The Philadelphia Phillies just lost 2 games to the Los Angeles Dodgers and will be going to LA to play a do-or-die game for the NLDS. After the Dodgers took the lead in Game 2, the Philly fans let out their frustration with boos. While most of the players, including Bryce Harper, accepted their fault and their shortcomings, one guy in the dugout thinks that fans played a big part in how Game 2 of the NLDS went.

After the game, Nick Castellanos said, “When everything’s going good… the environment is amazing… If we run into adversity and the tides shifts, and now we’re playing more tight because we don’t want to be reprimanded for something bad.” But when Bryce Harper was asked about fans booing, he had something else to share.

“I don’t feel that way. I love our fans. I boo myself when I get out… they spend their hard-earned dollars to come watch us play… They expect greatness out of us.”

Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos see the Phillies’ struggles very differently.

Harper blames missing hittable pitches, going just 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in the first two games. Castellanos feels the crowd turns on the team whenever things get difficult, adding mental pressure to the lineup.

But the boos weren’t just for Castellanos. Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and even Jhoan Duran felt the frustration.

Philadelphia’s offense has hit only .203 with a .601 OPS, giving fans reason to voice their displeasure. The stadium’s energy swings from support to pressure, making home games feel like an uphill battle for the players.

With Nick Castellanos already expected to be moved this offseason, the reaction might reinforce management’s decision. While it’s tough for players to hear, the disappointment reflects their postseason performance rather than unfair targeting. Citizens Bank Park’s crowd lived every moment, turning home support into a mirror of the team’s struggles and hopes.

Harper and Castellanos represent two worlds, one embracing accountability, the other feeling fan pressure intensely. Fans boo, players struggle, and Citizens Bank Park becomes less a stadium, more a psychological battlefield.

Things the Phillies will need to change if they want to have a chance to win Game 3

If the Philadelphia Phillies want to avoid turning their NLDS into a quick vacation for the Los Angeles Dodgers, they’ll need more than hope and occasional heroics. Two games down and facing the defending champs in their own backyard, Philly can’t just swing blindly and pray.

The Philadelphia Phillies must rely on Aaron Nola to deliver a composed, confident performance against the Dodgers. Nola’s season has been uneven, with a 6.01 ERA and 18 home runs allowed in 94⅓ innings pitched. Fans remember his final regular-season start, where he struck out nine over eight innings, showing glimpses of the ace he can still be.

Offensively, the Phillies need to pressure Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto early and make him work through deep counts.

Doing so could force Los Angeles’ bullpen, which remains inconsistent beyond Roki Sasaki, into high-leverage situations.

If Philly executes this plan, combining timely hitting with disciplined pitching, fans will feel the intensity and possibility of a true postseason comeback.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers may be comfortable now, but pressure and mistakes can quickly rewrite postseason narratives. Philadelphia fans are watching closely, hoping their team turns nervous tension into unforgettable playoff triumphs.