The Philadelphia Phillies are moving back to a five-man starting pitching rotation for the final three series of the regular season as they try to set their playoff rotation up.

Tiajuan Walker will start for the Phillies on Friday night, with Walker Buehler used out of the bullpen as a piggyback option against the Diamondbacks.

Rob Thomson Explains Piggyback Plan

“So Friday, we’re going to piggyback and Taijuan will start,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said on Wednesday night before the Phillies game against the Dodgers. “Buehler will piggyback. So it’ll be a Walker-Buehler piggyback.”

Thomson also said the next time in the rotation, Buehler will start the game and Walker with be used as the piggyback.

Updated Phillies Pitching Schedule

The rest of the rotation for the Arizona series and into next week will include: Aaron Nola starting Saturday, followed by Ranger Suarez, Christopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo into next week against Miami.

The Phillies have an off day on Thursday, allowing each starter to pitch on regular rest the rest of the way.

They entered Thursday 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top seed in the National League.  They are 5.5 games ahead of the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed with nine games left to play.

Who Lines Up for Game 1 of the NLDS

Sanchez, who has been Philadelphia’s most consistent starter, would get the season finale at Citizens Bank Park and would line him up for Game 1 of the National League Division Series, which would start on Saturday, Oct.4.

What Happens If Phillies Need a Fourth Starter

It also appears that if the Phillies need a fourth starter in the playoffs, that pitcher will be Nola.

“Nola’s never pitched out of the pen,” Thomson explained.

The Phillies would likely not need a fourth starter until the Championship round, if they were to advance that far, which would be on October 9, meaning Nola’s last start would be Friday, Sept 26, giving him 12 days rest between starts.

National League Division Series Schedule (All games on 97.3 ESPN)

Sat.
Oct. 4th
NLDS Game 1

Mon.
Oct. 6th
NLDS Game 2

Wed.
Oct. 8th
NLDS Game 3

Thurs.
Oct. 9th
NLDS Game 4 (if necessary)

Sat.
Oct. 11th
NLDS Game 5 (if necessary)

National League Championship Schedule (all games on 97.3 ESPN)

Mon.
Oct. 13th
NLCS Game 1

Tues.
Oct. 14th
NLCS Game 2

Thurs.
Oct. 16th
NLCS Game 3

Fri.
Oct. 17th
NLCS Game 4

Sat.
Oct. 18th
NLCS Game 5 (if necessary)

Mon.
Oct. 20th
NLCS Game 6 (if necessary)

Tues.
Oct. 21st
NLCS Game 7 (if necessary)

Places in South Jersey to Watch Phillies Playoff Game (with the Sound On)