Phillies turn to Falter and the bullpen in Game 3 of NLCS

Left-hander Bailey Falter will make his postseason debut on Saturday in basically what will be a bullpen game for the Phillies in Game 4; he has not pitched since the regular season finale on Oct. 5 in Houston. “There’s always concern about rust, and he hasn’t been able to see actual hitters, but we’ve had a lot of bullpens, heavy bullpens where guys have been standing in so at least he can get a visual,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson.  Falter pieced together a solid regular season for the Phils, finishing 6-4 with a 3.86 ERA over 20 appearances, including 16 starts. Thomson hopes Falter can give him about three innings then the plan is to turn the game over to the bullpen.  “It will be right around there.,” Thomson said. “I think he can give us three innings. It’s been a while for him too. That’s kind of the plan, to get one time through.”  The entire bullpen will be available for the Phillies, accoring to Thomson, with Seranthony Dominguez the lone exception as he recorded six outs on Friday in Game 3.  The Padres will have right-hander Mike Clevinger going in Game 4, marking his second postseason start. The veteran lasted 2 2/3 innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series in a loss to the Dodgers, surrendering five runs, four earned.  In three games at home this postseason, the Phillies have held opponents to just six runs (four earned) in 27 innings (1.33 ERA). Opponents are hitting just .170 (17-100) with a .484 OPS at Citizens Bank Park.  With two doubles in Game 3, Bryson Stott became the first Phillies rookie with multiple extra-base hits in a postseason game.