MLB playoffs 2025: Kyle Schwarber homers twice as Phillies avoid NLDS sweep vs. Dodgers

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Phillies shook off two tough home losses to get on the board in the NLDS, breaking through Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and successfully holding down a dangerous lineup in an 8-2 win in Game 3.

The winning runs came in the fourth inning, after three easy ones for Yamamoto. Kyle Schwarber announced the Phillies were back with a 455-foot monster of a homer that cleared the right-field pavilion in Dodger Stadium, but the hits just kept coming after that. 

Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh each batted in another run, contributing to Yamamoto's shortest start since July 7.

More runs arrived in the eighth inning to all but end the game at the expense of Clayton Kershaw, who made his 2025 postseason debut and allowed five earned runs in two innings, including a second Schwarber homer.

Meanwhile, the Phillies went to extreme lengths to hide a bullpen that has struggled in this series. They surprisingly started Aaron Nola after a rough regular season and got two scoreless innings from him, then had previously projected Game 3 starter Ranger Suarez throw five innings as the bulk guy out of the bullpen.

Closer Jhoan Duran then entered in the eighth inning, and didn't exit until his team was up big. 

Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday at 6:08 p.m. ET, with Tyler Glasnow taking the mound for the Dodgers. The Phillies have not announced a Game 4 starter, but it seems likely they go with Game 1 starter Cristopher Sánchez on short rest.