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Rob Thomson Issues Big Harrison Bader Injury Update as Phillies Aim to Break MLB Curse After Dodgers Loss

Originally posted on EssentiallySports | By Sagarika Das | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 2:30 PM ET

Game 1 of the NLDS was a tough pill to swallow for the Philadelphia Phillies. Not only did they blow a lead against the Dodgers, but they also feared losing one of the key players on the way. None other than Harrison Bader.

Bader left the game with a groin strain, which forced Nick Castellanos to step in during the bottom of the seventh. That caused ripple effects on the bench, too. Edmundo Sosa had to pinch hit for Brandon Marsh in the right with the bases loaded, and Weston Wilson took over in left field to finish the game.

The main concern now was—how serious is Bader? The next morning, he ended up going to an MRI to determine the severity of the groin strain. And well, there is good news, because it turns out there is no major tear or strain found. As far as how soon he can be back, he could be back as soon as Game 2.

Rob Thomson updated everyone on Bader’s status, “Yeah. Uh, no major tear or strain. Um, he’s going to come in this afternoon and get some treatment, and, um, we’ll know more tomorrow…Yeah, I think, um, and again, we’ll know more tomorrow, but I think after the game, they stretched him out. Uh, they got him moving around a little bit, and I think he felt a lot better after that… So, uh, yeah, we’ll know whether he’s available to start or at least to pinch hit. We’ll know more tomorrow.” This is huge news for the Phillies.

Bader is not just a defensive upgrade in center field; he has been a spark in the clubhouse, and he has been a solid bat this season. His absence was felt immediately from the roster, and getting him could be the game-changer. The Phillies are also facing a unique challenge or curse—given no team in franchise history has ever won a postseason series after dropping the first game. With Bader possibly back in the lineup, they at least have the chance to avoid repeating that postseason curse.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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