NEW YORK — Kyle Schwarber began the National League Division Series with a rousing leadoff home run at Citizens Bank Park.
Since that blast on Saturday, and heading into Game 4 of the series Wednesday, the Phillies scored zero runs in the first five innings of games in the series against the New York Mets. Since Schwarber touched them all, the Phillies have six hits in 50 at-bats in the first five innings of Games 2 and 3.
The constant game of catchup and the pressure applied to the pitching staff is part of the reason why the Phillies schlepped to Citi Field Wednesday facing elimination.
Rob Thomson, as is his wont, found a rosy glow to it. He pointed out that the Phillies hit three balls hard in Game 3 Tuesday in the first inning against Mets starter Sean Manaea but had nothing to show for them. The 19 swing-and-misses against Manaea before he was lifted in the top of the eighth didn’t quite fit that narrative as well.
“Last night’s game, the first inning, the first three at-bats were good. All balls hit over 95 mph,” Thomson said. “Sometimes that’s just the way it goes. But I think we need to be patient. We need to hone in the strike zone, be able to use the field, do the little things, and try not to do too much. Just pass the baton.”
That last point applies from the start. The Phillies got two men on with no outs in the sixth Tuesday, but Bryce Harper struck out and Nick Castellanos lined into a double play. Thomson called Harper’s at-bat, in which he struck out on three pitches, a case of the star slugger trying to do too much, representing the would-be go-ahead run in a 2-0 game.
Doubling down on that message of passing the baton was effective in 2022, and it’s what Thomson is leaning on now to get this team out of an offensive rut.
“I think it’s just the constant message of, pass the baton,” he said. “Take what they give you. Try not to do too much, use the field, get strikes to hit. I think that’s all you can do. And you know, our hitting coaches do a great job setting up drill work according to that. I think that’s all you can do, really, is just keep pushing the message.”
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The offensive woes triggered Thomson to rearrange his lineup for a third straight day, the second straight start by a Mets left-hander. Going heavy on righties against Manaea was ineffective Tuesday, so Thomson opted for a more left-handed lineup against Jose Quintana for Game 4.
Bryson Stott returns at second base, ending a run of two straight starts for Edmundo Sosa that resulted in one infield hit in four plate appearances. Stott tripled in two runs in the Game 2 win.
Brandon Marsh was to start in center field, slotting in for Johan Rojas. Marsh didn’t start Tuesday, with Austin Hays playing left. Marsh is in center with Ranger Suarez, more of a groundball pitcher when he’s at his best, on the mound, minimizing the superior defense provided by Rojas. Weston Wilson was getting a crack in left field.
“Stott’s always been able to hit lefties, and Marsh’s numbers against lefties in the last month have been good,” Thomson said. “In Austin Hays’ defense, he hasn’t had a whole lot of reps, and he looked like his timing was off last night. So we’re going to do a lot of work, and I just felt like we need some offense. And I felt like this is the best way to get it.”
Thomson is choosing between struggling options all around. Over the first three games, Stott was 2-for-8 in the series. Rojas was 1-for-5, Marsh 0-for-9. Thomson offered a severe criticism, by his usually genteel standards, of Hays looking rusty Tuesday. Hays is 0-for-4, battling back from a kidney ailment that cost him much of September.
Wilson will make his postseason debut. He was announced as a pinch-hitter in Game 3 before being pulled back for Marsh when the Mets countered with a right-handed reliever.
“He faced Quintana in London and had really good at bats, almost hit a home run,” Thomson said of a series early in the summer. “… He’s right-handed, and he’s given us good at-bats, especially against left-hand pitching.”
Alec Bohm starts again at third base. He’s 1-for-10 in this series with 19 pitches seen, though he did have two hard-hit balls, including a single Wednesday.
The ability of Stott and Marsh to hit lefties is a common topic of conversation. Stott only got 112 at-bats against lefties this year, slashing .223/.318/.277 with one homer and 10 RBIs. He hit .282/.347/.383 against southpaws in 2023, with three homers and 18 RBIs in 149 ABs.
Marsh hit .192 in just 78 at-bats against lefties this year after a .229 mark in 96 at-bats last year.
None of the three had a hit against Quintana in their careers – Wilson in six at-bats, Stott in three, Marsh in two. With 29 hits allowed. He threw six shutout innings against Milwaukee in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series.
Quintana has allowed just four runs (three earned) in his last seven starts dating to Aug. 25,
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Phillies relievers have allowed 12 earned runs over the first three games, so it’s no surprise that Thomson was seeking reinforcements.
Thomson said before Game 4 that everyone is in play. That includes Game 2 starter Cristopher Sanchez, who is scheduled for his normal side day. He could supply an inning or so. His normal mid-start bullpen is 30 to 35 pitches.
Zack Wheeler, the Game 1 starter and projected starter for a Game 5 that doesn’t yet exist, was available in an emergency, “meaning we’re out of pitching.” Thomson said.
