Aug 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper heads to the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. (Grace Del Pizzo/On Pattison)
PHOENIX – Bryce Harper would like a first-round bye.
First-round byes have been a controversial topic in MLB since the postseason format was realigned in 2022. With the expansion of the playoff field from 10 teams to 12 teams and the introduction of the Wild Card Series, the No. 1 and 2 seeds in each league receive a bye that keeps them out of action for just shy of a week.
Initial results were mixed at best. In the first two seasons of the new postseason format, teams who received byes lost five out of eight Division Series. Teams who lost voiced their displeasure with the postseason format, claiming the bye stopped their momentum and threw them out of their rhythm.
The Phillies' NL East foe Atlanta Braves were one of the most vocal teams against the format. Manager Brian Snitker went on the record during 2024 Spring Training saying it's "hard to hit velocity when you haven't seen anything in five days."
The Braves, of course, twice fell victim (in their eyes) to the first-round bye when the Phillies knocked them out of the postseason in 2022 and 2023.
But then the Phillies had a first-round bye in 2024, and they too lost in the Division Series.
Was it the bye's fault? Probably not. The Phillies were a .500 team in the second half of 2024, and their bullpen collapsed in the NLDS against a red-hot New York Mets team. Either way, no one complained.
Now, the Phillies are in line to once again receive a bye. Following Sunday's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Harper was asked if the team learned anything from last year's bye that they can utilize this year.
"I mean, it's worked for some teams, obviously, and there's other teams that have complained about it and things like that, but I don't think we're going to be one of those teams. We weren't last year," Harper said.
Harper went on to say that personally, he's looking forward to having the bye and "would love a couple days off."
Bryce Harper would like a first-round bye, and he doesn’t like when teams complain about having one:
“I can’t stand the stance of, ‘oh, well, if we would have played (in the Wild Card round).’ I think it’s all nonsense.”
(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/3OjtoJHjQx
Those few days off will be very important for the Phillies, especially as it pertains to Trea Turner's recovery. The shortstop is working his way back from a right hamstring strain, and according to manager Rob Thomson, he's currently running at about 60%.
Getting Turner into a position where he's not only cleared to play, but feels like he can run close to 100% will be crucial.
Harper continued to discuss the bye and noted how teams have previously handled losing in the Division Series coming off a bye.
"I don't think it matters if you have a bye or not, or a Wild Card game or not," Harper said. "I can't stand the stance of teams taking, 'Oh, well, if we would have played (in the Wild Card round).' I think it's all nonsense."
Harper has a point. While some teams have lost, at least one team has succeeded coming off a first-round bye every year. In 2024, three out of four teams advanced to the Championship Series coming off the bye. The only team that didn't was the Phillies.
This year, the Phillies have played their best baseball in the second half of the season. Harper seems determined to make sure a repeat of 2024 doesn't happen.
"We've just got to play our game and understand postseason baseball is a lot different than anything else," Harper said.
"Just have to be in the right mind frame of going into Game 1 of the Division Series ready to roll."
