The loss dropped the Phils a percentage point out of first behind the Braves, who pounded the Brewers last night. Aaron Nola is scheduled to start for the Phils tonight, and Jake Arrieta gets the ball on Sunday. The team gets a travel day on Monday before coming home to face MLB's best team, the Red Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday.
You can look at this a couple of ways. You have your best pitchers in Nola and Arrieta to stop the bleeding against the Padres. And then against the Red Sox, you take your chances with Nick Pivetta and Vince Velasquez.
Or, manager Gabe Kapler can go completely outside the lines and schedule 2 bullpen games for tonight and tomorrow and save Nola and Arrieta for the Red Sox. Talk about being bold–you'd have your 2 best pitchers going on extra rest. Or have Nola and Arrieta go 2-3 innings against the Padres this weekend and bring them back against the Sox. I'm leaning toward a pair of bullpen efforts and saving the best to pitch against the best.
The Phils split a 2-game series with the Sox in Boston on July 30-31, losing 2-1 and winning 3-1. Nola and Arrieta were brilliant in both starts. Nola got a no-decision in a 14-inning loss, while Arrieta gave up just 1 run and 6 hits in a 7-inning winning effort.
The next 4 games are the most pivotal point in this unexpectedly successful season. The Phils HAVE to take the next 2 against the Padres and then hope for the best against the Red Sox.
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