PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Red October is finally here! Phillies postseason kicks off Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park with Game 1 of the NLDS.
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler will start. Wheeler has been an elite playoff performer the last two years but admitted he can get nervous before big games.
Former Phillies pitcher and 1980 World Series champion Dickie Noles says that’s healthy.
“If you don’t get butterflies, you’re in trouble,” Noles said, “I mean, that’s what motivates you, that’s the adrenaline you get before a game.”
He says once that first pitch is thrown, Wheeler will likely be locked in and ready to go.
Former Phillies outfielder Milt Thompson was the team’s hitting coach when they won it all in 2008. He says the energy at the bank during the playoffs is electric.
“This is the best home field advantage in baseball. If you look at the record this year, these guys can play,” he said.
Kodai Senga will start the game for New York, who took down the Milwaukee Brewers this week in a dramatic Wild Card series.
This will be the first playoff game ever between the Phillies and the New York Mets. First pitch is at 4:08 p.m.