Phillies Make One Change for Game 3 Lineup as Harrison Bader Sits

The Philadelphia Phillies aren't making many changes for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers as the series shifts out to Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

The Phillies have lost 9 of their last 11 postseason games dating back to 2023, including 4 straight, and find themselves down 2-0 in the best-of-five NLDS against a Dodgers team that has won 9 of its last 10 postseason games dating back to last year.

Two days after falling 4-3 to the Dodgers on Monday, putting them on the brink of elimination, the Phillies are running out a similar lineup for Wednesday’s 9:08 p.m. game with one difference.

Bader Out with Hamstring Injury

With Harrison Bader nursing a strained hamstring, Nick Castellanos will start in right field, with Brandon Marsh moving to center and Max Kepler starting in left. Per reports, Bader would be available to pinch-hit if needed tonight.

Yamamoto Gets the Ball for Los Angeles

On the mound, Los Angeles will start right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is making his sixth career postseason start. The 27-year-old  went 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts across 173 2/3 innings over 30 starts.

Phillies Top Order Still Searching for Hits

As for the lineup, Trea Turner is in his usual leadoff spot, Kyle Schwarber will hit second, with Bryce Harper will hit in the No. 3 spot. That group has really struggled in this series, going 2-21 (.095 BA) with .335 OPS this postseason, both worst among any playoff teams this year and on pace to be the team’s worst figures in postseason franchise history.

Schwarber, in particular, has really struggled; he is hitless in his last 21 at-bats with 13 strikeouts dating back to the regular season.

The rest of the order has third baseman Alec Bohm hitting fourth, Marsh hitting fifth, J.T. Realmuto hitting sixth, Max Kepler hitting seventh, Nick Castellanos hitting eighth, and second baseman Bryson Stott hitting ninth.

Aaron Nola Starts in a Must-Win Game

Aaron Nola gets the start on the mound for Philadelphia. It was two years ago today that Nola fired six shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Round, but struggled to a 6.01 ERA in 94 1/3 innings this season while landing on the injured list with an ankle and rib injury, limiting him to just 17 starts

Nola is making his 11th career postseason start, with a 4.02 ERA (24 ER in 53 2/3 IP) in the postseason. Nola faced the Dodgers back on April 5th, with the right-hander allowing seven hits (two home runs) and three runs in six innings.

Here is the Dodgers lineup for Game 3

97.3 ESPN's coverage of Game 3 begins with pregame at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. You can also listen on the 97.3 ESPN free mobile app.