Game 7? ‘Nothing’s too big’ for Suárez

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

A few Phillies got together before Game 5 of the NL Championship Series on Saturday at Chase Field to put their season into perspective.

One player offered a hypothetical: If somebody told them this spring that they would make the World Series if they won two of three games, everybody would have jumped at the opportunity. Especially if they had Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez lined up to pitch those games.

Well, the Phillies and D-backs split the first two games in that real-life hypothetical, forcing Game 7 of the NLCS tonight at Citizens Bank Park. It will be the first Game 7 and the fourth do-or-die game in Phillies postseason history. Philadelphia won Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS against Houston to advance to the World Series. It lost Game 5 of the 1981 NL Division Series to the Expos and Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS to the Cardinals.

“It’s going to be exciting times,” Kyle Schwarber said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for us [tonight]. We have to embrace it.”

The Phillies like their chances with Suárez on the mound in this historic Game 7.

“I mean, there is always a first time,” Suárez said. “It’s my turn now. I’m excited to be on the mound [tonight].”

Suárez isn’t as widely known outside of Philadelphia as Wheeler and Nola, but his 0.94 ERA is the lowest in postseason history (minimum five starts), just ahead of legendary left-hander Sandy Koufax (0.95 ERA). Yes, Koufax pitched 57 postseason innings (all in the World Series) and Suárez has pitched just 28 2/3 innings, but good is good.

And Suárez has been really, really good in the postseason.

“Anytime you’ve got Ranger on the bump, we’ve got a really good chance to win,” Bryce Harper said. “He’s got a really good mindset out there. We know that he can go as long as he can and he’s going to get the job done for us.”

Suárez also has the right demeanor for this moment. People talk about his calmness on the mound and coolness off the field, and it’s true. Nothing seems to get him worked up.

The Phillies will need a pitcher with a steady hand tonight against the D-backs.

“It’s definitely contagious, so I think that he’s right man, right spot,” Nick Castellanos said.

“Nothing’s too big for him,” Nola said.