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Rob Thomson slammed for his curious decision in NLDS Game 3

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 11:02 PM ET

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson probably does not want to log onto social media right now.

Thomson made a controversial decision during his team’s NLDS Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. Phillies righty Aaron Nola drew the start and looked strong through the first two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters.

But Thomson decided to pull Nola after just 31 pitches thrown and bring fellow starter Ranger Suarez into the game. The move immediately backfired on Thomson though as Suarez gave up a solo home run to Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman on the very first pitch that he threw, giving Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.

TOMMY EDMAN! The @Dodgers take a #NLDS Game 3 lead! pic.twitter.com/ibF29X6Z2V
— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2025

Thomson heard it over social media as a result of the curious decision.

Rob Thomson let Nola start just to let him pitching 2 innings? Absolutely brain dead manager
— Vinny (@vinny_mania) October 9, 2025

Rob Thomson is the worst person to manage anything ever
— ًً (@RellyCooper) October 9, 2025

Rob Thomson is the dumbest manager baseball has ever seen
— Ahmad Rashad (@hh_greg) October 9, 2025

Rob Thomson is building a case for worst managed postseason run of all time.
— erin (@blondederin) October 9, 2025

The 62-year-old Thomson, who has managed the Phillies since 2022, may have been trying to think ahead and manage the respective pitch counts for his staff given that the team now needs to take it all five games in order to advance. But with Nola dealing through two innings, Thomson might have been better off saving his tinkering for when he actually needed it.

Thomson also drew sharp criticism over a poor ninth-inning decision in Game 2 that was even deemed “managerial malpractice” online. It is clear at this point that Thomson will need to somehow manage the Phillies to an unlikely NLDS series comeback against the Dodgers in order to save his reputation.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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