The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers began their final meeting of the 2025 regular season on Monday, with the visitors securing a hard-fought 6-5 victory in extra innings.
With their win, the Phillies clinched the National League East division at the earliest point in franchise history.
While the Dodgers dropped the series opener, the final two games still carry significant postseason implications. With a two-game lead in the NL West standings entering play Tuesday, the Dodgers need to keep pace ahead of the San Diego Padres.
But picking up two wins is also important to have any hope of challenging the Phillies for the No. 2 seed in the NL, and the first-round bye that comes with it. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t want his team focused on that in their final stretch of the season
“We’re going to try to win as many games as we can, and where it falls out is where it falls out,” Roberts said. “I don’t even think it matters for me to say how important it is or how not valuable. I kind of just want to win games and see how it all plays out.”
Monday’s game certainly had the feel of a postseason matchup, which is appropriate given the possibility the two teams could meet again in October.
Though, Max Muncy isn’t putting any stock in building a postseason scouting report against the Phillies.
“Personally, I don’t necessarily think so,” Muncy said. “We’ve done that in the past, where we’ve played teams right before we’ve seen them in the postseason, and usually they do everything the complete opposite.
“Right now you’re just trying to win a game, you’re not really worrying about what’s ahead. You’re trying to win a game tonight.”
Because the Dodgers need to win as much as possible in their final 12 games of the regular season, there’s no room for deceptive tactics or saving matchups they prefer for a possible meeting in the playoffs.
“I think with where we’re at, I’m trying to win every game,” Roberts said. “So I don’t think we have the luxury of kind of playing that game right now.”
Dodgers welcome Walker Buehler back to Dodger Stadium
Monday’s game brought Walker Buehler back to Dodger Stadium for the first time since he left this past offseason.
Buehler pitched against the Dodgers earlier in the season at Fenway Park as a member of the Boston Red Sox. He was released by the Red Sox at the end of August and signed with the Phillies soon after.
The Dodgers welcomed Buehler back with a video tribute before the start of the game.
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