Gamethread 10/03: Phillies at Marlins

This is it. The game 162 showdown we’ve been waiting for. Zack Wheeler will take the mound one last time as the Phillies fight for...

Oops, sorry everyone, I started writing this game thread last week. Let me fix that.

This is it. An absolutely meaningless game 162 started by Bailey Falter. It’s technically Falter’s first big league start, but it’s presumably going to be more of a bullpen game. I wouldn’t count on Falter to go more than a few innings. Hopefully Héctor Neris can get in there for an inning to try and tie the franchise strikeout record for a reliever. He needs two more to do so.

Girardi teased us yesterday with Matt Vierling in the leadoff spot, but sadly our new favorite rookie will be riding the bench again today. Alec Bohm is in the lineup though, and he’ll have one final chance to make a good impression at third base. Bryce Harper is out there once again, and at least we can root for him to bolster his MVP candidacy.

Here’s the Marlin’s lineup. Veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas will be serving as the “acting manager” today, according to Don Mattingly. I don’t really know why or what that means, but at least it’s fun. I wish the Phillies would do something fun on occasion.

Final Thought

Apparently Don Mattingly will be available to play today if need be. At 60 years old, he would be the oldest person to ever play in a major league baseball game. That being said, the Phillies shouldn’t sleep on a player of Mattingly’s caliber – he has 1099 career RBI!