Will The Phillies twin aces continue to carry them through Red October

SAN DIEGO - The Phillies improbable Cinderella story would never have been possible without the two-headed monster paramounting their rotation.

Across the first 7 games of the postseason, the Phillies have started either Zack Wheeler or Aaron Nola a combined 4 times. During which they’ve allowed only 3 earned runs (all of which took place during the 6th inning of Wednesday’s 3-0 loss in Atlanta).

There isn’t a doubt in the city that the Phillies wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Noles and Wheels. However, as the Phillies now head out west to take on the Padres, they will need to bode with a 7 game series, the likes of which they have not yet seen.

In addition to this, the tight postseason schedule allows for only one off day, setting the stage for a grueling 7-game-8-Day span, that may just stretch Phillies pitching staff too thin to handle if they aren’t managed correctly.

Now, considering the Phillies run with the 4 man rotation they have worked with to this point the pitching schedule would most likely look something like this…

Game 1: Wheeler

Game 2: Nola

Off Day

Game 3: Suarez

Game 4: Syndergaard/Falter

Game 5: Wheeler

Game 6: Nola

Game 7: Suarez

This is obviously a very tentative outline of what the rotation could be. I could see it completely possible that Rob Thomson would shake up the rotation in the event of a possible game 7, as to have Aaron Nola pitch in the series decider.

The other scenario that seems much less likely would have the Phillies rotation working on 3 days rest. Being manufactured in a way that could see Zack Wheeler towing the rubber up to 3 times in the series. However, this scenario looks extremely unlikely as having any pitcher so much as your ace work on 3 days rest is ludicrous in today’s MLB.

Game 1: Wheeler

Game 2: Nola

Off Day

Game 3: Suarez

Game 4: Wheeler (4 Days rest)

Game 5: Nola

Game 6: Suarez/Syndergaard/Falter

Game 7: Wheeler/Suarez/Syndergaard/Falter

Now as I’ve mentioned before, the Phillies top two in the rotation have carried the squad to this spot in the playoffs. Raising the question of how much Rob Thomson will be able to trust the likes of Ranger Suarez (who went only 3.1 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits in Tuesday’s 7-6 win in Atlanta), Noah Syndergaard (who allowed a run across 3 innings of work during the Saturday series clincher), or Bailey Falter who has yet to appear in the postseason in any capacity.

The rotation will remain a large question mark throughout the series as Rob Thomson is faced with some difficult decisions ahead of the most important stretch of games this young Phillies squad has seen. It will be interesting to see how the Phillies shape their staff, though if the bats can find a way to stay hot, then hopefully the pitching will not need to be as perfect as they’ve had to be in games past.

This is the postseason, and there is never any telling what can happen during any given game. The postseason is where names are made, and when role players become more valuable than ever before. Just because a guy didn’t perform his best in the regular season, means nothing in regard to the playoffs…