Even though he only threw 83 pitches in his excellent Game 1 NLCS outing, Zack Wheeler is not a candidate to come back on short rest for Game 4, even if the Phillies lose Game 3 on Friday.
Wheeler has been tremendous in his first postseason action, posting a 1.40 ERA across three playoff starts. Had it not been for a crucial misplay by Rhys Hoskins in Game 2 of the NLDS — or had that play just been scored an error — Wheeler’s ERA would be even more miniscule.
But manager Rob Thomson ruled out bringing back the 32-year-old on short rest for Game 4.
“No chance,” Thomson said Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Instead, Wheeler will pitch on normal rest in Game 5. Ranger Suárez will get the ball in Game 3 Friday, as the series shifts back to Philadelphia.
Game 4’s starter has not yet been determined, as a marathon Game 3 could affect who is available. Thomson said it will be one of Noah Syndergaard, Kyle Gibson or Bailey Falter. The guess here is that Syndergaard — who pitched the first three innings of the clinching game in the NLDS — will be the pick.
After Thursday’s off day, there won’t be another off day the rest of the series. If the Padres win at least one of the three games that will be played in Philadelphia, the series will head back to San Diego on Monday, without an off day for travel.
That also means that unlike a traditional seven-game series, the Game 4 starter wouldn’t have three days rest before Game 7. Had there been an extra off day, perhaps there would have been more of an argument for having Wheeler start in Game 4 on three day’s rest, setting him up to do the same if there was a Game 7.
Only having one day off in a seven-game series is a product of the compressed schedule that came about because of the owners locking the players out, and then not wanting to play more than a few days into November for the World Series.
