Sep 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) prepares to throw a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
PHILADELPHIA — Ranger Suárez was available out of the bullpen during Game 1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Rob Thomson said if he used the lefty, it would either be before the sixth inning or in extras.
Ultimately, Suárez didn't factor into a 5-3 Game 1 loss for the Phillies.
It seems like he will in Game 2.
"This is a big game tonight," Thomson acknowledged. "We talked all year long about winning series and how the first game is important. Second game is pretty important when you get to a five-game series or a seven-game series, because it's the swing game.
"So yeah, we'll use Ranger out of the bullpen tonight in leverage," Thomson added. "[Aaron] Nola will still be an emergency [option], meaning extra-inning game — long extra-inning game. And then we'll figure out Game 3."
Does that mean Thomson expects to use Suárez in Game 2, or just that he's available to be used?
"He's available, and I could use him at any point," Thomson said.
Rob Thomson told @TimKellySports that Ranger Suárez is available out of the bullpen in Game 2, and the Phillies “could use him at any point.”
“And then we’ll figure out Game 3.”
(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/DBbb38sZIP
Some of this will be dependent upon how Jesús Luzardo, the Game 2 starter, fares. It also will be interesting to see how deep the Phillies let Luzardo go. Does Thomson just roll with Luzardo until he feels it's time to make a change, or will there be a pre-determined point — such as after Shohei Ohtani or Freddie Freeman bats the second time — at which point the Phillies turn to their bullpen?
Thomson's answer on whether or not Suárez pitching an inning of relief in Game 2 would preclude him from starting in Game 3 in Los Angeles — following a travel day Tuesday — was also interesting.
"Not necessarily," Thomson said. "It [his Game 3 outing] might be a little bit shorter. But again, you could use him out of the bullpen."
Again, if Luzardo pitches eight shutout innings Tuesday and/or the Phillies blow the Dodgers out in Game 2, perhaps Suárez isn't used and is ultimately deployed as the Game 3 starter.
Listening to Thomson, though, you came away with the distinct impression that the person most likely to start Game 3 of the NLDS isn't Suárez, but rather Nola. Nola is one of the most accomplished starters in franchise history, and allowed just one run over eight innings in his final regular-season start. But he posted a 6.01 ERA over 17 starts during the regular season. The Phillies do need to win Monday, but Thomson and all involved will have egg on their faces if they go so far in to win Game 2 and then Nola performs how he did for most of 2025 as the Game 3 starter.
It is possible that the Phillies are just trying to flood the zone with a bunch of different scenarios to throw the Dodgers off as they try to game plan. Or they really believe that Suárez's most valuable role in this series will be as a Swiss-Army Knife, perhaps creating a scenario where he never starts a game despite being one of the better starting pitchers in the NL this season.
