PHILADELPHIA – In a surprising twist, the Phillies are starting Aaron Nola on two days’ rest in the biggest game of the season.
Saturday was slated to be a bullpen game for Philadelphia. It still technically is, as Nola’s start will be abbreviated. He threw 88 pitches over six innings in a loss against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. He could throw in the neighborhood of 40-50 pitches on Saturday night.
Nola skipped his scheduled bullpen session on Friday. The typical bullpen session in-between starts for starting pitchers is 20-25 pitches; Nola throws 40-50 in his sessions.
The Phillies are confident that he is the guy that gives them the best chance to win. José Urquidy is still available as a bulk option.
“With Noles, the way he trains, if anybody is built for this, it’s probably Nola,” interim manager Don Mattingly said.
The best case scenario is that the Phillies win tonight, Arizona loses their bullpen game and the Phillies can start Urquidy for Game 162.
That would mean the Phillies can save Zack Wheeler for Game 1 of the wild card round. The Phillies discussed having Wheeler start Saturday on short rest, lining him up for Game 3 of a potential wild card series. He is scheduled to start Sunday if the Phillies are facing elimination.
“Didn’t really feel like that was the best thing,” Mattingly said when asked about pitching Wheeler on short rest.
The Phillies could lose control of their destiny as soon as tonight. Another loss and Arizona win would put the Diamondbacks in the driver’s seat on the final day of the season. No matter what, the Phillies will enter play on Sunday still alive in the playoff chase.
The latest on Luzardo, Bowlan
If the Phillies do not clinch on Saturday, expect Jesús Luzardo to come off the IL and factor into Game 162. Wheeler will start, but Luzardo could give the Phillies some innings out of the bullpen.
Luzardo was scheduled to face live hitters on Saturday, but the rain and the Phillies’ desperate situation led to a change of plans.
“I think everything is in play at this point,” Mattingly said.
Luzardo played catch in the outfield on Saturday. Sunday is the first day he is eligible to come off the injured list.
Jonathan Bowlan (groin) could also be available Sunday. He has not pitched in a game since Sept. 17.
Lineup changes and Arraez’s status
Mattingly also made significant changes to the lineup, though the manager downplayed the switches when asked about them pregame.
“Honestly, we really didn’t change a whole lot,” Mattingly said. “Just a little different feel as much as anything else. It’s not a huge change. … Kind of back to our old alignment. So it’s kind of what we started the year with if you replaced (Bryan De La Cruz) with (Adolis García).”
The Phillies, with Luis Arraez (left ankle sprain) out, reverted back to their original defensive alignment. Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm are making their first starts at their original positions, first and third base respectively, since Aug. 3. Trea Turner is also back in the leadoff spot for the first time since the day of the trade deadline.
Bryson Stott naturally slots back into second base. De La Cruz is starting in right field.
The Phillies can align their defense multiple ways. With De La Cruz in the lineup, they can move Harper back to the infield and Bohm across the diamond. They can also play Edmundo Sosa at third base and keep Harper in right field and Bohm at first base like they did last night.
Mattingly is comfortable with moving things around.
“I like the flexibility, if Sosa is a better matchup, things like that,” Mattingly said.
On Arraez, Mattingly said he has “a pretty good ankle sprain.” The chances of him playing this weekend do not sound great.
“We don’t know what he’s going to be able to do,” Mattingly said. “We’ll see how far we can go with it. Obviously, we’re hoping he can do something, but it doesn’t feel that great.”
