It is that time of year again where every single pitch feels like a heart attack and South Philly starts smelling like a mix of diesel fumes and hope. If you are frantically checking your phone or asking everyone in the office are the phillies in the playoffs, the answer is a bit layered depending on which "playoffs" you’re talking about.
Right now, we are in the dead of the winter—January 2026. The 2025 postseason is long gone, and the 2026 season hasn't even had its first spring training pitch yet.
But if you’re looking back at the 2025 run to see where things ended up, or looking forward to see if they've got a shot this year, I've got the full breakdown. Honestly, being a Phillies fan is basically a full-time job with no benefits other than the occasional grease-stained emotional high.
What Happened in the 2025 Playoffs?
Last season was a wild ride. The Phillies finished the 2025 regular season with a stellar 96-66 record. They actually won the NL East, beating out the Mets and the Braves in a race that felt like it was going to come down to the very last weekend in September.
So, yes, they were in the 2025 playoffs. They came in hot.
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They skipped the Wild Card round because of that division title. Unfortunately, they ran into the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS). It didn't go the way we wanted. The Dodgers took the series 3-1, ending the Phillies' season on October 9, 2025. It was a brutal 2-1 loss in the final game that went 11 innings. Ranger Suárez pitched his heart out in Game 3 to give us our only win of that series, but the bats just went cold when it mattered most.
The 2025 Playoff Road
- NLDS Game 1: Dodgers 5, Phillies 3
- NLDS Game 2: Dodgers 4, Phillies 3
- NLDS Game 3: Phillies 8, Dodgers 2 (The only bright spot!)
- NLDS Game 4: Dodgers 2, Phillies 1 (11 innings of pure stress)
Basically, the season ended in the NLDS for the second year in a row. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’ve got guys like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber—who, by the way, just signed a massive five-year extension—leading the charge.
Are the Phillies in the Playoffs for 2026?
Technically, no one is in the playoffs yet for 2026. The season doesn't even start until March 25, 2026. However, if you're asking about their chances or if they are "expected" to be there, the experts are already placing their bets.
Most sportsbooks and analysts have the Phillies as a near-lock for the postseason. According to current projections from sites like BetMGM, the Phillies have about an 81% implied probability of making it back to the dance in 2026. They are currently the favorites to win the NL East again, even though the Mets just went out and spent a fortune on Bo Bichette.
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The Phillies responded by locking down J.T. Realmuto on a new three-year deal. Keeping the "Best Catcher in Baseball" in red pinstripes was step one of Dave Dombrowski's plan to make sure we aren't asking "are the phillies in the playoffs" in a negative way come October.
Why People Are Still Talking About the Postseason in January
It sounds crazy to talk about October in the middle of a Philly winter, but there’s a reason. The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is actually happening at Citizens Bank Park this July. It's the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the city is going to be a madhouse.
Because of that, the pressure is cranked up to 11.
The front office knows they can't just "be good" this year; they have to be dominant. Fans are already looking at the schedule, specifically that "Field of Dreams" game on August 13 against the Minnesota Twins, and trying to project if the rotation will hold up.
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Is the window closing? Some people think so. The core of this team is getting older. Harper, Turner, and Wheeler aren't exactly prospects anymore. But as long as the bank is open and the fans are screaming, this team is built to win now.
Key Dates for the 2026 Playoff Hunt
- March 26, 2026: Opening Day. The journey starts.
- July 14, 2026: All-Star Game at the Bank.
- September 27, 2026: The regular season ends. This is when we'll know for sure.
- September 29, 2026: The 2026 MLB Postseason begins.
What Needs to Change for 2026?
If the Phillies want to do more than just make the playoffs, they have to fix the bullpen. Again. It’s the age-old Philly story. Last year, they brought in guys like Brad Keller, but the late-inning collapses in the NLDS against the Dodgers proved they need more "swing-and-miss" stuff.
Also, the offense needs to stop disappearing.
In that 2025 NLDS, the team hit under .200 in three of the four games. You can't win like that. It doesn't matter how many home runs Schwarber hits in June if the bats turn into pool noodles in October.
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated Fan
If you want to keep track of whether the Phillies are in the playoffs as the 2026 season progresses, here is what you should do:
- Download the MLB App: Set your notifications for "Lead Changes" and "Final Scores." It’s the fastest way to see the magic number once we hit September.
- Watch the NL East Standings: In 2025, the Phillies won the division by 13 games. If they can maintain a lead like that by August, you can start booking your playoff tickets early.
- Monitor the Rotation: Keep an eye on Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. If those two stay healthy, the Phillies are almost guaranteed a Wild Card spot at the very least.
- Check the "Magic Number": Starting around Labor Day, local Philly news outlets will start posting the "Magic Number" to clinch. That is your definitive guide to the postseason.
The Phillies aren't in the playoffs right now because it's winter, but the foundation for the 2026 run is being built today. Keep an eye on those spring training reports from Clearwater in February—that’s when the real work begins.