The Phillies pitching staff has excelled through a pair of short postseason series. A seven-game NLCS brings both challenges and opportunities.
The series, which starts Monday when Arizona visits Citizens Bank Park, will require the Phillies to use a fourth starter for the first time this postseason. That will likely be either Cristopher Sanchez or Taijuan Walker, neither of whom have pitched in the playoffs yet.
Manager Rob Thomson said Saturday that the plan had been to get both pitchers a simulated game to stay sharp and offer information for the decision. But that didn’t happen due to rain on a voluntary workout day. Something else will be worked out Sunday or Monday, Thomson said.
Walker, the former Diamondback, went 15-6 in 31 starts with a 4.38 ERA. Bu he’s been less effective since the All-Star break (5-3, 4.83 ERA), and his style of rough first innings before settling in doesn’t play in playoff baseball.
Walker made one postseason start, in the 2017 NLDS with the Diamondbacks, going one inning and allowing four runs in a loss.
Sanchez was excellent this year, going 3-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) and 99.1 innings. The 26-year-old is probably more amenable to a bullpen role. The Diamondbacks’ order is right-handed heavy.
Both pitchers last threw in a game on Sept. 30 in New York.
With Arizona sweeping the Dodgers in their division series, both managers can favorably construct their rotations. Zack Wheeler will get the ball in Game 1 to oppose Zac Gallen (17-9, 3.47 ERA). Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.29 ERA) will take on Aaron Nola in Game 3. Ranger Suarez will start Game 3.
Wheeler, Nola and Suarez have combined for a 1.53 ERA in six games to start the playoffs.
The seven-game series provides chances to use Suarez creatively – perhaps in relief in Game 1 on his normal bullpen day, perhaps on the back end if a chance to close out the series in six presents itself.
“Our top three, I’d put them against anybody, to tell you the truth, especially the way they’re pitching right now,” Thomson said. “As I’ve said many times, the moment’s not going to get to Ranger. He’s a cool customer. He’s going to go out there and pitch.”
The Phillies will have a full workout Sunday. Among those in attendance Saturday was Bryce Harper, who is fine after an awkward collision at first base with Matt Olson where he got hit on his surgically repaired right elbow in the eighth inning of the Game 4 win over Atlanta.
Source: Berkshire mont