Sep 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Walker Buehler (31) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES - Rob Thomson had been waiting for about a week to unleash his sense of humor.
And in doing so, he gave everyone the first glimpse into his thinking for the postseason pitching rotation.
With days off on both Thursday and Monday, the Phillies have the opportunity to re-jigger their rotation, and don't really need to go to a full six-man rotation any longer.
But all six guys will stay on the roster.
This is where Thomson decided to go for laughs.
The Phillies are going to do a Walker-Buehler piggyback Friday … Taijuan Walker and Walker Buehler.
(Via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/iO7IzUq3cI
"So Friday, we're going to piggyback and Taijuan will start," he said, setting up the punchline. "And Buehler will piggyback. So it'll be a Walker-Buehler piggyback."
Rimshot.
The two will flip roles on their last turn through the rotation next week against the Marlins, but this sets up the rotation for the rest of the regular season to have Aaron Nola pitch Saturday in Arizona and next Friday against Minnesota. Ranger Suarez will pitch Sunday against the Diamondbacks and next Saturday against the Twins, while Sanchez will start Tuesday against Miami and the last game of the season against Minnesota.
Jesus Luzardo, who closed out the series against the Dodgers on Wednesday, will also pitch next Wednesday against the Marlins.
There's a lot to unpack here. Let's start with the most notable. Nola is all but guaranteed to be the righty starter in the post season, but he's going to pitch behind the three lefties as Thomson also said he was good with three lefties in a row, and would probably go with Suarez between the two because he pitches a lot differently velocity-wise than Sanchez and Luzardo.
Buehler is being looked at as a multi-inning reliever or piggyback type for the postseason. Maybe if the Phillies opponent is starting to hit one of the lefties, Thomson can turn to Buehler earlier in the game to change the look for 2-3 innings.
Could Walker Buehler knock Aaron Nola out of the postseason starting rotation? It doesn’t sound like it.
(Via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/OElDaxvRds
"Nola's never pitched out of the pen," Thomson said. And then later, when talking about the possible bullpen for the playoffs, he said, "You got some experience there with Buehler and with Taijuan - assuming they're in the pen. I like it."
As for Sanchez, Thomson said this rotation shuffling was primarily about getting him lined up for Game 1 of the playoffs, which will likely be Saturday, Oct. 4 at Citizens Bank Park in the NLDS. Sanchez will most likely make those two starts. The only way he wouldn't make that second start is if the Phillies somehow cough up a 6 1/2-game lead over the Dodgers with 10 to play and end up in the Wild Card Series.
Thomson did say, though, that if that final game had no bearing on the seedings whatsoever, Sanchez would still start, but it would be a pullback game for him, meaning the Phillies wouldn't expect him to give them length.
Thomson said the team wants to get Trea Turner some live batting practice as soon as they get home from the trip. It's likely they will bring a minor league pitcher in to throw to him, but the cautious optimism remains that he will be back before the regular season ends.
Oh, and as for Jordan Romano?
"I don't think he's even picked up a ball yet," Thomson said.
It might be best for everyone if he doesn't.
