Rob Thomson has elected to start struggling lefty Ranger Suárez in the NLDS’s critical Game 4.
The Philadelphia Phillies won an intense, nail-biting Game 2 against the New York Mets on Sunday, tying the NLDS at one game apiece. The bats came alive in the sixth inning, leading to a 7-6 walk-off victory and at least a Game 4 in this best-of-five series.
Ranger Suárez is set to start the Phillies’ fourth game. That game will be significant regardless of the outcome of Game 3 on Tuesday at Citi Field. Either the Phillies will get to the NLCS for the third time in a row, or Rob Thomson’s squad will be eliminated early in this year’s postseason.
Phillies’ decision to name Ranger Suárez as the Game 4 starter seems risky after his second-half struggles
The Phillies’ manager announced his decision to play Suárez in Game 4 during a media conference on Monday, according to Tim Kelly of On Pattison. This choice would not have been a talking point given Suárez’s performance in the previous two postseasons and the start of the 2024 season. The left-hander has struggled since his June 25 start against the Detroit Tigers, when he surrendered eight hits and two earned runs over six innings.
Suárez is off to a great start this season. Through June 19, the 29-year-old was 10-1 with a 1.75 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and.191 batting average against. Since then, his WHIP rise to 1.20 and his batting average against rise to .243 on the year.
Suárez was a Cy Young Award frontrunner for much of the first half, but now the southpaw is questioning whether he should even be employed in the postseason. The hope is that he can recover and return to being the dominant pitcher he once was, but he’ll probably be on a short leash when he returns the mound in New York on Wednesday.
Suárez may perform at his best in the playoffs. It has a distinct intensity and vibe than the regular season. He has had a lot of success in the playoffs for the Phillies over the last two trips to October games. Suárez’s career playoff record is 3-1, with a 1.62 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in nine games, including two appearances out of the bullpen.
