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Oct 20, 2022

Game Three Back in Philly

The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres are all tied up after a two game split in San Diego. We can complain about the disaster of a fifth that occurred on Wednesday, but like the team, we will have to move on. A split on the road is never a bad thing. If anything, the Padres had to do everything they could not to go down 0-2, and they did that. It was the first time the Phillies were roughed up this postseason.

Now, we move back to Philadelphia for three games. But, first, Friday is a pivotal game three. Joe Musgrove will be on the mound for the Padres, while Ranger Suarez will get the ball for the Phillies.

Joe Musgrove

Musgrove went 10-7 on the year with a 2.93 ERA. He started 30 games and pitched 181 innings. He posted 184 strikeouts with 42 walks. He pitched one game in each of the previous two series. Against New York he was 1-0, going seven innings and only giving up one hit while striking out five. Against the Dodgers, Musgrove went six innings and gave up two runs. Musgrove has been solid for the Padres all year and like any home playoff game the Phillies need to jump on him early.

Ranger Suarez

Ranger also went 10-7 on the year with a 3.65 ERA. He started 29 games and pitched 155.1 innings. He posted 129 strikeouts with 58 walks. The Phillies didn’t need Suarez against the Cardinals, but he did start game one vs. Atlanta. He went 3.1 innings with five k’s and five walks. He did give up a solo hit, but Suarez battled all night, getting out of multiple bases-loaded jams. I would like to see Ranger go deeper into the game than his last start, especially with a bullpen game for game four.

The Line-Up

I am assuming Rob Thomson is going to stick with the same lineup. Since Musgrove is a righty, it is safe to say Stott and Marsh will be back in. My main concern lies at the top of the order. I think the team needs a little spark and that can be done by switching the order around. Hoskins has really been struggling to get going and is pretty much an automatic out in the second spot. Harper has been on fire recently, but there hasn’t been enough baserunners for him. With how he is hitting the Phillies need to get men on base. I also think you can take some pressure off of Castellanos if Harper is knocking guys in. Then you are relying on Harper to be the main RBI guy and not Castellanos. I wouldn’t mind seeing a lineup like this.

1. Schwarber
2. Segura
3. Realmuto
4. Harper
5. Castellanos
6. Bohm
7. Stott
8. Hoskins
9. Marsh

I think Segura is better fitted higher up in the lineup. I considered moving Bohm up but he has been hitting well this postseason in the six spot, so I think it’s best he stays there. I also considered Stott in the second spot, but if Marsh hits ninth, there would be three left-handed hitters in a row. If you have Rhys in the 8-spot he is hitting with close to zero pressure. He will also have more of an opportunity to get some RBI’s. Maybe having guys on base could be good for him and make his job at the plate simpler. All in all I can’t fault Thomson if he keeps the same lineup but I think it is time to move Rhys around.

This is a pivotal game three and the Phillies going up 2-1 with two more at The Bank would be huge. I expect them to come out on fire before a raucous crowd. First pitch is tomorrow at 7:45 PM.

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