The Phillies went from 87 wins in 2022 to 90 last year and 95 this year in the regular season.

But they’ve gone in reverse in the postseason.

They won 11 games and reached the World Series in 2022, eight in 2023 getting to the National League Championship Series and just one this year, when they bypassed the wild-card round by winning the National League East.

That was not a recipe for success, as the Phillies were ousted in four games by the Mets in the best-of-5 National League Division Series Wednesday night in a 4-1 loss.

They didn’t hit well and the bullpen didn’t pitch well, leaving the Phillies well shy of their World Series-winning aspirations.

“You really have to be playing your best baseball at the right time and we showed this year that we just weren’t doing that,” catcher J.T. Realmuto told reporters at Citi Field Wednesday night.

“We were as talented or more talented than anybody in the league but you gotta be playing your best baseball at the right time.”

The Phillies were not, and now face these questions as the offseason arrives sooner than expected:

Does the roster need an overhaul?

Most certainly not, but it does need improvements.

The Phillies won their most games and their first division title since their epic 102-win 2011 season.

But that team also lost in the NLDS. That’s baseball, where there is a much finer line for winning and losing than other major sports.

Good teams win less and bad teams win more in baseball, which is why titles can be so elusive. For reference, see the Atlanta Braves, who won every NL East title from 1991 through 2004 with just one World Series title.

“I think we have what it takes and we’ve gotta find a way to get it done next year,” shortstop Trea Turner told the media after Wednesday’s loss.

What does Dave Dombrowski do to improve Phillies?

The Phillies’ president of baseball operation is as proficient as any roster architect in baseball at building a championship team.

While the Phillies have an experienced, proven roster, they need better offensive consistency. Ups and downs frequently undermined the Phillies, especially in the postseason.

That’s not unusual in baseball. It’s the nature of the game.

But the Phillies, as good as they are, have numerous players prone to streakiness.

In his effort to make them better, Dombrowski must seek subtle additions while eyeing players who can drive in runs and regularly got on base and move around them. They need to chase less and drive the baseball more.

Any Dombrowski additions have to be better and likely more drastic than his 2024 preseason and midseason acquisitions, which included Whit Merrifield, Austin Hays and Carlos Estevez.

Left and center field, in particular, must be more productive offensively and could be where change occurs.

True to form, Dombrowski may have a surprise or two up his sleeve also.

What did the postseason show?

The Phillies haven’t just been mercurial in recent playoffs. They’ve been bad.

While losing five of its last six playoff games, the Phillies have scored eight runs and had 25 hits.

This lineup is too good for that. But the postseason also showed flaws that had been evident in the summer.

The Phillies started 45-19 and finished 50-48, showing a waning degree of success that the playoffs made even clearer and should lead to alterations. The better team, New York, won the NLDS.

“I don't like losing a series,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I want to win a World Series. But anything can happen in a short series . . . I don't see us going backwards, no.”

What happened to the bullpen?

Frequently praised during the regular season, the Phillies’ relief pitching was a postseason disaster, which was stunning.

The bullpen went 12 2/3 innings and allowed 20 hits and 17 runs.

Can they be trusted to return to form in 2025? Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman are free agents and the Phillies have important decisions to make.

Is there help in the farm system?

Among those who’ve spent time with the big-league club, catcher Rafael Marchan might deserve a more active role.

Most of the Phillies’ top prospects are two or three years from reaching the majors, led by shortstop Aidan Miller and outfielder Justin Crawford.

The major exception is Andrew Painter, who hasn’t pitched since the spring of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery. One of the most interesting aspects of next spring will be seeing if the first-round pick, owner of a 1.48 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 109 2/3 minor-league innings up to Double-A, can return to his exquisite form.

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Five questions for Philadelphia Phillies in 2025 after NLDS ouster