The Phillies Starting Pitchers Are Putting Up Historic Numbers

The Phillies took their first loss of the NLCS on Thursday night. But it had nothing to do with the performance of their starter Ranger Suarez. 5.1 innings, no runs allowed. It drops his career ERA in the postseason t0 0.94 across 6 starts, and two appearance out of the bullpen. That just so happens to be the lowest postseason ERA in the history of the MLB for people with at least 5 starts. But it is not just Ranger Suarez. The Phillies entire rotation these playoffs has been historically great. Aaron Nola has a 0.96 ERA in 3 starts this postseason. Zack Wheeler has  2.37 ERA, and his WHIP is 0.63.

The greatness of the rotation goes even deeper than that though. Jayson Stark joined The Best Show Ever, and shared some stats that shows this rotation is having the best postseason, at least so far, in the history of the league.

Let that last stat sink in. They have only trailed while pitching to 6 batters. That has a lot to do with the lineup and the bullpen too, but the starters have more than done their job keeping the Phillies in games. They didn't trail at all last night until Ketel Marte hit his walk off single. The starters trailed twice vs the Braves, but the Phillies got the run back the next inning every time. And in their one loss against the Braves they didn't trail until the 8th inning.

The Phillies starters have barley allowed any baserunners, let alone give up any runs. They haven't just been good, as it stands they have been the best starting rotation in baseball history. There are still plenty of games to go, and they have to keep this up. But the Phillies can be pretty comfortable in every game knowing they will have the pitching advantage, whether it is Wheeler, Nola, or Ranger on the mound.

All that could change with Cristopher Sanchez on the mound tonight. He was actually one of their most reliable starters in the regular season, but hasn't pitched in 19 days. But at most, he would pitch tonight, and in one World Series game if they make it there. Otherwise the Phillies have a starter putting up historically good numbers going in every single game for the rest of the playoffs.

The Phillies are back in the NLCS. For the second straight year, they knocked the 100+ win Braves out of the playoffs in the NLDS. Everyone called them the greatest lineup in Baseball history. Didn't seem so potent against the Phillies. They were held to just 7 runs across 4 games. With guys like Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson being quiet the entire series. And now, we can look forward to the NLCS and the Diamondbacks.

The Phillies get the next 3 days off. Which they may need after how much they partied after the win in game 4. And then on Monday, it begins. They need 4 more wins to get to the World Series, and 8 more to parade down Broad Street.

And there is good reason to be very confident in this team. As good as last year's team was, this roster is even better. To start, they have Trea Turner who is putting up crazy numbers. Bryce Harper is still the best playoff hitter ever. And now you have Nick Castellanos playing out of his mind after he struggled in the playoffs last year. And maybe more important, is how great the pitching looks.

The Braves may be choke artists, but that was still a very good lineup. They were shut down by the Phillies pitchers though. Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez all pitched gems. And apart from game 2, the Bullpen shut the door on the Braves once the starters came out. The bullpen goes deep, far deeper than it did last year. The lineup is just as deep. This team is very good.

So before the NLCS, let's get a reminder of just how good this 26-man roster is. And while we are at it, let's see how all of them have played against the Diamondbacks so far this season.

Season Stats

.252/.310/.452/.762

20 HRs, 28 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 63 RBIs, 70 Runs, 16 SBs, 35 BBs, 138 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.400/.478/1.000/1.478

8 for 20, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 6 RBIs, 8 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 2Ks

Playoff Stats

.273/.333/.636/.969

6 for 22, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 6 RBIS, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.293/.401/.499/.900

21 HRs, 29 2Bs, 1 3B, 72 RBIs, 84 Runs, 11 SBs, 80 BBs, 119 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.296/.441/.370/.812

8 for 27, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.368/.538/.842/1.380

7 for 19, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 5 Ks

Season Stat

.280/.329/.419/.747

15 HRs, 32 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 62 RBIs, 78 Runs, 31 SBs, 39 BBs, 100 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.393/.414/.786/1.200

11 for 28, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Playoff Stats

.238/.292/.381/.673

5 for 21, 1 HR, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 7 RBIs, 3 Runs, 1 Sb, 2 BBs, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.266/.320/.459/.778

26 HRs, 35 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 76 RBIs, 102 Runs, 30 SBs, 45 BBs, 150 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.241/.353/.379/.732

7 for 29, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 5 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.500/.538/.917/1.455

12 for 24, 2 HRs, 4 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 2 BBs, 4 Ks

Season Stats

.274/.327/.437/.765

20 HRs, 31 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 97 RBIs, 74 Runs, 4 SBs, 42 BBs, 94 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.346/.346/.423/.769

