Phillies Nation Roundtable: Who will be unsung hero of Wild Card Series?

The wait is over. Red October begins tonight. 

The Phillies are set to take on the Miami Marlins in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series beginning at 8 p.m. EDT. 

They are a team built to win in October, but they’re going to have to overcome the randomness of a three-game series to get to where they want to be. 

Thanks to a miraculous ninth inning comeback (and Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley’s jammed right middle finger), the Phillies were able to survive Game 1 last year against the Cardinals and dominate on the mound in Game 2 to take the series. 

All three games will take place at Citizens Bank Park this year. The Phillies won six straight at home before dropping the last two against the Astros in the World Series last postseason, so it’s safe to say the Phillies enjoy a home field advantage. The Wild Card round is arguably the most intense postseason series of the year since it all comes down to just three games, so that advantage should be amplified in the first round. 

The most exciting part of the wait for Red October is not knowing who is going to be the guy that steps up and has a signature moment. If you had Alec Bohm, Jean Segura, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola or Seranthony Domínguez coming up big in last year’s Wild Card series, you were right.

Here’s our take on who will be the unsung hero of the series.

Tim Kelly — Editorial Director — OF Cristian Pache

The Marlins will use left-handed starters in each of the first two games of the NLWCS. Between that and Brandon Marsh struggling down the stretch (33 strikeouts in September), I think there will be a right-handed hitter in left field to start both games. Perhaps that will be Weston Wilson, but I tend to think Pache will get the first crack. He’s an elite fielder, and had some big moments against the Marlins this season. Does he have one more in him?

Destiny Lugardo — Deputy Editorial Director — RHP Aaron Nola

Aaron Nola will benefit the most from having a clean slate. His walk year was disappointing, but he has the chance to rewrite the narrative on what could be his final year with the Phillies. His last two starts were an encouraging sign. He’s getting ahead of hitters, not worrying about runners on base and both his offspeed pitches, the curveball and changeup, looked filthy. 

Nola is not known for saving the best for last, but maybe that changes this year. His start in Game 2 of last year’s Wild Card series was the most dominant of his career and the Phillies are going to need a repeat if they want to advance to the Division Series.

Ty Daubert — Staff Writer — LHP Matt Strahm

Matt Strahm has been a bit of an unsung hero throughout his first season in Philadelphia. From starting the year in the rotation to becoming one of Rob Thomson’s more trusted bullpen arms, the left-hander is versatile and effective. He has the ability to take down crucial innings in a variety of scenarios in a three-game series. 

Nathan Ackerman — Staff Writer — OF Brandon Marsh

Much has been made about the Marlins’ plethora of left-handed pitching, and for good reason: Their Games 1 and 2 starters, as well as four of their best relievers, are southpaws. The Phillies, though, handle lefties well. Bryson Stott’s batting average and OBP are higher against them, Kyle Schwarber only has a moderate drop-off and Bryce Harper hits everyone.

Then there’s Brandon Marsh. His numbers against lefties improved this year, but the splits remain real. Weston Wilson might even start because of it. So here’s a sequence: Marsh doesn’t start but enters when a righty reliever (David Robertson?) does. The Marlins later summon a lefty to get Marsh, but Rob Thomson sticks with him over Cristian Pache or Edmundo Sosa. Marsh gets a big extra-base hit — perhaps a homer, like he did off a lefty in his last at bat of Game 162 — and helps the Phillies win Game 1.

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