The Philadelphia Phillies faced a difficult challenge in the National League Division Series after learning in August that ace pitcher Zack Wheeler would be unavailable for the rest of the season. Despite this setback, the team relied on its starting rotation, which it considered one of its main strengths.
Cristopher Sánchez delivered a strong performance against Shohei Ohtani in Game 1. In Game 2, Jesús Luzardo pitched six scoreless innings before surrendering two runs in the seventh after being relieved by the bullpen. Veteran Aaron Nola contributed two solid innings in Game 3, followed by Ranger Suárez, who provided five innings of one-run relief to secure the Phillies’ only win in the series.
The Phillies nearly repeated their unconventional pitching strategy in Game 4. After taking a one-run lead in the seventh inning, manager Rob Thomson brought in closer Jhoan Duran when Sánchez allowed two runners on base. Duran induced a ground ball for an out but then intentionally walked Ohtani to load the bases for Mookie Betts. Duran proceeded to walk Betts, forcing in the tying run.
“That’s Duran’s first career bases-loaded walk,” Thomson said. “So, you’re not expecting that. His ability to throw strikes — really wasn’t expecting that. But it happened.”
Duran then retired three batters in order in the eighth inning with two strikeouts. Matt Strahm kept the game tied with a scoreless ninth inning before Thomson called on Luzardo—who was expected to start a potential Game 5—for extra innings work.
Luzardo struck out Ohtani and retired Betts and Teoscar Hernández in the tenth inning but returned for another frame before being replaced by Orion Kerkering after allowing two baserunners with two outs in the eleventh. Kerkering committed an error that ended both the game and Philadelphia’s season.
“It was really just, we’ve got to win today,” Luzardo said. “Because if we don’t win today, there is no Game 5.”
Over four games, Sánchez, Luzardo, Suárez and Nola combined for a 2.03 ERA across nearly 27 innings—despite having to adjust roles due to injuries.
“I’m so proud of all of them, man. Gosh, they stepped up so much this year,” Nola said about his fellow pitchers after missing part of the season himself due to injury. “They had such great seasons, especially when Wheels went down. When I was hurt for those three months, just watching those guys do their thing was unbelievable. Just super proud of those guys.”
Zack Wheeler’s absence remained significant; his postseason ERA ranks among baseball’s best all-time performers with at least ten starts.
Luzardo acknowledged both teams’ efforts: “Obviously, one of the best lineups that money can buy on that side, and you tip your cap to them,” he said about their opponents’ performance during the series. “They played really well. I think the guys we have in this clubhouse, and the rotation especially, did what they could. It’s just unfortunate that we weren’t able to pull it out.”
