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The Phillies Have A Serious Craig Kimbrel Problem

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Author and Dylan MacKinnon
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 20: Craig Kimbrel #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after being removed from the game in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Chase Field on October 20, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Most of the Phillies did their job tonight. They had a 5-2 lead going into the 7th. Some very iffy pitching by Gregory Soto and Orion Kerkering made it a 5-3 lead. But it was when Craig Kimbrel came in that the game turned onto its head. A 2-run HR off the bat of pinch hitter Alek Thomas tied the game. He then let two more base runners get on before finally getting pulled. Jose Alvarado let one of those runners score, and that was all she wrote. A Kyle Schwarber double was not enough in the top of the 9th, and the Phillies lost 6-5, allowing the DBacks to tie up the series.

There were several issues in the game. None graver though than Craig Kimbrel. Orion Kerkering coming in and looking great was a bit of a pipe dream considering he had next to no MLB experience. But Craig Kimbrel is supposed to be one of their key guys out of the bullpen. Now he has taken two straight losses, and given up 4 earned runs over the last two games.

MLB on Twitter: "ALEK THOMAS TIES IT! 😱 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/bucXC3XFMz / Twitter"

ALEK THOMAS TIES IT! 😱 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/bucXC3XFMz

The starters continue to get it done. Christopher Sanchez didn’t last long, but he was decent enough. At most, he would have to start one more time this postseason. The rotation is not a concern considering how well Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez have pitched. Did the lineup leave a little on the table? Sure. But we know this team can hit. The bullpen may become a concern though if you can’t even trust Kimbrel with a  2 run lead.

At times this season, Kimbrel looked fantastic. We have not seen that guy in at least 3 months though. Even his scoreless outings this postseason were full of anxiety. Alvarado can be trusted. Matt Strahm can be trusted as well. As can Jeff Hoffman. Seranthony Dominguez is a bit of a question mark. And now after tonight, Craig Kimbrel, Gregory Soto, and Orion Kerkering are a bit hard to trust. Soto and Kerkering struggling you could get past. But if this is who Kimbrel is going to be, the Phillies have a problem. Not a problem impossible to overcome, but a problem all the same.

Zack Wheeler takes the mound for the Phillies tomorrow. They may not have many of their bullpen guys available though. Michael Lorenzen and Taijuan Walker were the only guys who didn’t pitch. And Alvarado and Hoffman pitched in both games. Luckily the DBacks are in a similar situation.

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How Zack Wheeler Has Pitched Against The Diamondbacks Hitters In His Career

Well, that is not the way any of us saw games 3 and 4 going after the Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 lead. First, the bats go cold in game 3. Then in game 4, the bullpen blew a 5-2 lead. Now the series is tied up. The good news is 2 of the last 3 games will be played at Citizens Bank Park. But all the momentum they had when they got onto a plane is gone. They had the D Backs down, and they let them back on their feet. Luckily Zack Wheeler is taking the mound next, and few pitchers of late have been better than Wheeler in the playoffs.

In 9 playoff starts, he has a 2.63 ERA and a WHIP of 0.70. And we saw him mostly shut this lineup down in game 1. Apart from a Geraldo Perodomo HR, Wheeler was nearly unhittable. And that has been the case for much of this postseason. He shut down the Marlins, mostly contained the Braves, then held the Diamondbacks to 2 runs.

Who the Phillies have available out of the pen may be another question. Alvardo, Hoffman, Kimbrel, and Kerkering all pitched two days in a row, they will not be available. Dominguez, Strahm, and Soto pitched in game 4, but can probably pitch again. Walker and Lorenzen are the only guys who have not pitched, but how much you can trust them is to be determined. It’s possible Ranger Suarez could come in out of the pen. He couldn’t start again until game 7 and was used in a similar situation last postseason.

The best option is Wheeler pitching at least 8 innings, and the Phillies scoring a lot of runs off Zac Gallen, again. But does he have the advantage vs. this lineup?

Here is how Zack Wheeler has pitched against the DBacks hitters in his career:

  • Corbin Carroll

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks tosses his bat after drawing a walk in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    .125/.222/.125/.347

    1 for 8, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 K

  • Ketel Marte

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks tosses his bat after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

    .308/.400/.615/1.015

    4 for 13, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 BBs, 4 Ks

  • Tommy Pham

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Tommy Pham #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game One of the Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

    (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

    .357/.500/.571/1.071

    5 for 14, 1 HR, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 4 BBs, 3 Ks

  • Christian Walker

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    .474/.474/.789/1.263

    9 for 19, 1 HR, 3 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 0 BBs, 5 Ks

  • Gabriel Moreno

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Gabriel Moreno #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    .000/.000/.000/.000

    0 for 5, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 0 Ks

  • Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after Gabriel Moreno #14 (not pictured) hit a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

    .250/.250/.500/.750

    3 for 12, 1 HR, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 0 BBs, 6 Ks

  • Alek Thomas

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Alek Thomas #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a single in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    .000/.000/.000/.000

    0 for 4, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 1 K

  • Evan Longoria

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 25: Evan Longoria #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during the MLB game at Chase Field on July 25, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

    .273/.273/.364/.636

    3 for 11, 0 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 3 Ks

  • Geraldo Perodomo

    PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Geraldo Perdomo #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    .222/.222/.667/.889

    9 for 9, 0 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 RBIs, 0 BBs, 3 Ks

  • Totals

    PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 16: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game One of the Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 16, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    . (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    .252/.297/.468/.765

    28 for 111, 6 HRs, 6 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 14 RBIs, 7 BBs, 33 Ks

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Tyrone Johnson is the host of “The Best Show Ever” on 97.5 The Fanatic. He has been with the station for the past 8 years. Before working at the Fanatic, Tyrone produced political radio, did financial reports, and was assistant chief engineer of another radio station. As a content creator for 97.5 The Fanatic, Tyrone writes articles on the Sixers, Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers.

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