The Atlanta Braves may not be participating in postseason baseball this year, but their fans can still find enjoyment in watching their fiercest rivals implode.

The Philadelphia Phillies are on the brink of elimination after dropping the first two games in Citizen’s Bank Park. The Dodgers head back to L.A. with a commanding 2-0 series lead, and the results so far has Phillies faithful searching for answers.

While the Braves have turned the page toward offseason priorities, the Phillies are in a full back against the wall scenario after their 96 win regular season.

Many Phillies players are in disbelief of their recent run of poor postseason play after the same group of core players reached the World Series back in 2022. In the wake of their struggles, right fielder Nick Castellanos got the fanbase in an uproar after his comments about the difficulties of playing in Philadelphia.

Castellanos says home environment can work against Phillies at times

When assessing the series against the Dodgers thus far, Castellanos pointed towards the intense nature of the Phillies fanbase. Castellanos said, “The stadium is alive on both sides, right?” Castellanos continued by saying, “When the game is going good, it’s wind at our back, right? But when a game is not going good, it’s wind in our face. So, the environment can be with us, and the environment can be against us.” Some harsh blame for the Philadelphia fanbase even if he’s not entirely wrong in what he’s saying.

Braves fans know firsthand how ruckus Citizen’s Bank Park can get in October, but now it seems the tense energy throughout the stadium is putting too much pressure on Phillies players. At least that’s what Castellanos seems to believe. Reading the comments from Phillies fans in response to that quote makes it clear that they are very annoyed with the recent postseason performance of this team.

Castellanos will enter 2026 in the final year of the five-year $100 million contract he signed prior to the 2022 season. Judging by the reaction to his comments, it’s hard to imagine the fanbase welcoming him back with all his flaws as a player.

There is a very real possibility he is moved this winter if the Phillies are eliminated by L.A. without much of a fight, and the front office then looks to shake things up in the offseason. All of this potential drama could benefit Atlanta, and pave the path for the Braves reclaiming their NL East throne.