The Philadelphia Phillies will open the 2023 World Series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Friday, October 28th. The Phillies, who won the National League Championship Series in five games over the San Diego Padres, will be looking to win their first World Series title since 2008.
The Astros, who won the American League Championship Series in four games over the New York Yankees, will be looking to win their second World Series title in three years. The two teams have met in the World Series once before, in 2005, with the Astros winning in four games.
The Phillies have not yet announced who will start Game 1 of the World Series, but there are a few likely candidates. Zack Wheeler, who started Game 1 of the NLCS, is a possibility. Wheeler has been one of the Phillies' most consistent pitchers all season, going 16-8 with a 2.82 ERA in 2022.
Phillies Game 1 Starter
The Philadelphia Phillies have not yet announced who will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros, but there are a few likely candidates.
- Zack Wheeler
- Aaron Nola
- Ranger Suarez
- Taijuan Walker
- Matt Strahm
- Brad Hand
- Jose Alvarado
Wheeler is the most likely candidate to start Game 1, as he has been the Phillies' most consistent pitcher all season. Nola is another possibility, but he has struggled in the postseason this year. Suarez and Walker are both solid options, but they have less experience than Wheeler and Nola. Strahm, Hand, and Alvarado are all relievers, but they could be used as openers in Game 1.
Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler is the most likely candidate to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Wheeler has been the Phillies' most consistent pitcher all season, going 16-8 with a 2.82 ERA in 32 starts.
- Experience: Wheeler has plenty of postseason experience, having started four games in the 2021 NLDS and three games in the 2022 NLCS. He has a 3.38 ERA in seven career postseason starts.
- Stuff: Wheeler has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, sinker, curveball, and changeup. His fastball averages 96 mph and his sinker averages 93 mph. He also has a very good changeup that he can use to keep hitters off balance.
- Health: Wheeler has been healthy all season and has shown no signs of any injuries. He is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series.
- Recent performance: Wheeler has been pitching well in the postseason, going 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts. He has allowed just three runs on 11 hits in 13 innings pitched.
Overall, Wheeler is the best choice to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies. He has the experience, the stuff, the health, and the recent performance to give the Phillies a chance to win.
Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola is anotherの可能性 to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nola has been a very good pitcher for the Phillies all season, going 11-13 with a 3.25 ERA in 32 starts.
- Experience: Nola has some postseason experience, having started two games in the 2020 NLCS and one game in the 2022 NLDS. He has a 4.50 ERA in three career postseason starts.
- Stuff: Nola has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, curveball, and sinker. His fastball averages 92 mph and his changeup averages 86 mph. He also has a very good curveball that he can use to strike out batters.
- Health: Nola has been healthy all season and has shown no signs of any injuries. He is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series.
- Recent performance: Nola has been pitching well in the postseason, going 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts. He has allowed just two runs on six hits in 10 innings pitched.
Overall, Nola is a solid option to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies. He has the experience, the stuff, the health, and the recent performance to give the Phillies a chance to win. However, he does not have as much postseason experience as Wheeler and has struggled at times in the playoffs.
Ranger Suarez
Ranger Suarez is a dark horse candidate to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Suarez has been a very good pitcher for the Phillies all season, going 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 32 starts.
- Experience: Suarez has no postseason experience.
- Stuff: Suarez has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, curveball, and sinker. His fastball averages 94 mph and his changeup averages 87 mph. He also has a very good curveball that he can use to strike out batters.
- Health: Suarez has been healthy all season and has shown no signs of any injuries. He is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series.
- Recent performance: Suarez has been pitching well in the postseason, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts. He has allowed just two runs on six hits in 12 innings pitched.
Overall, Suarez is a solid option to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies. He has the stuff, the health, and the recent performance to give the Phillies a chance to win. However, he does not have any postseason experience and has struggled at times this season.
Taijuan Walker
Taijuan Walker is a long shot to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Walker has been a good pitcher for the Phillies all season, going 12-5 with a 3.88 ERA in 29 starts. However, he has not been as good in the postseason, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts.
Walker has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, curveball, and sinker. His fastball averages 93 mph and his changeup averages 86 mph. He also has a very good curveball that he can use to strike out batters.
Walker has been healthy all season and is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series. However, he does not have much postseason experience and has struggled at times this season. Overall, Walker is a solid option to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies, but he is not the most likely candidate.
In addition to the above, here are some other factors that could affect the Phillies' decision on who to start Game 1 of the World Series:
- The Phillies may want to start a left-handed pitcher in Game 1 to face the Houston Astros' predominantly right-handed lineup.
- The Phillies may also want to consider starting a pitcher who has experience pitching in the World Series.
Matt Strahm
Matt Strahm is a long shot to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Strahm has been a good reliever for the Phillies all season, going 4-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 61 appearances. However, he has not started a game since 2021.
- Experience: Strahm has no postseason experience as a starter.
