Though Syndergaard will likely be asked to get just nine outs, the Phils are asking a lot of him: he struggled down the stretch but rebounded in Washington in the final week of the season and got nine big outs against Atlanta in the NLDS clincher:
Noah Syndergaard will get that start with Suarez sliding back to start Game 4 Tuesday.
The Phils, however, are experienced in going home tied at a game apiece. They've done it twice so far this postseason and have won all five games at home to advance to the next round. The Phillies do not have a dependable fourth starter -- that's why they've been piecing together bullpen games in that spot -- and their No. 3 starter is now pushing back to Game 4 because he helped the club win Game 1.The Phils had a golden chance to go up two games in the series Saturday. What a recipe, a come-from-behind, extra-innings win in Game 1, followed by a Wheeler start in Game 2.
With the decreased velocity, Wheeler threw more sinkers and sliders than four-seamers. The dip in velocity raised some health questions. He was hit on the inside of the left knee by a line drive in his previous start Sunday and felt soreness during the week. He also spent a month on the injured list late in the season with elbow inflammation.