2023 MLB playoffs: Phillies manager breaks down pitching strategy that fueled Game 1 shutout win vs. Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies scored a shutout win towards the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. The Phillies’ taste of victory registered as a wonder for 2 causes: 1) it marked the primary time all yr that the Braves, the common season’s splendid offensive crew, have been blanked on their house box; and a couple of) that shutout stemmed from a nontraditional strategy to pitcher control through Phillies manager Rob Thomson. 

Thomson used Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola all the way through the Phillies’ Wild Card Series towards the Miami Marlins, leaving him with few choices as opposed to to begin left-hander Ranger Suárez in Game 1. 

Suárez spoke back the decision, keeping the Braves with no hit during the recreation’s first 3 2/3 innings. Atlanta’s Matt Olson then singled, and Ozzie Albies therefore reached on a fielder’s selection. That’s when Thomson made the ordinary determination to visit his bullpen so early in a non-elimination recreation, placing right-hander Jeff Hoffman into the sport. Hoffman walked the primary batter he confronted ahead of putting out Michael Harris II to finish the inning and the danger. 

Thomson would move to his bullpen 5 extra occasions all over Game 1, stringing in combination 5 mixed innings from Seranthony Dominguez, José Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Craig Kimbrel. Those 5 pitchers surrendered a complete of 4 hits and one stroll.

After the sport, Thomson defined that he “didn’t have a script,” despite the fact that he meant to make use of Hoffman after Suárez regardless of when the latter was once lifted. He printed that he didn’t tell Suárez ahead of the sport about his probably brief hook, both, since he did not need to disturb his pitcher’s focal point.

“There’s one thought that you tell him to empty the tank early. Don’t worry about going deep. Is that the best message to send him or is it, hey, you know, just go and pitch your game. Don’t worry about it and just pitch your game,” Thomson mentioned at his press convention. “So I decided not to tell him and let him pitch his game, and he pitched well.”

Thomson did not get into his concept processes underpinning his determination, however they appear simple to divine. The Phillies no longer handiest have Wheeler and Nola coated up in Games 2 and three, however the time table requires an off day between Games 1 and a couple of. As such, Thomson may burn via his bullpen with out being concerned about asking them to pitch in consecutive video games. Thomson, then, have shyed away from overexposing Suárez or another pitcher to the majors’ splendid offense, all of the whilst elevating his probabilities of stealing Game 1 at the highway. That closing phase is essential, as MLB teams who’ve received Game 1 in a best-of-five postseason sequence have traditionally then received the sequence on greater than 70% of events.

This is not the primary time Thomson has proved to be a deft determination maker on those grounds. He earned reward closing postseason, en path to the World Series, for his daring and suave strategy to his pitching workforce. 

“He’s just got a good pulse on what’s going on,” Phillies president Dave Dombrowski told Sports Illustrated’s Emma Baccellieri at the time. “He’s been aggressive all along. He has a real feel of what he needs to do. He knows his personnel so very well.”

Thomson now has the Phillies two wins clear of a repeat commute to the NL Championship Series, and 6 wins clear of some other pennant. 

“If that didn’t work out, it would be scrutinized,” Thomson mentioned of his pitching plans on Saturday. “But it is what it is, and you gotta make the best decision in your mind that you need to make.”