The Phillies made it back to the playoff because of their pitching this year. They had the fourth-best ERA (3.88) in the league and have one of the strongest bullpens in the majors led by closer Brad Lidge, who was a perfect 41-for-41 in save opportunities.

With CC Sabathia scheduled to pitch Game 2 and possibly Game 5 for the Brewers, the Phillies can’t afford another slump.

“If we go out and just play our game and not try to put any added pressure or outside pressure on ourselves, we’ll be fine,” Howard said.

Milwaukee is returning to not-so-friendly Philly for the second time in three weeks. Things didn’t go so well the last time around. The Phillies swept a four-game series to move into a tie with the Brewers for the wild-card spot and pull within a game of the Mets in the East.

General manager Doug Melvin fired Ned Yost after that series, promoting Sveum from his job as third-base coach. The Brewers lost four of the first five games under their new manager before finishing 6-1, clinching their first playoff berth since 1982 on the final day of the regular season.

“You’ve got to have confidence that no matter what, you can overcome what comes your way,” Prince Fielder said. “But I think we all had confidence we’d get to the playoffs.”

The Phillies haven’t won a postseason game since losing to Toronto in the 1993 World Series. They’re seeking the second World Series title in the franchise’s 126 years and the city’s first championship since the NBA’s 76ers won it all in 1983.

No pressure, right?

“We believe we can go all the way and I think that’s something that was different from last year,” Hamels said. “We were just so excited that we got into the playoffs, we forgot what we really had to do. And, we ran into a hot team. I think we’re the hot team this year.”

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