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Rob Thomson Not Considering Game 7 Lineup Changes

Topper after Game 6:
Rob Thomson said he’s not considering any lineup changes for Game 7. Also seems like Zack Wheeler will be available if needed in relief.
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) October 24, 2023
We’ll always leave the door open for gamesmanship/being coy, but knowing Rob Thomson, he’s probably going to do exactly what he says he’s going to do. In this case, that’s leaving Alec Bohm in the cleanup spot and batting Nick Castellanos 7th. He likes the balance of the lineup and is hesitant to screw around with things or hit the figurative panic button.
The thing about this series is that the D Backs have made it abundantly clear that they’re not going to let Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber beat them. They’ve been walked 10 times in the last four games, which is putting Bohm and Trea Turner in unfruitful RISP positions. Turner almost went yard in his first Game 6 plate appearance, but was incredibly uncompetitive on his next AB, while Bohm blew an early chance and ultimately logged two hits that didn’t mean much. Maybe getting on base opens the door for a big hit in Game 7.
This has been one of only a few Thomson talking points this postseason. Top of mind, of course, is the bullpen usage, and whether he managed Games 3 and 4 properly (he did not). But second is probably this topic, the thought of leaving Bohm and Nick Castellanos in their positions vs. perhaps moving J.T. Realmuto into the cleanup spot and/or shuffling Bryson Stott down the lineup as well. This approach has gotten them three wins so far, and if they get the job done in Game 7, fewer questions will be asked going into the World Series, but if they lose, then it’s going to get really ugly.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com