LOS ANGELES -- The Phillies knew their path to the World Series was about to get a lot tougher when they found out in mid-August that Zack Wheeler would miss the rest of the season.

He's the team's bona fide ace. He was a legitimate National League Cy Young contender at the time. He's one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB postseason history.

Still, the Phillies still believed their starting rotation was not only their biggest strength, but -- even without Wheeler -- perhaps the best in the Majors. Despite their season ending in devastating fashion in Thursday night's 2-1 loss at Dodger Stadium, it's hard to argue otherwise after the way they pitched in their National League Division Series loss to the Dodgers.

Cristopher Sánchez matched Shohei Ohtani pitch for pitch in a Game 1 gem

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