NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 15, 2022

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. I don't think you talked too much about it last night, but what went into the decision to start Noah tonight over Falter and some other options?

ROB THOMSON: I just like the way he's been pitching lately. And he's getting a lot of soft contact. He's got playoff experience. I'm not sure how long we can go with him because he hasn't pitched for -- he hasn't started for a couple of weeks. So I think if we get three or three-plus innings out of him, I think I would be really happy with that.

Q. If there's a Game 5, would Zack Wheeler start?

ROB THOMSON: Possibility, yes. I think other than Nola, everybody is available today. So we'll see how today goes and then we'll figure it out if there's a Game 5.

Q. Wheeler could appear in today's game if there's an opportunity?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, everybody's available.

Q. You just tweaked your lineup a little bit. What made you want to move Stott up a little bit and move Marsh ninth?

ROB THOMSON: Just his at-bats have been a little bit better, I thought. That's what it really comes down to.

Q. How long have you been thinking about how to get these 27 outs today? I don't know how late you were here last night or just trying to map it out in your mind because it could be something of a challenge.

ROB THOMSON: We've been thinking about it I guess for a couple days really, knowing that this day was going to come, especially when we lost Game 2, we knew this day was going to come. We've been thinking about it for a couple of days and planning it.

The sixth inning yesterday was really important for us because we didn't have to use -- because in the 5-1 game, normal, during the season, probably wouldn't use Dominguez or Eflin in that game unless they needed to pitch. But yesterday, in a playoff game, they would have pitched.

So getting those three runs was crucial for us for today and tomorrow. I think we've got a lot more innings in us at the end of the game today than we would have yesterday. And they'll still be available tomorrow if there's a Game five.

I forget what your question was. (Laughter). Did I answer it?

Q. Yes.

ROB THOMSON: OK, good.

Q. Obviously you guys have been so good all year, not getting too high, too low. After last night, all the emotion the way the game played out, the crowd, quick turnaround today, was there a message to the team to just come out today and focus on today's game only?

ROB THOMSON: I didn't speak to the club as a whole, but I think they get that. They've been grinding for a long time now. We've had a lot of ups and downs. And they get it that yesterday's gone and today's a new day. And we got a new pitcher out there who is really good, and we've got to focus on that. Gotta stay humble because the game will humble you. And we're going to go out there and grind today.

Q. You said Zack Wheeler could maybe pitch today, maybe pitch on rest tomorrow. Is that a conversation you've had with him? I can't imagine he's pitched too much on shorter rest?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, Caleb's talked to him. We're still talking through it a little bit. But as far as I know I think he's okay for an inning today.

Now, having said that, I wouldn't force that. You know what I mean? You've got to be careful.

Q. Your views on Charlie Morton pitching today?

ROB THOMSON: He's really good. And he's a big-game pitcher. I saw some stats on elimination games that he's pitched in. So he certainly performs well in those moments.

We've got to bear down. We've had -- it's been one or the other, it seems. We've had success against him or he's really, really shut us down, one or the other. So we've got to lock it in and have good at-bats today.

Q. What have you thought of Noah Syndergaard's stuff coming out of the bullpen? Do you think there could be an uptick with him just pitching three innings?

ROB THOMSON: Possibly. I do think coming out of the bullpen, the velocity jumped a little bit. The quality of the secondary pitches ticked up a little bit. I hope so.

I told him last night, we're not expecting seven or eight innings out of you. We just want you to go out there and get after it for once through the lineup, or maybe the fourth inning. And leave it out there. And he said that's good.

Q. What kind of role could Suarez have in a possible Game 5?

ROB THOMSON: Could be a starter, depending on what all happens today.