Opening: The Horror of a Weak Playoff Bullpen
There’s perhaps nothing more terrifying in October baseball than entering the postseason with a shaky relief corps. History has shown time and again that even great regular-season performances can unravel if the bullpen falters under pressure. After their dismal postseason showing in 2024 — hampered by unexpected collapses from relievers who had been solid during the regular season — the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves staring down a similarly substandard bullpen in 2025. With October fast approaching, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
2024’s Bullpen Backfire
Last year, the Phillies looked poised for a deep October run, thanks in part to dependable late-game arms. But when push came to shove, these relievers imploded in the postseason. They gave up twenty-three runs in four playoff games — with relievers responsible for seventeen of those — and ended the NLDS with an astronomical 11.37 ERA. That catastrophic stretch effectively ended their season and served as a stark reminder: October demands execution when it matters most, and the Phillies very publicly failed .
Interestingly, many of the pitchers who faltered in the playoffs had been rock-solid over the course of the regular season. Both Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm put up All-Star seasons with sub-2.20 ERAs — yet both unraveled in Game 1 of the NLDS, combining for 10 earned runs in just over three innings. Orion Kerkering and Gregory Soto also struggled, and even closer Carlos Kimbrel went nowhere .
That postseason collapse emphasized a hard truth: building a great bullpen isn’t just about piling up quality relievers — it’s about having arms you can trust in the marquee moments. The Phillies clearly didn’t have that, and the result was a swift exit that echoed all-too-familiar disappointments in Philadelphia .
It’s Back to Square One in 2025
Heading into this season, rather than addressing those late-inning shortcomings, the Phillies lost two top relievers—Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez—to free agency. They brought in Jordan Romano from the Blue Jays to plug the gap in the ninth inning . But Romano has experienced a roller-coaster start: after a hot stretch in Toronto, he’s plunged into inconsistency in Philly, struggling with mechanics and erratic velocity, even hinting at tipping pitches .
As of early June, the Phillies bullpen ranks near the bottom of the league in key metrics. Their collective ERA sits between 4.65 and 5.81, hovering around 27th–29th in MLB. Phillies relievers have allowed the highest opponent batting average in the league — .282 — and remain tied for most blown saves . Perhaps most worrisome, they’ve been especially vulnerable in high-leverage situations: frequently tasked with close-out appearances with runners on base or one-run leads, and failing far too often .
Closer Carousel and High-Leverage Shortcomings
The ninth-inning picture is chaotic. Romano leads the team with eight saves but sports a bloated 6.28 ERA and hasn’t inspired confidence . After Romano’s frequent missteps, closer duties have shifted to Jose Alvarado, who is notably ineffective and also unavailable for the playoffs due to suspension. Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, plus a handful of others — all have at least one save — but none project as credible shutdown options in October.
The reason October dominates minds now is clear: playoff pennants are made in September, forged by reliable relief pitching, and right now, Philly lacks a true closer. And even then, the bigger issue is situational effectiveness. They’re ill-equipped for late innings in tight games — especially when runners are on, or a deficit must be stemmed .
Continued Early Season Implosions
These bullpen issues aren’t hypothetical. In April, the Phillies significantly collapsed late in a game against Miami after leading 4–1 entering the seventh. Jesús Luzardo had been pitching brilliantly, but relievers imploded, pushing the game into extra innings where the defense fell apart again. Broadcasters called it a “wasted opportunity” and warned that continued failures like this could sink their playoff chances .
This April pattern isn’t new in Philadelphia: in the first 22 games, the bullpen posted nearly identical ERAs across 2022–2025 — hovering between 5.47 and 5.81 — before it usually righted the ship later in the season. But heading into June, no such correction has materialized .
The Role of Trade Deadline Moves
With July approaching, attention naturally turns to the trade deadline. If history is any indicator, the Phillies will need to reinforce their relief corps. Midseason bullpen additions are common among contenders — and often costly — but could be pivotal .
Speculation abounds: A recent article suggested using July to acquire David Bednar, the two-time All-Star closer from Pittsburgh. Bednar has represented dominant late-game pitching, boasting a 2.03 ERA in his last 28 outings after early season struggles. At just $5.9 million in salary with only one year until free agency, he’s seen as an attractive trade target .
Beyond his contract, Bednar is also a Pittsburgh native — though pitching for the last-place Pirates likely isn’t as motivating as tossing late innings for a team eyeing a deep postseason push. For Philly, landing a power reliever with proven October mettle would directly address their most glaring weakness.
Why It Matters in October
We return to the core issue: playoff success is often built on short series and razor-thin margins. A bullpen you can rely on is indispensable, even if your offense or rotation slips. The Phillies have arguably the offense, rotation, and payroll to contend — but without trusted arms to close the book on close games, all else may falter when it counts most .
In past seasons, they started strong before falling apart late — September soured, inflated ERAs, and October baggage alike. This year, with limited margin for error, they need bullpen stability now. Savable run expectancy — effective inherited runner prevention and shutdown ability — is a major factor. Romano, Alvarado, Strahm, Kerkering and others have proven unable to consistently deliver it.
Looking Ahead
As the calendar flips toward July, management faces choices. Do they roll with internal fixes — hoping Romano regains form, Kerkering holds, and cheaper arms emerge? Or do they pursue a high-leverage veteran like Bednar to plug the glaring hole? Every dollar counts; every prospect trade matters. The Phils have a big payroll and a championship window, but if they misstep again in October, that window could snap shut.
Succeeding in October remains their paramount goal. To do that, they need more than another shot at redemption — they need certainty in the ninth inning. And given their current trajectory, the pressure is mounting to act fast.
Conclusion
To sum up:
The bullpen collapses of 2024 were playoff undoings, costing the team dearly after dominant regular seasons.
Philly lost two key relievers and brought in Romano — but that hasn’t fixed their struggles.
Their relief unit ranks near the bottom in key stats and has struggled in high-leverage moments.
Lack of a reliable closer and inability to handle inherited runners jeopardizes late-game security.
The July trade deadline presents an opportunity to acquire proven arms — and David Bednar is an intriguing option.
With October looming, the Phillies need a shutdown reliever more than anything else if they’re serious about contending.
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