PHILADELPHIA -- On Friday night, postseason baseball returns to Citizens Bank Park for the first time since 2011. But first? A few loads of laundry.

After an 18-day road trip to end the regular season and open the postseason, the Phillies are back in Philadelphia for the first time since Sept. 26 as they prepare to host Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Braves in front of a sellout crowd.

“I don't think I've done laundry in a month,” Brandon Marsh said. “Just kidding. [But it] feels good to be back at the Bank and play in front of our crowd tomorrow. It's been a long time. We're all looking forward to it, super excited.”

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Though long stretches on the road come with the territory as a Major Leaguer, Philadelphia’s 14-game road trip made history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to play a postseason game at home after not playing at home for at least 18 straight days was the 1944 Cardinals, who opened the World Series at home vs. the St. Louis Browns on Oct. 4 after not playing at Sportsman's Park since Sept. 13 vs. the Pirates (20 days).

In addition to providing a test of the players’ packing skills, the extended road trip offered an opportunity for an already close-knit group to get even closer as a team. And if the time on the road wasn’t enough of a test, the Phillies endured a 2:55 rain delay ahead of Game 2 in Atlanta -- a perfect time to listen to music and “get the vibes going” in the clubhouse.

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“I'd say we were pretty close before the road trip,” Marsh said. “But definitely [after] clinching, winning the Wild Card, just kept advancing together. The bond kept getting tighter and tighter. And it's a very special group, super blessed to be a part of it. And it was a fun road trip, but super glad to be back here. We're excited to play at home in front of all of our guys.”

“I mean, we’re eight months in. It’s there,” Rhys Hoskins said of the team’s chemistry. “We’ve spent enough time around each other. We’ve got some good things going right now. We’ll ride that. But the momentum and the chemistry has already been there.”

What made the Phillies’ road trip unique was the extremity of the highs and lows that occurred over the 2 1/2-week span.

First leg at Wrigley Field: The historic road trip started with a sweep by the Cubs to put Philadelphia in a tie with Milwaukee for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Second leg at Nationals Park: The Phillies got back on a track with a win in the series opener. After splitting a doubleheader the following day, Zack Wheeler’s gem in the finale helped cut the Phils’ magic number to one.

Third leg at Minute Maid Park: The Phillies carried the momentum into the series opener against the Astros, punching their ticket to the postseason with a win before dropping the final two games.

Fourth leg at Busch Stadium: A two-game sweep of the Cardinals to advance to the NLDS.

Fifth leg at Truist Park: The Phillies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the NLDS with a strong showing in Game 1 before the series was evened Wednesday night.

“Jumping around from city to city and [winning] some big games, it was fun,” said Game 3 starter Aaron Nola. “I think it really did bring us closer. And clinching to go to the Wild Card and to come to the DS brought us closer. We had a good time, we had a really good time with everybody. Just good to be back, though.”

And who better than Nola to take the mound for the Phillies in their first postseason home game since Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS? The eight-year veteran, who made his Major League debut with Philadelphia in ‘15, is the longest-tenured Phillie on the roster. And the right-hander is eagerly awaiting the “electric” atmosphere he has heard so much about.

“It's been a long go,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I'm glad to be home. I think all of our players are really happy to be home and excited for tomorrow night. But it was -- somebody said the other day it's the longest road trip in baseball history. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it seemed like it to me. But it's really good to be home.”