The Philadelphia Phillies have already won their division with just three series to go before the playoffs, but there’s still some important baseball to be played before the regular season ends.
First and foremost, the Phillies are trying to get their pitching rotation into the best possible spot for a first round matchup. The team has already decided that Cristopher Sanchez will start the first game, but manager Rob Thomson hasn’t committed to the rest of the October rotation.
It seems likely that Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo will join Sanchez, but after that, questions abound.
With Zack Wheeler out for the rest of the year, the Phillies might have to turn to a veteran like Walker Buehler or Taijuan Walker if the time comes for a fourth starter. Despite the concerns raised by a surprising injury and a brutal 6.44 ERA so far this season, it seems like Aaron Nola will be the most likely choice.
“Buehler remains intriguing, although the Phillies have no plans to use him as a starter in October,” Matt Gelb noted for The Athletic. “When they need a fourth starter – should they advance to the NL Championship Series – it’s probably Aaron Nola.”
But Nola has struggled so mightily this year that manager Rob Thomson sent a reminder on his pitching career in response to a potential bullpen move for the playoffs.
“I mean, Nola’s never pitched out of the ‘pen,” the manager said, per Gelb.
Without any significant relief experience and given his success in the playoffs, Nola seems set for a rotation spot if he pitches at all in the postseason. Walker and Buehler, meanwhile, have both had the chance to pitch from the bullpen and have both had success.
That should make the Phillies’ postseason rotation decisions a bit more clear, though it will still be a tough call to make if they have to turn to a fourth starter.
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