Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Phillies are relying on pitcher Ranger Suárez to keep their playoff hopes alive as they face the New York Mets in Game 4 of the National League Division Series at Citi Field. Suárez has been a crucial player for the Phillies in previous postseasons, including recording the final out to secure the 2022 NL pennant and starting in critical games last year.

Suárez expressed his readiness to pitch, stating, "It doesn't matter, the situation is that I'm going to pitch tomorrow -- if it's to clinch the series or if it's [needing] to win the game." His performance earlier this season had him as a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award with an impressive start of 9-0 and a sub-1.50 ERA through 10 games.

However, challenges arose mid-season when he faced difficulties during a game against Detroit and subsequent outings. These issues were compounded by back spasms which led him to skip the All-Star game and later resulted in time on the injured list.

Despite these setbacks, teammate Aaron Nola emphasized Suárez's resilience: "He’s a bulldog and a competitor," adding that Suárez enjoys pitching in high-pressure postseason scenarios. Suárez's postseason record boasts a remarkable 1.62 ERA over nine appearances.

Manager Rob Thomson noted improvements in Suárez's recent performances, particularly highlighting his command and velocity during an intrasquad game. Both Thomson and Suárez affirmed that he is now fully healthy and ready for Game 4.

The team remains confident in his abilities, with Bryce Harper expressing strong support: "All the confidence in the world in him." Fellow player Nick Castellanos echoed this sentiment: “All the confidence in the world."