MIAMI -- Even Major Leaguers experience moments of doubt.
When Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips surrendered back-to-back two-out homers to Mookie Betts and Max Muncy in the first inning of Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Dodgers at loanDepot park, he began to nibble the zone.
Phillips was pitching timidly -- reasonable considering the two-time reigning World Series champions were standing in the box -- but that’s no way to survive in The Show.
After pitching coach Daniel Moskos visited Phillips on the mound in the second, Phillips pulled him into the tunnel for another talk. He admitted to feeling some anxiety after being hit hard in the opening frame; he wanted to scream and let out that negative energy.
“He goes, ‘Go scream!’ I told him, ‘I can't, man. My voice is going to crack,’” Phillips recalled. “I was like, ‘This is going to be embarrassing.’ And he balled up a towel. He handed it to me. He said, ‘Put the towel in your mouth and scream.’ So I went around the corner and just let it out. And then I got back into my positive self-talk.”
It worked, as Phillips didn’t allow another hit to help Miami snap a four-game skid. But not without some armchair fodder.
Manager Clayton McCullough pulled Phillips with two outs and a runner on first in the fourth with the righty at just 68 pitches. Lefty Cade Gibson induced an inning-ending groundout, then retired the Dodgers in order in the fifth.
Righties Tyler Zuber (sixth), Calvin Faucher (seventh) and Michael Petersen (eighth) bridged the gap to closer Pete Fairbanks, who recorded his 19th save of the season in his first outing since his second injured list stint.
McCullough said the early hook -- something that has been common this season -- had nothing to do with Phillips’ workload.
Phillips, who began the season in the bullpen, moved to the rotation midseason when injuries decimated the starting staff. Including Saturday’s start, he is at 119 innings -- 41 1/3 more than last season.
“Today for me that was the best way to win the game,” McCullough said. “Certainly Tyler and others on our staff are approaching or have already exceeded limits from an innings standpoint. We're certainly mindful of that and take things like that into consideration as we continue to roll on here. But today, for me, I felt the best way to go win the game was going to Cade there, and then the guys that follow.”
Added Phillips: I'm a competitor. I never want to be taken out. Again, I have so much respect for Clayton. We've had conversations, and I just know how we operate, and it's getting late in the year. My inning count is way up from last year. I'm assuming that has something to [do with] it. But at the same time, I've told you guys time and time again, when he comes out there, I'm going to respect his decision. It's always going to be, 'This is what we think we're going to do to help the team win,' and that's where I stand. All I care about is winning.”
As the final two weeks play out, the players are essentially auditioning for jobs in 2027.
Phillips is one of them. Is he a reliever or starter? Which role does he prefer?
“Just to stay in the big leagues,” Phillips said. “I'm pretty versatile in my role. I'm able to do whatever. I do like starting. I like setting the tone. I like going deep in the games. I like to try to help our guys out. But again, like I said, help the team win however I can. …
“I just view myself as a pitcher. I like starting, I do, but if there's a role that's valuable for me and I can help accomplish the ultimate goal of making it to a playoff and winning a World Series, that would be fantastic. However, I got to do it.”
Another one is third baseman Graham Pauley, who has been recalled six times this season.
Pauley took righty Tyler Glasnow deep for a two-run shot in the second. His third homer since being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville traveled a Statcast-projected 429 feet – the longest of his career.
“I don't want to think too much about what's happened or what might happen in the future,” Pauley said. “I can really just stay in the moment and just kind of enjoy each and every day. Every day is an opportunity in the big leagues to go out there and compete and have fun. I'll compete for these guys any day.”