Walker Buehler started and pitched five shutout innings for the Phillies Thursday against the Miami Marlins in what turned into a 1-0 win. After he was pulled, Buehler headed straight to the bullpen to simulate pitching seven innings, two more ups out there.

Aaron Nola gets to toe the mound Friday against the Minnesota Twins, his fifth start since coming back from ankle and rib injuries that had him shelved since late May.

While manager Rob Thomson won’t say as much, one has to wonder if there is a competition there as to who may be the fourth starter for the team when needed in the upcoming playoffs.

The Phillies will begin postseason play on Saturday, October 4 in the best-of-five National League Division Series. Game 2 would be Monday and Game 3 on Wednesday. If necessary, Game 4 would be Thursday and Game 5 Sat. Realistically, Cristopher Sanchez, already anointed by Thomson as his Game 1 starter, could come back to start Game 4 with whoever starts the second game finishing out the series. In that scenario, whatever work Nola or Buehler may be called to do may be coming out of the bullpen. It would seem pretty solid that Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo would be the top three starters come playoff time. But who knows?

“I don’t know,” said Thomson when asked what Nola may be pitching for on Friday. “He’s going to be on the playoff roster. What he’s going to be, I don’t know. We’ll figure that out once we know who we’re playing. But, yeah, I want him to go out there and pitch well. Last time out was encouraging, he got up to 94, spun the breaking ball really well, I think he had 10 whiffs. I have all the confidence in the world in Aaron Nola.”

Thomson said before, almost in a telling way, that Nola hasn’t pitched out of the bullpen before. Friday before the game, he kind of backed off on that.

“Sure,” he said when asked if he’d consider Nola out of the pen. “Well, I mean, we’d certainly give him enough time if that were the case to make sure he’s ready.”

And then there’s Buehler. He certainly didn’t put in the extra work on Friday to make sure he’s ready to come out of the bullpen after being a starter for so long.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out, and Thomson’s hand may not be forced until the National League Championship Series, should the Phillies get there.

Another good day for Trea

Trea Turner continued his rehab Friday with a lot of work on the field and he and his manager seem very pleased with where he is. Turner looked fine doing his fielding work before taking batting practice with the team on the field, spraying the ball all over.

“Really good,” said Thomson. “He ran the bases earlier today. He did ground ball work, he’s going to hit on the field with the team. He ran the bases and it was really encouraging.”

So may he return before the playoffs?

“Not tomorrow, maybe Sunday. Maybe not at all. Just got to make sure the training staff deems him healthy and he has the confidence to go out there as a healthy player.”

The itch for Turner is there, but everyone has to be on the same page.

“No doubt. That’s what we’ve got to balance out and make sure that we’re doing the right thing,” said Thomson. “I think he wants to but he also wants to make sure that he’s healthy and we don’t have any setbacks.”

Homecoming

Kody Clemens and Mick Abel return to Citizens Bank Park as part of the Minnesota Twins roster after spending part of this year with the Phillies. Abel will make his fourth start with the Twins Saturday against the Phillies while Clemens has 19 home runs and 52 RBI in 330 at-bats with Minnesota.

“I love it, he’s had a really good year,” said Thomson of Clemens. “He’s had an opportunity to play and he’s made the most of it. Kody’s a pro. He’s a really good guy. A really good team guy. It was frustrating for him here because he wasn’t getting a whole lot of playing time but he never said a word. He just went about his business and I’m really happy for him.

“Same thing, I’m happy for Mick, too. Because he’s going to get a real opportunity. He’s got really good stuff and he has a really bright future. I hope the best for him.”