Tyler Glasnow’s name has rapidly become a gossip point around the Dodgers franchise, and not for the right reasons. After a regular season where he gave every indication of being the ace L.A. hoped for, the postseason has told a very different tale. His recent performance against the Phillies sparked the debate further as he struggled to maintain his command under high pressure. 

The Dodgers, who once looked like the postseason favorites, now find themselves in a tight spot. Glasnow, who completed the season with a strong 3.19 ERA in 18 starts, went down in flames. In Game 1 against the Phillies, eight batters came to the plate against him, and he allowed four to reach base, a flattering performance that only added to his earlier April struggles against the same franchise. Back then, he could not even escape the third inning, giving up five runs and walking five.

Glasnow relies largely on his fastball, throwing it 41 percent of the time to left-handed hitters, and that is where Rob Thomson’s team thrives. With Harper and Kyle Schwarber slugging more than .620 against any right-handed fastballs this season, the data does not bode well for the Dodgers’ righty.  “He’s a great pitcher, but our lineup is built for this kind of challenge,” one Phillies insider said after Game 3. “We’ve faced elite arms all year, and this is just another step.”

If Glasnow’s challenges continue, Dave Roberts’ team could face another early playoff exit. The Phillies’ energy is surging, from Thomson’s strategic brilliance in Game 3 to Schwarber’s elite power surge that has lifted the dugout. As the outcome of Game 3 pushed the series in another direction, everyone is now focusing on Glasnow, the star who could either silence the crowd and become the reason for the Dodgers’ crumbkes.

If the Dodgers are wobbling under the pressure of the postseason, the Phillies have identified their calm in the storm, and it comes in the form of the team’s most underrated star.

Cristopher Sánchez to make the biggest start of his career

The Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez enters Game 4 against the Dodgers with a 13-5 record and a 2.50 ERA. It just highlights his remarkable poise throughout the season. In Game 1, the lefty dominated the Dodgers for 5 ⅔ innings and then surrendered a two-run double to Teoscar Hernández. So, the Phillies’ star’s command, capability to attract the Dodgers’ lineup, and composure with precision provided the Phillies a vital confidence boost.

But this time, the stakes are even higher, and Sánchez knows it very well. Despite the playoff tension, the 27-year-old remains undaunted. “It’s the same preparation for me,” he told reporters. “I prepare myself in the same way for every game.” That calm focus has defined his rise this season. As columnist David Murphy observed, the ace for Game 4 will be Sánchez going deep, ideally seven innings, to keep the bullpen fresh for the late innings.

If he executes that blueprint on the ground, the Phillies’ path to forcing a decisive Game 5 becomes far clearer. With momentum from Wednesday’s Schwarbomb-driven win and a rested bullpen behind him, Sánchez could not only help prolong the series but also engrave his name as Philadelphia’s newest postseason hero.