Phillies face elimination after a 4-3 Game 2 loss to the Dodgers, dropping the series to 0-2. Aaron Nola will start Game 3, with Ranger Suarez on standby from the bullpen as Philadelphia leans on pitching depth to extend the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Offensively, Schwarber, Turner and Harper have cooled since the regular season ended, forcing the lineup to manufacture timely hits and avoid a quick exit.

Jesus Luzardo will start Game 2 for Philadelphia in the NLDS against the Dodgers, with a possible Game 5 on the line. He closed the regular season strong and has postseason experience, though his early-key playoff numbers aren’t dominant. The Phillies plan to lean on bullpen leverage and keep Nola or Suarez in reserve for emergencies. Ranger Suárez will be ready in relief for Game 1, and Aaron Nola could provide length if needed. The decision crystallizes how far Philadelphia is willing to push its rotation and bullpen depth in a tight series.

The matchup forces a careful blend of pitching depth and late-inning arms. Luzardo’s late-season form gives Philadelphia a chance to control the tempo, while Suárez’s postseason pedigree offers a stabilizing second option. Nola’s reliability remains a hedge, as the team weighs a potential longer series and the need for depth in high-leverage situations.

Two heavyweight NL powers collide as the Dodgers defend their title against a Phillies club determined to end postseason heartbreak. Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Snell anchor Los Angeles’ rotation, while Philadelphia navigates Wheeler’s injury and leans on Sanchez, Suarez, Luzardo, and Nola to carry the load. The series centers on tempo: Phillies must extend at-bats and blunt LA’s starters, while the Dodgers look to turn their bullpen into a stabilizing force in tight late innings.

Key strategic edges: the Phillies’ grind-it-out approach to force longer at-bats to fatigue the Dodgers’ rotation, and the Dodgers’ bullpen reliability in high-leverage moments. The outcome will hinge on how well each team executes game plans once the starters exit and how bullpen missteps are avoided or exploited. Saturday’s start looms as a marquee showdown.