September 15: Phillies 6, Dodgers 5 (10 innings)! The Dodgers starting lineup for this afternoon’s finale. LetsGoDodgers

With too many back-and-forths to count, the Phillies managed to connect the last punch, winning it in extras, 6-5. In doing so, Philadelphia secured the NL East title and put a big dent in Los Angeles’ rather small chance of potentially running down that number two seed and the incredibly valuable bye it secures.

It’s not often that the Dodgers welcome any opponent who can roll out a hitter matching Shohei Ohtani’s power threat, but the Philadelphia Phillies are capable of just that with Kyle Schwarber in 2025. So big is the danger from facing Schwarber and also fellow lefty-hitter Bryce Harper at the top of the Phillies order that Dave Roberts worked up a specific plan for tonight’s game. In shades of postseason baseball, Roberts had Anthony Banda open the game for the specific purpose of facing those lefties before Emmet Sheehan made his regular scheduled appearance, but as a follower.

Dodgers vs. Phillies game IV chat

In a battle of two of the most star-studded squads not only in the National League but all of baseball, the Dodgers and Phillies meet in Los Angeles.

Perhaps angling to shield Emmet Sheehan from overexposure to Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, the Dodgers will use an opener in Anthony Banda.

Dodgers and Phillies – playoffs preview?

After taking two of three from the Giants in San Francisco and hopefully finding their offensive fire power in the process, the Dodgers return home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies in what could be a NLDS preview.

The Phillies currently are four games in front of the Dodgers for the second-best record in the NL and it seems unlikely that the Dodgers will catch them. As it stands right now, the Dodgers have the three slot for the playoffs and would have to face the sixth-place team, which currently is the New York Mets.

Dodgers on Deck: Monday vs. Phillies

The division leaders of the National League West and National League East meet up at Dodger Stadium for three games, with the Dodgers and Phillies starting things up on Monday night in Los Angeles.

Emmet Sheehan gets the start in the first game of the Dodgers’ last homestand of the season, coming off two seven-inning wins in his previous three starts.