HOUSTON — Phillies manager Rob Thomson pulled out the stops Friday in Game 1 of the World Series when he used left-hander Ranger Suárez in relief.
But it also forced the Phillies to adjust their rotation for Game 3 on Monday night and Game 4 on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Thomson announced on Saturday after the Phils’ 5-2 loss to the Astros in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park that right-hander Noah Syndergaard will pitch Game 3 and Suárez will pitch Game 4.
“An extra day, yeah,” Thomson said, asked about giving Suárez extra rest. “We figure for Game 4 he can at least give us … We can extend him out a little bit more than we could if he was pitching Game 3.”
Syndergaard has a 1.69 ERA in three appearances this postseason, including a start in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Braves on Oct. 15. Syndergaard pitched only three innings in that start because he is not stretched out.
He has thrown only 1 1/3 innings since then, so Game 3 figures to be another bullpen game for the Phillies.
Game 4 could be another bullpen game, too. Suárez has a 1.86 ERA in four postseason appearances, including two starts. He pitched 3 1/3 innings in Game 1 of the NLDS on Oct. 11, and five innings in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series on Oct. 21. It is unclear how long Suárez could go on Tuesday.
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