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How tin the Phillies travel backmost and triumph World Series? (1:16)
Todd Frazier examines however Justin Verlander was capable to get his archetypal vocation triumph successful the World Series and however the Phillies tin travel back. (1:16)
8:53 PM ET
Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer
- ESPN shot reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.
HOUSTON -- Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said helium plans to person Ranger Suarez disposable retired of the bullpen successful alleviation of Zack Wheeler successful Saturday's Game 6, a must-win crippled fixed the Houston Astros' 3-2 vantage successful this World Series.
Wheeler experienced a flimsy dip successful fastball velocity during his Game 2 start, going from astir 97 mph successful 4 anterior postseason starts to astir 95, and yet gave up 5 runs (four earned) successful 5 innings.
The Phillies aboriginal said Wheeler was experiencing limb fatigue, prompting the Phillies to propulsion him backmost to Game 6 to springiness him 2 further days of rest.
Wheeler, speaking via video league during Friday's question day, threw his between-starts bullpen league connected Thursday and said helium "felt good."
"I deliberation we're connected track," Wheeler added.
Suarez is lined up connected the emblematic 4 days remainder to commencement a imaginable Game 7 connected Sunday, but Aaron Nola volition get that commencement successful what volition germinate into thing of a bullpen game, fixed that Nola volition beryllium connected abbreviated rest, Thomson said.
The Phillies efficaciously utilized Suarez arsenic a reliever successful their Game 1 victory, bringing him into the seventh inning and watching him onslaught retired Yordan Alvarez. His Game 6 usage volition astir apt beryllium much prolonged, fixed the concerns astir Wheeler's durability.
The Astros person a overmuch clearer representation with a precocious ascendant Framber Valdez lined up connected six days' remainder for Game 6 -- but they're uncertain astir archetypal base.
Yuli Gurriel awkwardly turned his close genu aft slipping during a rundown successful Thursday's seventh inning and came retired of the game. Astros manager Dusty Baker didn't person an update connected Gurriel's information during his availability aboriginal Friday, but Gurriel said aft Thursday's crippled that helium was hopeful of playing connected Saturday -- astatine slightest arsenic the designated hitter.
"I anticipation so," Gurriel, speaking successful Spanish, said precocious Thursday night. "I inactive consciousness a small sore, and I deliberation I'll beryllium adjacent much sore [on Friday]. But I'm hopeful that connected Saturday I tin beryllium successful the lineup."
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