WASHINGTON -- The Phillies hope this isn¡¯t the version of Ranger Suárez they will be getting in the postseason.

Because this recent version is concerning.

Su¨¢rez allowed six runs in two innings in Friday night¡¯s 9-1 loss to the Nats at Nationals Park. He lacked command and velocity from the very first batter he faced, grinding through a 42-pitch first inning against a team that had scored a combined four runs in its previous four games, and had scored one or fewer runs in seven of its previous 10.

¡°Obviously, I wanted to have at least a decent start before the playoffs,¡± Su¨¢rez said through the team¡¯s interpreter. ¡°It didn¡¯t happen. Let¡¯s turn the page and just have a strong mind going into the playoffs now.¡±

Friday was Su¨¢rez¡¯s final start of the 2024 regular season. His next start could be Game 4 of the National League Division Series, assuming Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher S¨¢nchez start the first three games of the best-of-five series.

¡°Well, I always have confidence in him because I think he¡¯s very poised, that slow heartbeat comes into play,¡± Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. ¡°I hope and I think that the adrenaline of the playoffs will pick it up. ¡­ He¡¯s going to be the fourth starter, that¡¯s for sure. But I always have confidence in him. I really do.¡±

A few months ago, Su¨¢rez starting Game 4 in any series would have been a display of one of baseball¡¯s best rotations. The left-hander has been one of the Phillies¡¯ best postseason performers the past two years, going 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA and one save in nine appearances (seven starts). But he is just 2-3 with a 5.74 ERA (20 earned runs in 31 1/3 innings) in seven starts since he rejoined the rotation on Aug. 24 following a month-long stint on the injured list because of a bad back.

Su¨¢rez just hasn¡¯t looked like the same pitcher.

¡°Obviously, I haven¡¯t had great starts, but besides that I feel good,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°It¡¯s turning the page and a fresh beginning going into the playoffs.¡±

Su¨¢rez was 10-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 16 starts through June 25, pushing him onto his first NL All-Star team. But he showed signs of regression in four starts before he landed on the IL in late July, going 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA from June 30 through July 22.

He hasn¡¯t pitched six innings in a start since July 12. He hasn¡¯t had a quality start since June 25.

¡°I¡¯m not concerned about his health,¡± Thomson said. ¡°But his stuff was down tonight. I think everybody saw that. But I think the last two years, the final start of his season wasn¡¯t very good. They were kind of similar to this. Maybe he needs a little bit of time off, which he¡¯ll get. Then pick it up with adrenaline with the playoffs. Maybe that¡¯s what it is. I don¡¯t know. But it wasn¡¯t very crisp tonight.¡±

Baseball people like to say you can¡¯t flip a switch, but the Phillies might be hoping that Su¨¢rez can.

¡°I hope so,¡± Thomson said. ¡°I think he did that the last two years, so I hope he can do it again.¡±

Su¨¢rez acknowledged last weekend that he had been holding back a bit because of his back, which might have affected his use of his lower half.

A hypothetical Game 4 of the NLDS will be on the road on Oct. 9.

It leaves Su¨¢rez 12 days to figure it out.