NL DIVISION SERIES: DODGERS VS PHILLIES

October 6, 2025

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Dodgers - 4, Phillies - 3

Q. What went into the decision to have Bryson Stott bunt there as opposed to swinging?

ROB THOMSON: Just left on left. Trying to tie the score. I liked where our bullpen was at based on, as compared to theirs. We play for the tie at home.

Q. Seemed like the Dodgers were expecting it. Was there any thought of taking it off after?

ROB THOMSON: Mookie did a great job of disguising the wheel play. We teach our guys that if you see wheel, just pull it back and slash because you've got all kinds of room in the middle.

But Mookie broke so late that it was tough for Stotty to pick it up.

Q. Did you feel the limitations of your roster not being able to pinch run for Castellanos there?

ROB THOMSON: It is what it is. Couldn't do much about it. I thought Stotty laid down a good bunt. But it's the way it is.

We knew that we were going to probably pinch-hit with Bader. We needed to have Willie there. Plus, if you pinch run Willie for Castellanos and then Bader hits, you have no one to run for him and you don't have another outfielder. Kind of hands were tied.

Q. Is there any thought with, it seemed like you had a little bit of momentum there after not playing for the tie, or that didn't really enter the equation?

ROB THOMSON: No, I wanted to play for the tie. I liked where our bullpen was compared to theirs.

Q. I know this lineup has been one of the deep ones you've had, but right now with Harper and Schwarber and Trea struggling a little bit, is that kind of what's holding you guys back a little bit; you go as they go?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, you like those guys to be swinging the bats, but I do like what we're doing at the bottom part of the order. Snell was good again tonight.

But I thought our bats were better against him tonight than they were in LA. I don't think we got out of the zone as much as we did in LA. But you have to have confidence that those guys will get it going.

Q. That spot in the sixth, where Bryce comes up, two on, one out, seemed like it was a moment where he's come through in the past. Did that feel like a turning point in the game?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think those guys are trying to do a little too much right now, instead of just being themselves and looking for base hits and the power will come.

Q. You talked a lot in the past about how resilient this group has been. This is probably the ultimate test coming up of resiliency. How do you guys sort of get back on track and get back into the series?

ROB THOMSON: I'll have probably a little meeting with them on Wednesday. But I love the fight in the eighth and ninth inning. They fought like hell, and hopefully that carries over into Wednesday. But this is a resilient group. Our backs are against the wall. We've just got to come out fighting.

Q. Will Ranger start Game 3?

ROB THOMSON: It will be Aaron Nola, with Ranger behind him.

Q. What's the reasoning behind that?

ROB THOMSON: Nola has never pitched out of the pen. How long he goes, I don't know. But -- and I trust him.

Q. Is there anything health-wise with Suarez right now?

ROB THOMSON: No, nothing.

Q. In the seventh inning, was there any thought in going right to the bullpen instead of sending Luzardo back out there?

ROB THOMSON: No, he retired 17 in a row. He had 72 pitches. He's pitching great. I mean, you'd be asking me the question, why did you take him out if I did.

Q. And also in the seventh, what did you make of the way Kerkering pitched? And before the game you said you could go a little earlier with Duran. Is there any thought to putting him in the seventh because he's your best reliever?

ROB THOMSON: Kerkering did a pretty good job. Back-to-back nights, get two outs and you're thinking you're going to get out of it. And Will Smith hits a slider for a base hit and we give up two runs.

He strikes out Edman. He gets the jam shot to Kiké, walked Muncy, gets the pop-up and a base hit. You're there thinking, well, we're going to get out of this thing. I thought he threw the ball well again.

Q. What did you think of Luzardo's performance? Obviously he was fantastic.

ROB THOMSON: Dynamite. 24 pitches in the first inning, something like that, 70 percent strikes. He was getting ahead. He was attacking. The slider was really good. The change-up was good. Fastball had a lot of life. Battling a little bit of a jam in the first inning, and then he rolled from there. He was fantastic.