The Phillies’ convincing defeat of the Braves in the NLDS has earned Philadelphia its first trip to an NLCS since 2010. As they head to San Diego with a trip to the World Series on the line, they will bring largely the same roster that they used in the NLDS. Their only change will return righty reliever David Robertson to the bullpen in exchange for fellow right-hander Nick Nelson.
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Andrew Bellatti
- Connor Brogdon
- Seranthony Dominguez
- Zach Eflin
- Kyle Gibson
- Aaron Nola (Game 2 starter)
- David Robertson
- Noah Syndergaard
- Zack Wheeler (Game 1 starter)
Left-Handed Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Robertson returns to the Phillies’ postseason bullpen after suffering somewhat of a freak injury during the Wild Card round. Whilst celebrating Bryce Harper’s second-inning home run in Game 2 against the Cardinals, Robertson jumped in the air and strained his calf. He received an injection of platelet-rich plasma and sat out all of the NLDS. By virtue of his inclusion on the NLCS roster, however, Manager Rob Thompson has signaled that Robertson is completely ready to pitch. On Monday, Thompson stated that Robertson would be left off the roster if he was not a “full go,” per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Robertson has been an important part of Philadelphia’s bullpen since he was acquired from the Cubs at the deadline. In 23 1/3 innings with the Phillies, he has posted a 2.70 ERA, a 30.3% strikeout rate, and has picked up six saves. Robertson pitched the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, where he set the Cardinals down in order and struck out two.
Zack Wheeler will get the ball in Game 1 for the Phillies, as they look to make their first World Series since 2009.
I would’ve left Nelson on the roster & taken Gibson off instead. The Phils aren’t using Gibson unless it is mop up duty.. He was awful down the stretch and they have 5 other starters on the roster. He is excess parts.
Mop up duty can be very useful in a 7 game series
And potential extra innings… Gibson way more valuable.
In a best of 7 series, Gibson is more likely a factor. IWorst case scenario, in a blow out either way, Gibson would be useful to eat some innings.
Aren’t there less days off, if that’s the case you might definitely need a innings eater if your starter gets hurt or is ineffective and your still in the game.
@iverbure Exactly right.
Let’s go Phillies. Phillies in 5.
Phillies in six.
Padres in 4.
4 losses for the Pads, maybe
This series is a coin flip, but I absolutely cannot imagine either team sweeping.
Dodgers in 3.
This will be a crazy series with two Cinderella teams. Can’t get better than that.
If can get better, by not having a stupid playoff format.
You’re right – 8 teams from each league!
Salty Dodger/Brave fan?
@VonPurpleHayes
According to you, everyone must be “salty”. The play-off format rewards teams that have no business being in the post season. ie. 2nd and 3rd wildcards. There’s nothing “salty” about what Manfred is doing to MLB with all his ‘rules’ and messing around with creating more wildcards just so people can make money out of it. Never let the facts get in the way though. I don’t care which team is involved there should be no 2nd and 3rd wildcards. The test is supposed to be 162 games in the season, not handing out lottery tickets to the post season.
It falls out of the ‘not deserving to be here’ category when both teams go on to win 2 series and another won 1 series. You’re guaranteed a WC team in the WS. I say they’re deserving.
I just don’t understand how this is new. It happens every year.
How long has baseball been playing 5-game division series? Now we have to change the format because the Dodgers and Braves stopped hitting? What about the Mets? They didn’t hit either. They didn’t have a bye. Short series are and always have been about who is hot at the right time.
@VonPurpleHayes
You play 162 games, and then you’re expected to wait 5 days to see who you play. It is a joke. Yes, they stopped hitting because they were not playing, you surely do not understand about hitting mechanics and timing. Have a look at Altuve, he’s 0-21 in the post, just one example.
It is also more difficult to hit in the post season, you don’t want to be sitting around when you want to be at your best. It is NO advantage to sit around. Furthermore, with a lot of pitchers their velocity is up, this was shown in the case of Musgrove v Mets. I’m not saying it applies to all, but elite pitchers want to be at their best.
Pedro Martinez, Granderson, Jimmy Rollins & Frank Thomas all agreed with the premise of what I have said, that’s enough for me, people that understand the bigger picture and have played at the highest level. The wait for the teams that won their division is too long, your hitting mechanics can go out easily. In the case of pitchers, Verlander didn’t pitch for something like 10 days before his Mariners start, and Houston should have lost that game 1, he got lit up. Note the 2nd start against the Yankees on regular rest, a superb start.
Braves and Dodgers both had superior records in the regular season against Phillies & Padres, and then they had to contend with sitting around waiting to see who they would play. The wildcard is a lottery ticket, it should be a 1 game play off, and that’s it. It should be 1 AL team and 1 NL team.
We all know that Manfred and the owners only care about money, hence giving out more wildcards for revenue. I don’t care which teams are involved, the teams that come 1st should not have to wait around, at this time of the season the wait should be as minimal as possible, and certainly not 5 days.
Then how come in the AL the two best teams won their series against the Wild Card winners ? There’s a long history of underdog teams getting hot at the right time. That’s why you play the series.
The Phillies and Padres both had to go on the road for all the Wild Card games and didn’t have the home field advantage in the Divisional Series so I don’t see that they had some advantage over the Dodgers and Braves.
@htbnm57
Because they were actually playing, getting AB’s, pitching. They won, it created momentum. In a 2 horse race anyone can win, the fact is one of the horses shouldn’t be in the race.
Let’s go Fightins!
I want John Kruck to throw a first ball in Philly AND San Diego!
Cool idea. Also have Mr. and Mrs. Nola throw one in each.
The Padres better start showing fight. When they come here to South Philly they in for a ear full that I don’t think they are ready for
Pardon my ignorance but can anyone explain to me why Schwarber is leading off? I get that they have a heavy power hitting line up but why not someone like Segura who has a higher avg, obp, and can actually steal bases? Am I thinking too traditionally about what makes for a good lead off hitter?
Phillies fans ask the same thing every day. Essentially, the Phillies don’t have a leadoff hitter. They’ve tried Segura and it failed. The thinking is, Schwarber sees a lot of pitches and sets up good at bats for the meat of the order, but he is not having a great playoffs. While I’m not opposed to a change, there’s really no one on this roster who would work as a true leadoff man.
Gotcha. Thanks for the response.
Hit leadoff almost all year 46 hr 95 + runs scored , 95+rbi Bottom of order tends to get on in front of him. The guy hitting behind him had 30 hr. Nobody else looked better batting lead off. No reason to mess with it.