9 for 26, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 8 RBIs, 4 Runs, 0 SBs, 0 BBs, 1 K

Playoff Stats

.190/.320/.286/.606

4 for 21, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SBs, 4 BBs, 6 Ks

Season Stats

.277/.372/.458/.829

12 HRs, 25 2Bs, 6 3Bs, 60 RBIs, 58 Runs, 10 SBs, 59 BBs, 144Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.263/.300/.316/.616

5 for 19, 0 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SB, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.357/.400/.643/1.043

5 for 14, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.302/.342/.430/.771

2 HRs, 9 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 23 RBIs, 24 Runs, 14 SBs, 5 BBs, 42 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.048/.091/.048/.139

1 for 21, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 9 Ks

Season Stats

.272/.311/.476/.788

29 HRs, 37 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 106 RBIs, 79 Runs, 11 SBs, 36 BBs, 185 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.258/.314/.355/.669

8 for 31, 0 HRs, 3 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 3 BBs, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.391/.440/.643/1.083

9 for 23, 4 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 6 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats 

.197/.343/.474/.817 

47 HRs, 19 2Bs, 1 3B, 104 RBIs, 108 Runs, 0 SBs, 126 BBs, 215 Ks 

Stats vs Diamondbacks 

.192/.364/.462/.825 

5 for 26, 2 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 7 BBs, 6 Ks 

Playoff Stats 

.160/.222/.240/.462

4 for 25, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3B, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.251/.293/.427/.719

10 HRs, 15 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 30 RBIs, 34 Runs, 4 SBs, 8 BBs, 74 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.182/.182/.364/.545

2 for 11, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 SB, 0 BBs, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has not appeared

Season Stats

.238/.319/.417/.736

2 HRs, 7 2Bs, 1 3B, 11 RBIs, 12 Runs, 2 SBs, 10 BBs, 27 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Face The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.143/.333/.143/.476

1 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats

.212/.272/.348/.620

5 HRs, 8 2Bs, 1 3B, 21 RBIs, 18 Runs, 3 SBs, 15 BBs, 55 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

.204/.274/.283/.557

1 HR, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 12 RBIs, 15 Runs, 2 SBs, 9 BBs, 29 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.286/.375/.286/.661

2 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.61 ERA, 13-6, 212 Ks, 192 IPs, 1,08 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.00 ERA, 1-1, 10 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.17 WHIP, 2 Starts

Playoff Stats

2.08 ERA, 1-0, 18 Ks, 13 IPs, .069 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.46 ERA, 12-9, 202 Ks, 193.2 IPs, 1.15 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

5.40 ERA, 1-0, 9 Ks, 6.2 IPS, 1.05 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

1.42 ERA, 2-0, 12 Ks, 12.2 IPs, 0.87 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 4-6, 119 Ks, 125 IPs, 1.42 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.75 ERA, 0-0, 12 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.00 WHIP, 2 Starts,

Playoff Stats

1.04 ERA, 1-0, 6 Ks, 8.2 IPs, 0.58 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.38 ERA, 15-6, 138 Ks, 172.2 IPs, 1.31 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.44 ERA, 3-5, 96 Ks, 99.1 IPs, 1.05 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Ks, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 9-9, 111 Ks, 153 IPs, 1.21 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

8.1 ERA, 0-1, 3 Ks, 6.2 IPs, 1.20 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.26 ERA, 23 Saves, 94 Ks, 69 IPs, 1.04 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 4 Ks, 3 IPs, 0.33 WHIP. 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 2 Saves, 1 Hold, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

1.74 ERA, 10 Saves, 64 Ks, 41.1 IPs, 1.16 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 K, 1 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Holds, 4 Ks, 4 IPs, 4 Appearances

Season Stats

4.62 ERA, 3 Saves, 65Ks, 60.1 IPs, 1.14 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 3 Ks, 2 IPS, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

5.40 ERA, 0 Saves,  1 Hold, 1.2 IPS, 2 Ks, 2.40 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

2.41 ERA, 1 Save, 69 Ks, 52.1 IPs, 0.92 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

3.86 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 2.1 IPs, 2.14 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 2 Holds, 2.2 IPS, 4 Ks, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.78 ERA, 2 Saves, 48 Ks, 50 Ks, 50 IPs, 1.40 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

27.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Blown Save, 2 Ks, 1.1 IPs, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

18.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Hold, 1-1, 1 K, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 HLD, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.29 ERA, 2 Saves, 108 Ks, 87.2 IPs, 1.02 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

9.64 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 4.2 IPs, 1.71 WHIP, 2 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 Hold, 2.1 IPS, 1 K, 1.29 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 6 Ks, 3.0 IPs, 1.33 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 HLD, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances