You can thank the Yankees and Dodgers for the weird start times.
Both Games 1 and 2 will start at 4 p.m. as the TV networks prefer to have the two biggest teams in the sport on primetime. Games 3 and 4 at Citi Field are at 5:00 p.m. with a potential Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park at 4 p.m.
Late afternoon is not always the best time to play baseball. Early on, the shadows will be a factor.
It’s a big reason why manager Rob Thomson has decided to start Johan Rojas in center field for Game 1. Pitching and defense is magnified in the postseason, but outfield defense in particular becomes even more important with the shadows.
It makes scoring runs early in the game more difficult — and catching the balls that are hit in the air even more important.
“There’s a potential that it’s going to be tough to score some runs,” Thomson said. “I’m best defense available.”
Rojas started only 36 games for the Phillies in the second half of the season. As the club’s outfield options grew with the acquisition of Austin Hays and the emergence of players like Weston Wilson and Cal Stevenson, Rojas shifted into a defensive replacement role.
Now, the Phillies are going back to prioritizing defense as the run scoring environment changes in the postseason.
“I think it’s ever since he was a kid he was well trained with taking batting practice the right way, defensively, and reading balls off the bat,” Thomson said about Rojas. “Getting jumps. Anticipating where the ball is going to be hit. He does a great job at that. Not only is he fast but he gets off the ball quickly, takes very efficient routes. Arm strength, arm accuracy is there, attacks the ball, gets it out quickly.
“He’s as complete an outfielder for me as you will see. And there’s a few out there but he’s one of them.”
Thomson, however, will be quick to go to the bench if the situation calls for it. It’s hard to predict who will follow Mets starter Kodai Senga. Righty Tylor Megill could give New York length. The lefty David Peterson could also give the Mets multiple innings, though Thomson suspects that the Mets will use him for only one inning stints.
Thomson even theorized that lefty Sean Manaea could give the Mets a short outing and come back for a Game 3 if needed.
No matter what, the Mets’ pitching decisions will influence how long Thomson deploys his bench. Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh are aware that they could be pinch hit for, though both are likely to finish games they start due to the lack of left-handed options New York has in their bullpen. Stott and Marsh are both likely to come off the bench as pinch hitters when the Mets roll out a lefty starter.
“Just giving guys heads up,” Thomson said. “We might move a little bit earlier than they are used to so they are not surprised. Same thing with Wilson, Hays and Clemens, gotta be ready a little bit earlier than normal.”
For both teams, getting to the starter early could prove to be difficult. Facing Zack Wheeler without shadows is always a tough draw, but for the Phillies, seeing Senga’s forkball could be next to impossible. Bryce Harper said as much.
“You’ve got to be smart and hit the ones that are up,” Harper said, “and try to let the ones go that are down. But it’s a really tough pitch.”
The Last Pitcher
If there was one surprise that came out of the roster reveal earlier this afternoon, it’s Kolby Allard getting the last spot in the bullpen over righty Max Lazar. Allard is more of an emergency extra inning pitcher, though the Phillies probably hope they aren’t faced with a situation where they have to use him.
“He’s going to probably give us the most length if we get into an extra inning game, the rules go back to Abner Doubleday rules, so I just wanted as much length as we could get.” Thomson said with a smile.
On the decision to go with utility man Weston Wilson over outfielder Cal Stevenson for the bench, Thomson said: “He’s had more at-bats. He’s had more reps here. Getting a little bit more flexibility defensively.”
That means the Phillies are committed to either Marsh or Rojas playing in every inning of the game at all times. Maybe that changes if the Phillies advance and face a team like the Padres, who have significantly more lefty options in their bullpen.
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