Phillies should use a top starter in relief in Game 1 of WCS, and 6 other things I think

Phillies should use a top starter in relief in Game 1 of WCS, and 6 other things I think

The New York Times sports

Key Points:

  • Jesús Luzardo delivered a dominant 109-pitch shutout against the Atlanta Braves and is considered too valuable to use solely as a reliever in the postseason, though strategic decisions may see him pitch out of the bullpen in Game 1 to preserve him for a potential Game 3 start.
  • The Phillies face a challenging decision for the Wild Card Series opener, weighing Luzardo, Zack Wheeler, and Cristopher Sánchez as starters, with considerations about bullpen reliability and matchups against the Chicago Cubs, who hit well against left-handed pitchers.
  • Aaron Nola has significantly improved his performance since July 1, lowering his ERA from over 6.00 to 3.21 by refining his curveball and changeup, providing the Phillies with a more dependable No. 4 starter heading into the postseason.
  • Reliever Jonathan Bowlan has shown vulnerability pitching on zero days’ rest, allowing 40% of his season runs in such situations, a factor the Phillies need to monitor as they manage their bullpen workload late in the season.
  • The Phillies may consider adding a left-handed hitter to their postseason bench to provide tactical flexibility, especially against lefty relievers, with Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Kameron Misner as possible candidates to fill that role.

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