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PHILADELPHIA — In his first postseason, it largely went by assumption. A year later, there’s much more data to it.
Ranger Suarez, with his low heartbeat and high command, had been a reliever and a starter in the big leagues. He could get ready quickly and could mentally handle any in-game situation. So Rob Thomson resolved to use him whenever he could – on bullpen days or set starts, on short rest and short notice.
The Phillies’ stealth pitching weapon of 2022 is a known commodity in 2023. It presents both an opportunity and an obligation to get the most out of him in a the best-of-3 Wild Card series starting Tuesday with Miami.
“It was a unique opportunity for me to fulfill different roles,” Suarez said via translator Sunday in New York. “That gave me more experience and more confidence, and now I’m ready for any role they need me for.”
Suarez didn’t pitch in last year’s Wild Card series in St. Louis, with both Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola working into the seventh inning. That duo will start against Miami in Games 1 and 2.
Whom the Phillies start for a Game 3 is a question Thomson didn’t answer Monday beyond saying “everybody’s on board for the first two games.” If Thomson sees an opportunity to use Suarez to put down a game early in the series, he won’t hesitate to use him.
“He becomes kind of a Swiss Army knife because you can use him in any way,” Thomson said. “You can use him for length if you get into an extra-inning game in these first two games. You can use him in a leverage spot if you need him.”
A year ago, Suarez did all of the above. He had a rocky introduction to playoff baseball, walking five and not escaping the fourth inning in Game 1 of the NLDS in Atlanta, though the Phillies pulled out a win.
From there, he was outstanding. He started Game 3 of the NLCS against San Diego, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings. He turned around two days later to extinguish a ninth-inning fire and get the final two outs to send the Phillies to the World Series.
In the Fall Classic, he pitched in both wins, with two huge outs in the seventh of Game 1 in Houston and then five shutout innings in Game 3.
Add it up and he allowed two earned runs and nine hits, striking out 13 in 14.2 innings with a 1.23 ERA. He walked one better in his last four outings.
“That gives you confidence that you know what to expect out of those roles,” Suarez said. “At the end of the day, it’s about helping the team win. So whatever they need me for, I’m going to do it.”
The Phillies’ dream would have been to find a third starter reliable enough to take the ball in Game 3, allowing Suarez to just relieve. That hasn’t happened, with Taijuan Walker shaky in the second half and Michael Lorenzen moved out of the rotation after his August no-hitter. Cristopher Sanchez could start, though it would be his first postseason appearance. The upside is Jose Alvarado, Gregory Soto and Matt Strahm give the Phillies more left-handed bullpen depth, alleviating the need for Suarez to fill that role.
The Phillies would love to have Suarez start Game 1 of a division series after a sweep of the Marlins, which Suarez could help facilitate out of the bullpen in Game 1 Tuesday.
“If you did get into a spot, nothing really bothers Ranger, as we’ve talked about before,” Thomson said. “He has no pulse. He just goes out and he pitches. He can be a huge factor in the first two games, and then Game 3 if we get there.”
Pulse or not, Suarez’s postseason magic stemmed from doing the same thing no matter what situation he was in. Wherever he’s used this year, that same mentality will underpin it.
“It all comes down to enjoying the game,” Suarez said. “You have to go out there and compete and do your best for the team. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to enjoy what you do. For us, it’s the game. You have to go out there and enjoy the game. It’s one of the things that’s key for us.”
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