Phillies start Christian Pasch in Game 1 against Marlins – NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cristian Bacci is in left field, eighth in the Phillies’ lineup for Game 1 of their wild-card series against the Marlins on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Manager Rob Thompson began giving indications over the weekend in New York that Bache could be the starter in a matchup with Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo. The Phillies veered away from using Brandon Marsh against lefties in the second inning, giving him just 15 plate appearances against pitching with the same hand in September, four fewer than Bachey. Marsh held out against lefties early in the season and his last at-bat was a three-run homer off Mets southpaw Anthony Kaye, but the Phils like their chances better with a right-handed batting corner outfielder.

They could have gone with Weston Wilson, who was called up last weekend and has appeared on the postseason roster and reached base in eight of 16 major league games as a big leaguer, but the Phillies are instead improving the defense. When referring to Bache over the weekend, Thompson cited run blocking against a team that doesn’t allow many as a reason to use him.

The Marlins started left-handers Luzardo and Braxton Garrett in the first two games of the best-of-3 series. Miami has won all four games it has started against the Phillies this season. Bache went 16-for-51 with six doubles and two homers against left field, hitting .314/.375/.549. Thompson said Tuesday that the right-handed hitter will likely face Garrett in Game 2 as well.

After Marsh and Bache, the Phillies also hold Jake Cave and Wilson on their 26-man roster for the wild-card round. Having a player in the extra position gives them the flexibility to use three or even four players in one spot in the lineup, if they so choose. In a close game, they can improve on left-right matchups once Miami’s starter is out. You might see a few hits for Pache, some for Marsh and maybe someone else. Keefe could come in as a defensive replacement for Wilson if Wilson is used late against a left-handed player. The Marlins have seven lefties on their roster and will want to use them primarily in the Kyle Schwarber-Bryce Harper section of the lineup.

Here is Thompson’s starting lineup for the first match:

1. Kyle Schwarber, DH
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Alec Bohm, 3B
4. Bryce Harper, 1B
5. J. T. Realmuto, C
6. Nick Castellanos, RF
7. Bryson Stott, 2B
8. Christian Pasch, LF
9. Johan Rojas, CF

Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez is in the lineup, center fielding. The 2023 National League champion had just one hit after Sept. 23 due to a nagging ankle injury. He hit for the cycle in Philadelphia on April 11 and is batting .347 against the Phillies this season, which is actually lower than his overall batting average of .354.

1. Luis Arraez, 2B
2. Jorge Soler, DH
3. Josh Bell, 1B
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr., CF
5. Jake Burger, 3B
6. Brian de la Cruz, LF
7. Jesús Sanchez, RF
8. John Bertie, SS
9. Nick Fortis, C