Some Unsolicited Phillies Optimism

Phillies world will (rightfully) be filled with doom and gloom throughout the day. The situation is grim. Fans have resigned themselves to a game four Phils loss.

But for the minority of folks who choose to be optimistic, here are three reasons to believe:

1) These situations are never as dire as we think.

The situation is not hopeless. For those of us emotionally invested in the team, things may feel hopeless. But the oddsmakers in Vegas, looking at the series coldly and objectively, have the Phillies as slight favorites in NLDS game four (-116 at one of the most popular sportsbooks).

And if the Phils win game four, the fan base will flip from distraught to cocky in a nanosecond. The entire series would come down to a Zack Wheeler start in Citizens Bank Park.

Fans old enough to remember game one of this NLDS know that wouldn't be a guaranteed win. But the Phillies would certainly be favored once again.

2) Winning two games in a row is not uncommon.

The Phillies won two games in a row dozens of times this season. Their longest winning streak was seven games, which they accomplished twice. Those streaks, by definition, began after a loss. And the team looked as bad (or worse) in some of those losses as they did Tuesday night.

You may remember that a certain team in the 2023 NLCS very unexpectedly won the final two games of the series after looking dead in the water.

3) There's a chance that Ranger Suarez rounds into form just in time.

Ranger Suarez's performance was one of the biggest differences between the scorching hot early-season Phils and the scuffling late-season Phils.

Suarez went 9-0 with a 1.36 ERA in his first ten starts of 2024. But he spent time on the IL mid-season, and he went 2-6 with a 6.04 ERA in his final ten starts.

So while Suarez has been lethal for the Phillies in previous Octobers, it's entirely fair to wonder if he can flip the switch on Wednesday. As Anthony writes here, however, there are reasons to believe Suarez is close to returning to form.

Namely:

- Suarez made a mechanical adjustment after his final start of the season (a start in which he allowed six runs);

- He reportedly looked good when throwing two innings in Wednesday's intrasquad game; and

- Rob Thomson told reporters that Suarez's velocity is up and his command is looking the best it's been since his injury.

Still not convinced the Phils will pull this off? Well, sure. Neither are we.

But we're telling you there's a chance.