Orion Kerkering’s 3 Rules of Baseball will have you ready to run through a brick wall ahead of NLDS Game 2 vs Braves

Drew Smith
October 9, 2023
Phillies
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The Philadelphia Phillies will face the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the NLDS tonight at 6:05pm, looking to bring the series back to Citizens Bank Park up 2-0.

Game 1 was perfect. The Phillies pitching, led by Ranger Suarez, handled business against the Braves. Suarez tossed just 3.2 innings, allowing one hit, and a walk while striking out four. Rob Thomson and company then handed the game over to his bullpen and they delivered with flying colors.

Phillies Pitching Game 1 vs Braves

Look at that bullpen! Hoffman, Dominguez, Alvarado, rookie Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Craig Kimbrel dazzled in Game 1 against what has been largely considered “the best lineup in Major League Baseball”.

You can check out the full game preview and Game 1 recap here >>

Speaking of Orion Kerkering, he recently shared his 3 Rules of Baseball

Reminder that Orion Kerkering adheres to three rules on the mound, that he's used since high school.

“Rule No. 1 was, ‘Don’t be a bitch. Rule No. 2 was, ‘Don’t suck.’ Rule No. 3 was, ‘Don’t break rules one and two.’” https://t.co/ccBfhMX3DR
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) October 8, 2023

Inquirer — When Kerkering first started working with his private pitching coach, Oscar Espada, he was a 15-year-old introvert with good stuff, but not much conviction behind it. Espada, who is now the head baseball coach at St. Petersburg College, set out to change that. He decided to keep it simple for his pupil. He gave him three rules. “Rule No. 1 was, ‘Don’t be a bitch,” Kerkering said. “Rule No. 2 was, ‘Don’t suck.’ Rule No. 3 was, ‘Don’t break rules one and two.’”

Orion Kerkering’s 3 Rules for Baseball

Rule No. 1: Don’t be a bitch
Rule No. 2: Don’t suck
Rule No. 3: Don’t break rules No. 1 and No. 2

We’re not talking advanced analytics or any of that nonsense. Save that for the statsexuals. Kerkering and The Fightins are focus on two simple rules. Don’t be a bitch and don’t suck. As a reminder, he even tossed in Rule No. 3 to remind himself about Rule No. 1 and No. 2.

Absolutely love it. Faith in good, old fashioned baseball is being restored right in front of our own eyes with Orion Kerkering leading the charge. The Phillies’ rookie has now faced seven batters so far in the postseason and has only allowed two hits. Seems like the rules are working.

Zack Wheeler vs Max Fried

Tonight, Zack Wheeler will get the call against Braves pitcher Max Fried.

Wheeler was 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Braves this season. Since joining the Phillies, he’s 6-3 with a 2.46 ERA in 14 starts since 2020, including the postseason.

Opposing Wheeler will be Braves’ veteran Max Fried, who’s posted a 2.55 ERA in 14 starts this season. Fried missed a lot of time on the mound this year, dealing with a variety of injuries.

He missed April with a left hamstring straight then spent three months on the injured list with a left forearm strain. Most recently, he’s been dealing with a blister on his left index finger that developed over the final weeks of the regular season.

Philles lineup vs Max Fried: