The Ringer's Philly Special Matt Strahm Tipping Pitches, Second-Guessing Topper, And Other Phillies Game 1 Takeaways
Oct 5, 2025
The Phillies' heart-wrenching Game 1 loss to the Dodgers is unpacked, highlighting missed opportunities and a critical pitching error. They speculate on whether Matt Strahm was tipping pitches, leading to a game-changing home run. The impact of Harrison Bader's injury raises concerns for the outfield. Anticipation builds for Game 2 with a new starter, Jesus Luzardo, while the hosts analyze late-game strategy and the effectiveness of bullpen choices. Fans get an inside look at the atmosphere, with unforgettable moments and debates over player decisions.
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Three-Run Leads Need Clean Middle Innings
- A three-run lead in playoffs is often enough to win if the bullpen holds through the sixth-to-eighth innings.
- The Phillies lost Game 1 because they failed to navigate those middle innings cleanly.
One-Out Call Created Matchup Problems
- The Robertson decision had knock-on effects because his mid-inning use limited later matchups.
- Using him to get one out boxed the Phillies into a tougher seventh-inning matchup plan.
Use Fresh Arms To Protect Later Matchups
- If you fear a reliever matchup, consider using a fresh arm like Strom to get a clean inning and protect later high-leverage slots.
- Think ahead about how mid-inning changes affect planned three-inning relief sequences.