Oct 12, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Matt Strahm (25) celebrates the series victory against the Atlanta Braves following game four of the NLDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
As it turns out, Rob Thomson forgetting to take the cork out of the champagne bottle before drinking from it when the Phillies clinched a postseason berth in 2022 isn't the biggest celebration mishap the team has had in recent years.
Reliever Matt Strahm revealed on his show The Card Life TV that he suffered a broken nose during one of the team's 2023 postseason celebrations.
"Yeah, the boys got a little excited with the champagne bottle and I got cracked on the backswing on one of them," Strahm recalled.
.@MattStrahm joined us this afternoon from Nationals Park to open the latest drop of Slab Packs from @ArenaClub pic.twitter.com/olKhxQrtzA
Strahm didn't say whether this was the celebration after the Phillies locked up their postseason berth, after they defeated the Miami Marlins in the NLWCS or after they upset the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. Notably, Strahm earned the save in Game 4 to clinch the series win over the Braves, striking out Vaughn Grissom to end the game.
The Phillies better make sure to protect Strahm during any future celebrations, because he's been a major part of their team this season. A first-time All-Star, Strahm has a minuscule 1.93 ERA over 64 games this season. His 2.0 WAR is eighth among all relievers in the sport, according to FanGraphs.
