Phillies beat Cubs 4-3 in a walk-off thriller on June 9. Now, rookie Mick Abel takes the mound. Can he follow Brandon Marsh's heroics and win the series?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a difference a night makes. After the electric, nail-biting 11-inning walk-off win on Monday, the Phillies are back at Citizens Bank Park tonight with a chance to take the series against the rival Chicago Cubs. The energy from last night's victory is still palpable, and now it's up to rookie sensation Mick Abel to channel it as he takes the mound for just the second time in his major league career.
After J.T. Realmuto tied the game in the bottom of the 11th, the Phillies used two consecutive bunt singles to load the bases for Brandon Marsh's walk-off winner.
You can't draw it up any better than that. Monday's 4-3 victory was pure chaos in the best way possible. After the Cubs grabbed a lead in the top of the 11th on a Pete Crow-Armstrong double, the Phils refused to quit. J.T. Realmuto delivered a clutch single to tie it, and then the strategy got wild. Two straight bunt singles loaded the bases, setting the stage for Brandon Marsh to play hero with the game-winning knock. Let's not forget rookie Otto Kemp, who chipped in with a fantastic 3-hit performance, proving he belongs on the big stage.
Tonight, the spotlight shifts from late-game heroics to the starting pitcher. All eyes are on Mick Abel (1-0, 0.79 ERA) as he makes his highly anticipated second career start. He was brilliant in his debut, and now he faces a formidable Cubs lineup (40-26) that will test his mettle. He'll have Trea Turner setting the table at the top of the order, a crucial piece as the Phillies look to give their young hurler some early run support against Chicago's Colin Rea. This isn't just another game; it's a glimpse into the future of the Phillies' rotation.
Abel's emergence isn't an isolated event; it's a testament to the incredible turnaround in the Phillies' farm system. For years, the big league club was strong while the prospect pipeline looked thin, but that's no longer the case. With Abel and Andrew Painter already contributing, the next wave featuring names like Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford isn't far behind. Deeper in the system, players like Aroon Escobar and Eduardo Tait are generating serious buzz. The Phillies are built to win now *and* later, a scary thought for the rest of the National League.
Last night was a reminder of this team's grit and refusal to lose. Tonight is a look at its bright future. A win against the Cubs would secure a massive series victory against a fellow NL powerhouse and further solidify Mick Abel's place in the rotation. The vibes are high at the Bank—let's see if the Fightins can deliver another one.
