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Phillies Notes: Thomson on Game 4 pitching plan and a potential role for Rhys Hoskins

Rob Thomson is in his second season as Phillies manager. (Don Otto/Phillies Nation)

The Phillies have a chance to close out the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday night.

Rob Thomson has room to be creative with his pitching plans. Every reliever is available out of the bullpen, including Orion Kerkering, who pitched the eighth inning of Game 3 and has not pitched in back-to-back games all season.

It’s going to be a challenge with Spencer Strider on the mound for Atlanta. The Braves have not lost back-to-back Strider outings since June 21-26, 2022. His numbers on four days rest, however, are down compared to when he gets extra rest. Strider has a 5.56 ERA on normal rest in 2023 with only two quality starts out of eight. Atlanta’s 8-0 in these start and are averaging just under eight runs per game in those eight outings.

Opposing him will be Ranger Suárez. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in his last six starts against Atlanta, including postseason.

Thomson said in a pregame media session on Thursday that he did not have conversations with Suárez, or any other player on the roster, on what the pitching plan could be. In other words, Suárez has a chance to pitch deep into Game 4 if the situation calls for it. Maybe in the event that the Phillies get to Strider early.

There’s also a chance Game 4 looks a lot like Game 1 and Suárez gets an early hook if there’s traffic on the bases and Thomson likes a particular matchup.

The Phillies manager is aware that Suárez could be worried about a quick hook.

“I’m not gonna go there,” Thomson said. “But I think in the back of his mind that it’s there.”

But there is a confidence that any lingering thoughts would not impact the free-spirited Suárez.

“I mean, this kid doesn’t — his heart rate never changes,” Thomson said. “He’s just so poised on the mound, and the moment never gets to him.”

Thomson clarified that Game 1 wasn’t scripted. Yes, he did inform players about a potential quick hook for Suárez. Suárez had a sense that a quick hook was possible, but wasn’t privy to all the details the way someone like catcher J.T. Realmuto was. He called an aggressive game behind the plate knowing that Suárez likely did not have to face the Braves’ lineup three times.

Perhaps Suárez’s first inning pitch mix could be a good indicator on how far he could go. Suárez attacked Ronald Acuña Jr. with a first-pitch cutter for a ground out, then threw four different pitches, a four-seamer, changeup, curveball and sinker, to get the second batter Austin Riley looking on strikes.

Yes, it’s smart to be aggressive in the first inning with Atlanta since they are one of the most prolific first inning offenses in the game’s history, but there’s a balance between that aggressiveness and showing too much.

Rhys Hoskins’ potential role

Rhys Hoskins (torn left ACL) has accumulated around 25-30 at-bats at the Phillies’ “stay-ready” camp in Clearwater. Thomson has finally been able to watch them on film.

“He’s looked good and he’s running OK,” Thomson said.

If Hoskins were to return, either in the National League Championship Series or the World Series, it will almost be exclusively as a pinch hitter. They prefer having the defensive stud Johan Rojas in center field and either Brandon Marsh or Cristian Pache in left field.

Putting Hoskins in the starting lineup means taking either of those three outfielders out and moving Kyle Schwarber from DH to left field. Schwarber was graded as one of the worst outfielders in the sport this year and the Phillies have come to enjoy penciling in a strong defensive outfield behind the pitching staff.

“I see Rhys more as a pinch hitter more than anything,” Thomson said. “There might be a time when you got a tough lefty and you want to get him four at-bats or something like that. But I see him more as a pinch hitter.”

The Phillies could certainly use Hoskins in a late-game scenario against a left-handed reliever. Say an opposing team has a lefty on the mound and Marsh’s spot comes up. The Phillies could have Hoskins hit for Marsh and replace him with Pache, either when he gets on-base or the next half inning.

In his media session prior to Game 2 of the NLDS, Thomson said that a Hoskins return in the NLCS is a “stretch,” but a possibility.