- Stuff: Strahm has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, curveball, and sinker. His fastball averages 94 mph and his changeup averages 86 mph. He also has a very good curveball that he can use to strike out batters.
- Health: Strahm has been healthy all season and is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series.
- Recent performance: Strahm has been pitching well in the postseason, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three appearances. He has allowed just one run on three hits in four innings pitched.
Overall, Strahm is a solid option to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies. He has the stuff, the health, and the recent performance to give the Phillies a chance to win. However, he does not have any postseason experience as a starter and has struggled at times this season.
Brad Hand
Brad Hand is a long shot to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hand has been a good reliever for the Phillies all season, going 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 60 appearances. However, he has not started a game since 2020.
Hand has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, slider, and sinker. His fastball averages 91 mph and his changeup averages 82 mph. He also has a very good slider that he can use to strike out batters.
Hand has been healthy all season and is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series. However, he does not have any postseason experience as a starter and has struggled at times this season.
Overall, Hand is a solid option to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies. He has the stuff, the health, and the recent performance to give the Phillies a chance to win. However, he is not the most likely candidate to start.
Jose Alvarado
Jose Alvarado is a long shot to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Alvarado has been a good reliever for the Phillies all season, going 4-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 65 appearances. However, he has not started a game since 2019.
Alvarado has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, slider, and sinker. His fastball averages 98 mph and his changeup averages 88 mph. He also has a very good slider that he can use to strike out batters.
Alvarado has been healthy all season and is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series. However, he does not have any postseason experience as a starter and has struggled at times this season.
Overall, Alvarado is a solid option to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Phillies. He has the stuff, the health, and the recent performance to give the Phillies a chance to win. However, he is not the most likely candidate to start.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Phillies' Game 1 starter in the World Series:
Question 1: Who is the most likely candidate to start Game 1?
Answer: Zack Wheeler is the most likely candidate to start Game 1 for the Phillies. He has been their most consistent pitcher all season and has a lot of postseason experience.
Question 2: What are Wheeler's strengths?
Answer: Wheeler has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, sinker, curveball, and changeup. His fastball averages 96 mph and his sinker averages 93 mph. He also has a very good changeup that he can use to keep hitters off balance.
Question 3: What are Wheeler's weaknesses?
Answer: Wheeler can be prone to giving up home runs. He also sometimes struggles with his command and can walk too many batters.
Question 4: Who are some other candidates to start Game 1?
Answer: Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Taijuan Walker are all other candidates to start Game 1 for the Phillies. However, Wheeler is the most likely candidate.
Question 5: What factors will the Phillies consider when choosing their Game 1 starter?
Answer: The Phillies will consider a number of factors when choosing their Game 1 starter, including the pitcher's experience, stuff, health, and recent performance.
Question 6: What is the significance of Game 1?
Answer: Game 1 is very important because it can set the tone for the rest of the series. A win in Game 1 can give the Phillies a lot of momentum, while a loss can put them on the back foot.
Overall, the Phillies have a number of good options to start Game 1 of the World Series. The decision will likely come down to who the Phillies believe gives them the best chance to win.
In addition to the FAQ, here are some tips for choosing the Phillies' Game 1 starter:
Tips
Here are some tips for choosing the Phillies' Game 1 starter in the World Series:
Tip 1: Consider the pitcher's experience. Postseason experience is very valuable, so the Phillies should give preference to a pitcher who has pitched well in the playoffs before.
Tip 2: Consider the pitcher's stuff. The Phillies should choose a pitcher who has a good fastball and a variety of off-speed pitches. They should also consider how well the pitcher's stuff matches up against the Astros' lineup.
Tip 3: Consider the pitcher's health. The Phillies need their Game 1 starter to be healthy and able to pitch deep into the game. They should avoid choosing a pitcher who has any injuries or who is fatigued.
Tip 4: Consider the pitcher's recent performance. The Phillies should choose a pitcher who has been pitching well in the regular season and the playoffs. They should also consider how the pitcher has performed against the Astros in the past.
Overall, the Phillies should choose a pitcher who gives them the best chance to win Game 1 of the World Series. They should consider the pitcher's experience, stuff, health, and recent performance when making their decision.
In addition to the tips above, the Phillies may also want to consider the following factors when choosing their Game 1 starter:
Conclusion
The Phillies have a number of good options to start Game 1 of the World Series. Zack Wheeler is the most likely candidate, but Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Taijuan Walker are all also possibilities. The Phillies will need to consider each pitcher's experience, stuff, health, and recent performance when making their decision.
Ultimately, the Phillies should choose the pitcher who gives them the best chance to win Game 1. This is a very important game, as it can set the tone for the rest of the series. A win in Game 1 can give the Phillies a lot of momentum, while a loss can put them on the back foot.
The Phillies have a lot of talent on their team, and they are confident that they can win the World Series. They will need to play their best baseball in Game 1, and they will need their starting pitcher to set the tone. The Phillies are hoping that their Game 1 starter can give them a strong performance and help them take an early lead in the series.