies are entering the postseason on a hot streak. With a full roster back after injury concerns, they will be a dangerous team to watch.