Philadelphia Phillies Ace Available Out of Bullpen for Crucial Game 7

The Philadelphia Phillies will have all-hands-on-deck for Game 7 of the National League Championship Series as their ace will be available out of the bullpen.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson will be navigating Game 7 of the NLCS as unknown territory.

It will be the first time that he's managing a Game 7 in the postseason because it's the first time that it's happened in the Phillies' franchise history.

As is the case with most winner-take-all games, it will be an all-hands-on-deck approach for Philadelphia.

Thomson said that their ace Zack Wheeler will be available out of the bullpen on Tuesday night according to Bob Nightengale.

Wheeler, who pitched a gem in Game 5, will be operating on two days of rest if they turn to him.

The Phillies would ideally like to avoid using their ace.

Not turning to him means they would be up comfortably in the game and can use their regular set of relievers.

Wheeler has never come out of the bullpen in his MLB career. He's started all 237 of his regular season and playoff appearances.

In Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, the Texas Rangers turned to their Game 5 starter, Jordan Montgomery, out of the bullpen operating on two days of rest.

That was the third time that he had come in as a reliever in his career and the second time he'd done it in the postseason.

Montgomery was able to pitch 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 7, allowing only three hits and securing the win.

Wheeler is certainly capable of doing the same thing.

Similar to the Rangers, Philadelphia's bullpen has become a bit shaky in this series and could force Thomson's hand if the game is tight.

Ideally, Wheeler will not be used in Game 7 and they can close things out with a comfortable lead.