Philadelphia Phillies make important decision on their NLDS Game 2 starter

The Philadelphia Phillies earned their time off all week.

They did this by consistently being one of the best teams, if not the best, in all of Major League Baseball all year long, which earned them an NL East title and a first round bye that earned them allowed to skip the wild card round.

There has been some debate lately about whether the time off actually hurts those given a bye rather than helping them, but for this Phillies team, they were able to use this time to get healthy, something that was bothersome to them she was towards the end of the season.

It also gave manager Rob Thomson a chance to sit back and analyze the upcoming decisions he will have to make regarding the roster and pitching staff, highlighted by the question of who will start in Game 2.

The focus of the conversation has been Aaron Nola filling that role, as he has for the last two years, but when you look at Cristopher Sanchez's home game splits, the possibility of the young left-hander actually getting the start becomes much more likely .

Well, according to Matt Gelb from The athleteThomson has made his decision.

“The Phillies had a choice to start this October, and they chose 27-year-old left-hander Cristopher Sanchez instead of Nola in Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park. Nola will pitch Game 3 at Citi Field instead,” he reports .

This decision incorporated many things that the skipper discussed throughout the week as the topic was brought up again and again.

This could potentially create short- and long-term problems that Philadelphia couldn't afford at this crucial point in the season.

“Thomson had tested it with his coaches and then with some players at the end of September. Nola is one of the most consistent and trustworthy people in the clubhouse “Disrupts the mandated rotation,” Gelb added.

This seems to be the right decision and the team seems to be in complete agreement with this decision.

Sanchez is much better at home than on the road. So if Zack Wheeler and the young starter can take care of business in the first two contests at Citizens Bank Park, Nola will have a chance to wrap things up at Citi Field.