5 Phillies who absolutely need to step up for Philadelphia in NLCS Game 7
Which Phillies need to bring their best into Game 7 for the team to have a chance to make the World Series?
After failing to finish off the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 6 of the NLCS on Monday, having their unbeaten streak at home for the 2023 postseason broken in the process, the Philadelphia Phillies have to quickly regroup to play in the do-or-die Game 7 on Tuesday. The winner will move on to the World Series, while the loser will be sent home packing.
To ensure that the Phillies grab that elusive win, who on the team must step it up to make sure they can fulfill their destiny? Here, we take a look at five players who will need to do all they can to make it happen.
Ranger Suárez
No one will be under as much pressure as Phillies’ Game 7 starter Ranger Suárez, as the entire season will be on the line with his start. On the bright side though, the Phillies will have the exact player they want on the mound for the crucial game.
Suárez has been lights out so far in the 2023 postseason, giving up only one earned run and seven hits with 13 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched over three starts. He'll need to come up big once again to keep the Phillies’ World Series hopes alive for another week.
Alec Bohm
For someone who has been placed into the heart of the order in the prime cleanup spot for the majority of the NLDS and all of the NLCS, Alec Bohm has been somewhat of a disappointment so far during the Phillies’ postseason run.
After ranking third on the team with 97 RBI during the regular season, Bohm has yet to have a defining moment and big hit in the playoffs to help his team to victory, with only five RBI in 12 games played. It's about time for Bohm to make his mark in the most important game of the Phillies’ season on Tuesday to show everyone what he is truly capable of doing.
Johan Rojas
It may be harsh to ask rookie Johan Rojas to step up his game in just his first year with the big league club. But after seeing the impact other prominent rookies, such as Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers and Gabriel Moreno of the Diamondbacks, have had in helping their respective ballclubs to success in the playoffs, one just wishes Rojas could provide something similar for the Phillies.
There’s no denying he has brought elite-level defense throughout the postseason, but it may be time he makes some solid contributions with his bat and speed to become a difference-maker for the Phillies in Game 7.
Trea Turner
One must be wondering how on earth Trea Turner managed to make this list. After all, he has been perhaps the Phillies' best hitter during the 2023 postseason, and captured many key wins for the ballclub during that stretch.
However, since Game 2 of the NLCS, Turner has actually gone a woeful 2-for-15 with just one RBI, one walk and four strikeouts in the past four games, including being caught stealing in one of the rare times he has managed to get on base.
For the Phillies to win Game 7, they'll definitely need Turner to regain his dominant form seen throughout the first couple weeks of the postseason once again, or else all of the record-breaking stats they have accomplished this postseason will end up meaning nothing in the end.
Nick Castellanos
Finally, one of the unsung heroes for the Phillies in the 2023 postseason, Nick Castellanos had been bashing home runs like no tomorrow in powering the team to victory on many nights.
However, he appears to have suffered a power outage heading into the NLCS. In six games so far, he has only one hit in 20 at-bats along with nine strikeouts. Perhaps opposing pitchers have finally figured him out, but nevertheless, Castellanos will need to quickly adjust and figure something out soon for Game 7 before it becomes too late.