HOUSTON — Given the manner in which their top guns have performed in this World Series, it’s something of a surprise the Phillies are still alive for a Game 6.
Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola have combined to pitch three times, all with subpar results. The Phillies overcame a Nola clunker to win the series opener against the Astros, but lost the other two games started by their aces.
Now the Phillies are desperate. One loss will end their season and what has been a magical ride through October into early November. On Saturday, they will hand the ball to Wheeler at Minute Maid Park for Game 6 and hope he can help extend the World Series to Game 7.
“I take a lot of pride in that,” Wheeler said Friday. “I am just going to try to be a stopper and give our team one more chance after [Saturday]. It’s a must win and hopefully I can give us the best chance.”
The former Mets pitcher experienced a dip in velocity, which was likely a product of fatigue, during his Game 2 start. Wheeler was knocked out after allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits and three walks over five innings.
Now Wheeler will be starting on six days’ rest in what will be his final appearance of the season, regardless. Wheeler threw a bullpen session Thursday that went without a hitch, according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson. Wheeler also expressed confidence about his physical state.
“The extra rest always helps, but the bullpen felt good and I think we are on track,” Wheeler said.
“They’re a good team, but hopefully I can command the ball a little bit better this time and that puts me in a better position.”
Ranger Suarez, who has given the Phillies their best outing from a starting pitcher in this series — five scoreless innings in Game 3 — would be available behind Wheeler if there’s early trouble. If the Phillies can win without using Suarez, he would be available to start Game 7. Otherwise, Thomson would turn to Nola on short rest in a bullpen game.
Framber Valdez, who allowed only one earned run over 6 ²/₃ innings in Game 2, will return to the mound for the Astros for Game 6. The left-hander has pitched to a 1.42 ERA this postseason and given Houston the kind of performances that were expected from Wheeler and Nola.
The Astros will get the benefit of two home games, if needed, in their attempt to clinch their second World Series title in six years. They have reached this point on the strength of strong pitching, which included a combined no-hitter in Game 4 before Justin Verlander and the bullpen handled the Phillies in Game 5.
Combined with the Phillies’ comeback from a five-run deficit to Game 1 and their five-homer barrage against Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 3, it has been a compelling World Series.
“The quality has been good, but not great,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “Both sides had opportunities to win these games multiple times. We had runners on third base, less than two outs. I thought there was going to be a big offensive game, which it still might be in games coming up.
“But the pitching’s been good sometimes. The defense has been good most of the time. I think one of the keys in this, on both sides, has been the defense, so it’s been exciting. Everybody I’ve talked to, I mean they’re nervous. My wife said her blood pressure went up. Everybody I talked to is having a good time watching. I think it’s good for baseball, so I’m excited to get back to Houston.”
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