Philadelphia Phillies Veteran Projected to be Postseason Starter

The Philadelphia Phillies hold a three game lead over the second place team in the NL Wild Card standings entering Monday.

With 13 games remaining in the regular season, the Phillies can start thinking about what moves they're going to make heading into the postseason with the starting rotation being at the forefront.

Manager Rob Thomson said he won't address any questions surrounding the playoff roster, rotation or anything regarding that before they are in the postseason.

Prior to that, the manager also said he expected to have a rotation that included veteran Ranger Suarez over their trade deadline acquisition Michael Lorenzen.

The lefty Suarez has started to play much better in his recent starts since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him.

In his last six starts, he has an ERA of 2.86 and has struck out five or more batters in fix of the games.

"I feel healthy, which is the most important thing. I’m able to compete," Suarez told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. "I missed almost two months, so I want to make up for it. If it’s tomorrow, in a week, two weeks, in the postseason, whenever I have to make up for it, I’ll be ready for that."

Thomson views Suarez as a starter on this team.

Last postseason, the lefty was used as both a starter and bullpen piece, sometimes closing games.

That won't be the case this year as it seems like Lorenzen will take over that role.

"As I said to him, ‘I consider you a starter, and moving forward you’re going to be a starter.’ Because he pitched well all year. After the no-hitter, he’s kind of come back a little bit, but I would trust him as a starter. And he was all-in," Thomson said about discussing the role with his trade deadline acquisition.

When it comes to the postseason, many players have to make some sort of sacrifice and Lorenzen is no different.

Thomson said, "He was like, ‘Yeah, now it’s time to win. Whatever we have to do.’ He gets it."