Oct 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Harrison Bader (2) hits an RBI sacrifice fly against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning during game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
PHILADELPHIA — Early on in Saturday's NLDS Game 1 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Phillies, Harrison Bader seemed destined to be a major postgame storyline.
Bader delivered a sacrifice fly during a bottom of the second inning that saw the Phillies score three runs on soon-to-be four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. In the top of the fifth, with a runner already on base, Bader made a tremendous diving catch to rob Andy Pages of what would have been at least a single.
Harrison Bader, what a snag! 😳
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Bader ended up being a major postgame storyline, but for entirely different reasons than it appeared during the first half of the game.
One of the many bad things that happened over the final four innings of a devastating 5-3 loss to the defending World Series Champions was Bader departing the game in the bottom of the seventh, when Nick Castellanos pinch hit for him. That seemed like an odd decision by Rob Thomson, but shortly thereafter, it was announced that Bader had departed with a left hamstring strain.
As it turned out, Thomson clarified in his postgame media session that it was the left groin area of Bader that tightened up when he was running between first and second base on a Bryson Stott single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bader will have imaging done tomorrow, and the Phillies will know more then. Thomson left it at that.
Bader, though, was more expansive when asked about when the injury occurred, and if he believes he's going to be able to play again over the final four games (only two more are guaranteed in the best-of-five format) of the series.
"Yeah, absolutely feel like I'll be able to play," Bader said. "Just running between first and second base, just kind of pulled up at second base and felt a little weird. I don't know really what I'd attribute it to. I made a full-speed diving catch in center, and obviously felt good all day swinging and everything ... put some pretty intense swings up there prior to that.
"I don't know, I just think random things happen, unfortunately," Bader continued. "But in terms of the preparation leading up to the event and whatnot, I really wouldn't change anything. Sometimes things don't necessarily go your way. So, definitely could be worse in terms of what I'm feeling, so just address it tomorrow after some imaging in the morning."
In a series between the Phillies and Dodgers, the media presence was not far off from what it's like in the World Series. It was hard to hear if you weren't at the front. So later in the scrum, Bader was asked to clarify that he does indeed expect to play again in this series.
"I definitely feel like I'll be able to come back, for sure," Bader said confidently. "We have an off day tomorrow. And we'll just get some imaging done and go from there. But this is kinda the point in the season where you just empty the tank.
"And I can assure you, I don't know how you guys are taking my reaction to this, obviously it's downplayed to the extent that whatever's going on, it is what it is. But in terms of my willingness to go out there and just completely empty the tank and give every last ounce of what I've got for this team and for the baseball I have ahead of me, it's absolutely something I'm going to do. So if there's an absolute chance in hell, you better believe I'm going to be in there."
Harrison Bader said he’s confident he’ll return during this series.
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/P0l5kEPeoj
Of course, once the adrenaline wears off and Bader gets imaging done tomorrow, that will tell the tale of what's to come. If there's a complete tear, he would seemingly be done for the remainder of the postseason, however long that may be for the Phillies. Even if it's a bad strain, that would put his status in doubt. If it's a more mild strain, Bader's answer left you with the impression that he's going to try to play through it. But center field isn't exactly a position you can hide at. As Bader showed with his diving catch, you need to be able to run full speed to play that position.
The problem for the Phillies is that if Bader is done even just for this series, they don't have another obvious chess piece to move into center field. Johan Rojas wasn't a consideration for the NLDS roster because he's dealing with a left quad injury, and unless he's made a miraculous recovery in recent days, that won't change even if Bader is out. It would be a very difficult ask to have Justin Crawford join the MLB roster for the first time in the playoffs, particularly when a concussion cost him the final few days of the Triple-A season.
If there isn't ultimately a chance in hell for Bader to proceed in this series, the Phillies would get to add another position player, but the most likely scenario would be that Brandon Marsh just has to play every game in center field. That would seem suboptimal considering Thomson pinch hit for him with the right-handed hitting Edmundo Sosa with the bases loaded and two outs against lefty Alex Vesia in Game 1. The Dodgers are slated to start two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, a lefty, in Game 2. With a healthy Bader, Marsh would be out of the starting lineup most likely. If Bader isn't healthy, Marsh probably has to play all nine innings in center field moving forward, with Max Kepler his emergency backup.
Manager Rob Thomson is scheduled to hold a Zoom availability Monday morning, at which point perhaps we'll know more about the status of Bader. But for as committed to continuing to move forward as Bader seemed, it's hard to feel great about his status. At worst, he'll be out for the remainder of the season. Even if he's able to play, the groin will likely be something that has to be managed the rest of the postseason, which isn't easy as an outfielder.
