PHILADELPHIA -- Saturday night’s Phillies game against Tampa Bay was supposed to mean nothing.
Instead, it means everything.
And because Saturday’s and Sunday’s games might mean everything to the Phillies, who still haven’t clinched a National League Wild Card, anything and everything is on the table.
The Phils announced on Saturday afternoon that Aaron Nola will start on just two days’ rest because they need to win to try to clinch the third NL Wild Card. Nola pitched on Wednesday, but he skipped his bullpen session on Friday to make himself available on Saturday.
The Phillies briefly considered pitching Zack Wheeler on short rest, but they decided against it. He remains scheduled to start on normal rest on Sunday.
Nola typically throws 40-50 pitches in his bullpen sessions, so the Phillies are hopeful to get a few innings out of him.
“If anybody's built for this, it’s probably Nola,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s a guy that's more old school than anybody.”
Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo could pitch in Sunday’s regular-season finale. He has not pitched since Sept. 7 because of inflammation in his left shoulder. He was scheduled to pitch a simulated game on Saturday, but it was cancelled because of rain.
But the Phillies feel good enough about Luzardo’s recovery that they might pitch him Sunday anyway.
“I only feel comfortable because everyone else feels comfortable,” Mattingly said. “You know, through medical, through him, the pitching guys, watching his bullpen, all that stuff. I would not want to be the guy making that decision just by what I see or what I want. It's more about what everybody else is saying and what they think he's capable of.”
Mattingly also shuffled his lineup, moving Trea Turner into the leadoff spot and dropping Kyle Schwarber into the two hole.
It’s the first time Turner has hit leadoff since Aug. 3.
The Phillies have scored three runs or fewer in nine of their past 12 games. They are 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position in their past three.
“Just a different feel as much as anything else,” Mattingly said.
Mattingly also moved Bryce Harper from right field to first base, starting Bryan De La Cruz in right field. It’s the first time Harper has played first base since the Luis Arraez trade on Aug. 3.
Arraez sprained his left ankle on Thursday. He has not been placed on the 10-day injured list yet, but Mattingly doesn’t sound optimistic about Arraez’s chances of playing.
If the Phillies get lucky, perhaps Arraez can pinch-hit this weekend.
“It doesn’t feel great,” Mattingly said. “It seems like it’s a pretty good ankle sprain. We’ll see how far we can go with it. We’re hoping we can do something, but it doesn’t feel that great.”