The Phillies stayed alive in Los Angeles on Wednesday night without center fielder Harrison Bader, who remained sidelined with groin tightness during their 8–2 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
Bader first left Game 1 after feeling discomfort while running the bases. Tests later showed no major tear or strain, and manager Rob Thomson described the injury as minor. “I think after the game they stretched him out, got him moving around a little bit,” Thomson said Sunday. “I think he felt a lot better after that.”
The veteran outfielder was not in the starting lineup for Games 2 or 3, though he stayed active on the postseason roster and was available to pinch-hit. The Phillies chose not to place him on the injured list, which keeps him eligible if they advance to the next round.
Since joining Philadelphia at the trade deadline, Bader has been a key contributor, batting .305 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 50 regular-season games. His defense and speed have been vital pieces of the team’s lineup balance.
With Bader unavailable, Brandon Marsh again handled center, Max Kepler played left, and Nick Castellanos took right. Aaron Nola delivered one of his best outings of the year, and Philadelphia’s offense broke through early to hand Yoshinobu Yamamoto the loss. The victory cut the Dodgers’ series lead to 2–1 and forced a Game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
As Game 4 approaches, oddsmakers list the Dodgers as slight favorites across major sportsbooks. Fox Sports currently shows Dodgers −121 / Phillies +101, with a total of 7.5.
First pitch was at 9:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 8, at Dodger Stadium, where the Phillies extended their season with a convincing win despite Bader’s continued absence from the lineup.
