Preview: Phillies look to punch tickets to NLCS with a win in Game 4 tonight against Spencer Strider and the Atlanta Braves

Drew Smith
October 12, 2023
Phillies
0 Comments

The Philadelphia Phillies will send Ranger Suarez to the mound tonight at 8:07 PM at Citizens Bank Park with hopes in punching their tickets to the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

No one felt “3 Hours of Hell” more than Atlanta Braves’ manager Brian Snitker during Game 3

Snitker and his Atlanta Braves cruised through the regular season, notching a 104-win season while boasting about one of the most prolific offenses in Major League Baseball history, yet the second they finally arrive to the postseason and have to play baseball games at Citizens Bank Park they vanish under the lights.

Snitker made some horrible managerial decisions in Game 3 as his team was completely embarrassed as they literally got laughed off the sacred grounds of CBP, while they lost in horrible fashion, 10-2.

Full Coverage of NLDS Game 3 Here >>

In a span of just one half-inning, Snitker decided to first, keep starting pitcher Bryce Elder in the game, and second, actually pitch to Bryce Harper with the game tied 1-1 and first base open.

Should have been a walk. I was SHOCKED that they threw to Harper.

Anyways, here was the result of the first two blunders from Brian Snitker.

Braves Game 3 Pitching – Bad

Honestly, you could add in the fact that Snitker started Elder in the first place but what exactly was he supposed to do with the pitchers available? Anyone the Braves put on the mound last night got absolutely SHELLED by the Phillies.

Phillies Game 3 Lineup vs Braves Pitching

As for the Phillies, they tied a Major League Baseball postseason record smashing 6 home runs, good for their own franchise record. They scored 10 runs and notched 11 hits on the night.

Harper and Castellanos had multi-home run games and Brandon Marsh was 3-4 from the plate with a home run. Trea Turner, who’s quietly been having one hell of a postseason batting .400 with eight hits, three doubles, a home run and 2 RBI, was 2-4 last night with a homer of his own.

Bryce Harper was 2-4 with two home runs, 4 RBI, and two runs scored.
Nick Castellanos was 2-4 with two home runs, 2 RBI, and two runs scored.
Trea Turner was 2-4 with a home run, RBI, and two runs scored.
Brandon Marsh was 3-4 with a home run, RBI, and two runs scored.

Phillies Game 3 Pitching – Great

The Atlanta Braves had no one to pitch in Game 3. Snitker and company opted to take last night’s game as a scheduled loss and the result was exactly what was expected from a Phillies’ lineup foaming at the mouth to go bonkers at home.

In contrast, the Phillies sent their longest tenured player to the mound in Aaron Nola and much like his teammates offensively, he rose to the occasion yet again, tossing 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out nine before handing the game over to the bullpen.

PointsBet: 5 Second Chance Bets Up To $100 Each

Sign up for a new PointsBet account
Make a first-time deposit
Place five (5) cash wagers up to $100
Receive any losing wagers back in Bonus Bets

Claim your second chance bets here >>

Spencer Strider vs Ranger Suarez – Game 4 TONIGHT

Game 4 is tonight at 8:07 PM at the MECCA of Major League Baseball in October, Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will send Ranger Suarez to the mound to punch their tickets to the NLCS against Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider.

Suarez went 4-6 with a 4.18 ERA across 22 regular-season starts. He logged a 1.42 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 in 125 IP. In his last start, Suarez pitched just 3.2 innings, allowing a hit, and a walk while striking out four in the Phillies’ NLDS Game 1 win over the Braves last Saturday.

Honestly, I’m not really sure what Topper is going to do with Ranger Suarez tonight. He kept Ranger on a short leash in Game 1 against the Braves and it worked to perfection. Suarez wasn’t happy about getting pulled but as they always say, winning cures all.

If Ranger is on target with his pitch arsenal early, I don’t see why Thomson would keep him on a short leash. Over his postseason career, Suarez is a perfect 2-0, with a 0.98 ERA in 18 1/3 IP across 4 starts and 2 relief appearances.

That’s the type of guy anyone would want in a series-clinching situation when both of your top two rotation arms are unavailable.

As for Spencer Strider, he was phenomenal in the regular season, much like the rest of the Atlanta Braves. Strider posted a 20-5 record with a 3.86 ERA across 32 regular-season starts while logging a 1.09 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 13.6 K/9 in 186.2 IP.

Remember: Spencer Strider also mentioned he hates playing in front of “fans” …

Spencer Strider is a good pitcher but as we know very well here in Philadelphia, Citizens Bank Park and postseason baseball is a completely different animal. In his lone two postseason appearances, both against the Phillies, Strider has posted a 5.79 ERA in 9 1/3 IP.

Phillies Fans Last Night: ‘WE WANT STRIDER’

Philly fans are chanting "WE WANT STRIDER" pic.twitter.com/WPz9YsgDNk
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 12, 2023

I will actually give the Braves credit for taking the field tonight after the “3 Hours of Hell” they endured last night, however the faces of Travis d’Arnaud and Orlando Arcia in the locker room after the pounding they took from the Phillies in South Philadelphia last night made it clear as day that this team is cooked.

To Be Clear: A series-clinching opportunity for the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park is going to be absolutely insane. The Braves stand zero chance of winning this game.

DraftKings Sportsbook: Bet $5, Get $200 Instantly