The Phillies likely wouldn’t be in their current position—making the playoffs for the third consecutive year and aiming for another World Series title—without the outstanding performance of a bullpen that was reliable at Citizens Bank Park for much of the season.
No manager in baseball has a wider range of options than Rob Thomson. In high-pressure situations, he can confidently turn to Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Carlos Estevez, Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarez, or Jose Ruiz.
That said…
The Phillies may not last long in the playoffs or contend for the coveted championship trophy unless their bullpen can quickly regain its form.
The Phillies tied their best-of-five National League Division Series against the Mets with a thrilling 7-6 walk-off victory at Citizens Bank Park.
They accomplished this after an offense that had been mostly stagnant sprang to life when Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer off the ivy-covered batter’s eye in center field in the sixth inning, followed by Nick Castellanos’ solo shot that leveled the game.
However, Ruiz struggled to deliver a crucial shutdown inning in the seventh, allowing a home run to Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo.
The Phillies took their first lead with a two-run triple from Bryson Stott in the eighth inning. However, the Mets quickly tied the game again in the top of the ninth when New York third baseman Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer off Strahm, contributing to his impressive four-RBI game with a double and two homers.
The Phillies ultimately clinched the victory when Mets reliever Tyler Megill walked Trea Turner and Bryce Harper with one out. Turner easily scored on Castellanos’s base hit to left, prompting a celebration from the Phillies and a sigh of relief that Abner Doubleday decided games should be nine innings instead of ten.
“Clutch, man,” Harper remarked. “Came back and won that game. Just huge. Rocky would be proud.”
In the first two games of the series, Phillies starters Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez have combined to allow only two runs over 12 innings, resulting in a 1.50 earned run average. In contrast, the relievers have given up 10 runs in 9 innings, leading to a 10.00 ERA. While it’s a small sample size, the bullpen has allowed runs in 8 of their last 13 games, accumulating a 4.93 ERA. This doesn’t mean they can’t bounce back; they just need to do so quickly.
THE SECOND-GUESSING CORNER
Rob Thomson opted to bring in left-hander Matt Strahm to protect a two-run lead in the ninth, even though two of the first three scheduled Mets hitters were right-handed (along with switch-hitter Francisco Lindor), and Jesse Winker was the only left-handed option off the bench for Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
While Orion Kerkering and Carlos Estévez had already pitched, Jeff Hoffman was still available.
“It’s just how it worked out,” Thomson explained somewhat after the Mets tied the game against Strahm. “Those were the matchups we set up before the game for all of those guys.”
Strahm said he wasn’t surprised to be in that situation. “I think I can get righties out just as well as lefties. I’ve done that my whole career,” he stated. “So it doesn’t surprise me; I’m ready whenever they hand me the ball. I’m a relief pitcher, not the manager.”
FOR STARTERS
Cristopher Sánchez, an All-Star this season, didn’t surprise anyone by limiting the Mets to two runs over five innings in Game 2. What stood out was his command, especially given that he had 11 days off before this game.
In the first inning, 12 of his 14 pitches were strikes, and overall, he threw 66 strikes out of 88 pitches. “We just kept working,” he said through translator Diego D’Aniello when asked about maintaining his sharpness. “I threw a couple of bullpen sessions, one that I really enjoyed. I just went out and had fun, and I think that was the key.”
The Phillies will have a workout on Monday at Citi Field, and RHP Aaron Nola (14-8, 3.57) will face LHP Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47) in Game 3, starting Tuesday at 5:08 p.m.
RUN, RUN, RUN
Manager Rob Thomson attempted to ignite his struggling offense by calling for four stolen base attempts, three of which were successful, in the first four innings.
The early tone was set when Trea Turner stole both second and third base in the first inning. Although it didn’t lead to any runs, the Phillies needed a spark in their lineup. It was also a strategic move, given that Mets starter Luis Severino is slow to the plate, and catcher Francisco Alvarez threw out just 18 percent of baserunners this season.
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