The Philadelphia Phillies enter Sunday’s finale at Globe Life Field determined to secure a road win behind left-hander Jesús Luzardo, whose ability to mix an elevated four-seam fastball with a deceptive changeup and well-timed curveball will be essential to keeping Texas’s contact-driven lineup off balance, particularly against middle-of-the-order threats like Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia who can change an inning with gap power and aggressive baserunning. Luzardo’s success will hinge on getting ahead in counts to unlock his putaway pitches, avoiding free passes that turn into multi-run threats, and maintaining composure when facing a Rangers team that excels at exploiting defensive hesitations. Offensively, the Phillies will lean on their proven core of Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Nick Castellanos, with Schwarber hunting mistakes for long-ball damage, Turner working deep at-bats to get on base ahead of the power bats, and Harper and Castellanos focusing on driving balls into the alleys to stress Texas’s outfield coverage, while Bryson Stott and the lower third aim to keep innings alive through contact and smart situational hitting.

Baserunning aggression will be key, as Turner’s speed and Harper’s instincts can turn singles into scoring position and force the Rangers to make perfect throws. Defensively, Philadelphia must be airtight in the gaps and quick on relays to cut down extra bases, as Globe Life Field rewards well-struck liners and Texas’s lineup is adept at taking the extra 90 feet. The bullpen, which has been a steadying force for the Phillies, will need to manage matchups carefully in the late innings, using their best arms to neutralize the heart of the Rangers’ order and protect any slim lead, with manager Rob Thomson likely to be proactive in pulling Luzardo before facing hitters a third time if leverage dictates. Tactically, the Phillies’ best chance lies in combining patient at-bats that drive up Corbin’s pitch count, opportunistic baserunning to capitalize on any defensive lapses, and sharp defensive execution to keep the game low-scoring. If they can pair six efficient innings from Luzardo with timely hitting and a clean bullpen handoff, Philadelphia will have a strong blueprint to close the series on a winning note.