Red October is here, a time the Philadelphia Phillies, and their fans, have waited for all year.
The Phillies have provided some memorable moments over the last two years, but they have not resulted in a World Series ring and a parade down Broad Street.
Expectations are high that this year will be different, as the Phillies were front-runners most of the season en route to a National League East title and the No. 2 seed in the National League.
The Phillies are one of the favorites to win the World Series at Pennsylvania sportsbooks, but they’ll have to overcome history to be world champs again.
The curse of first-round MLB playoff byes
This is the first time in three years the Phillies are not playing in the Wild Card round. Top seeds have not fared well from the layoff since Major League Baseball introduced the new playoff format in 2022.
The Phillies should be more aware than any other team as to the dangers of having nearly a week off. In back-to-back years, the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves in the National League Divisional Series after the Braves won the division and more than 100 games.
The Braves aren’t the only top-seeded team to struggle in the NLDS. Only three of the last eight No.2 seeds have advanced to the National League Championship Series after earning a bye in the Wild Card round.
- Houston Astros, 2022
- New York Yankees, 2022
- Houston Astros, 2023
It’s clear the Houston Astros have got it figured out, especially since they beat the Phillies in the 2022 World Series in six games. Here are the five teams that lost as a No.1 or No. 2 seed in the NLDS:
- Atlanta Braves, 2022
- Los Angeles Dodgers, 2022
- Baltimore Orioles, 2023
- Los Angeles Dodgers, 2023
- Atlanta Braves, 2023
Earning a No. 2 seed and the first-round bye is supposed to be a reward. Ultimately, it catapults a team a step closer to the World Series. However, there could be an argument made that the week off hurts a team’s momentum.
A team that played in the Wild Card round is coming in with the swagger of having just completed a best-of-three series against another playoff team.
This year, the Phillies play the winner of the New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers series.
How the city is preparing for Red October
This is new territory for the Phillies, having essentially a week off before the first postseason game. The team is holding workouts the majority of the week, while the Philly faithful prepare to wave the red rally towels this upcoming weekend.
The Phillies held pep rallies on Wednesday in different sections of the city, including in some suburbs.
Here is what the scene looked like in downtown Philadelphia:
Citizens Bank Park is considered one of the top home-field advantages in baseball. In fact, since it’s opening in 2004, the Phillies are 28-13 for a .683 win percentage at home in the Playoffs. That’s the best postseason record in MLB history for a team that’s played 20+ games at a stadium. With almost a week off, and fans starving for a champion, whoever comes to CBP over the weekend must be prepared for an exuberant crowd.
Odds Phillies will win the World Series
Unlike years past, the Phils aren’t an underdog. Over the last two years, as a wild card team, Philadelphia pulled off multiple upsets to make deep postseason runs. Betting on the Phillies tends to pay off well during Red October.
This year has a different vibe, as the Phillies are one of the teams expected to win the World Series after finishing with 95 wins. On DraftKings Sportsbook PA, the Phillies have the third-best odds to hoist the trophy.
- Dodgers: +350
- Yankees: +400
- Phillies: +475
- Padres: +750
This is what the entire city has been waiting for all season. Saturday at 4 p.m. is when the quest begins.
