The Philadelphia Phillies nearly collapsed in September and were this close to losing their playoff spot to the Milwaukee Brewers.
They were, in the end, able to hold on to that sixth and last postseason berth despite losing their last two games of the season.
Once the postseason started, however, they flipped the switch and started playing like a championship-caliber team.
It’s still too early to say if they really are one, but they sure look like one at the moment.
Last weekend, they swept the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals and earned their ticket to the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.
They weren’t fazed by the challenge, and behind a dominant offensive performance, won Game 1 with a 7-6 score.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 11, 2022
Nick Castellanos was the hero of the afternoon for the hot Phillies, who extended their hot streak against the reigning World Series champions.
Castellanos went 3-for-5 with a run and three RBI in a dominant offensive performance.
Castellanos Is Trying To Put The Regular Season Behind Him
His 2022 season was forgettable, to say the least: at -0.7 Wins Above Replacement, he was the Phillies’ worst player by WAR.
He was below-average offensively and defensively.
However, he made sure to leave the regular season behind him, where it belongs.
Not only did he have three crucial RBI, but he also came up huge with a running catch in right field in the ninth inning.
Right after Matt Olson hit a three-run shot that put the game 7-6, William Contreras hit a line drive to right but Castellanos was able to catch it.
Instead of a runner at first (or second) with one out, the Phillies had two outs and no runners on base.
It was an incredibly impactful play by the player of the game.
NEXT: The Phillies Got Off To The Best Possible NLDS Start