In the course of 48-hours the Philadelphia Phillies ended up on the opposite ends of history. The Fightin’s offensive performance in World Series Game 3 –five home runs– was record breaking, so it was only natural the Phillies would be no-hit a day later. In fact, for anyone following the 2022 Phillies, Wednesday’s performance is very “on brand” for the club.
What’s also on brand, and it should be comforting for Phillies fans, was the response from Phils team leader Kyle Schwarber.
The Philaelphia Phillies look to take a commanding 3-1 World Series lead when they send Aaron Nola to the mound on Wednesday night in South Philadelphia. The Houston Astros will look to even the World Series and force the series back to Houston on the arm of Cristian Javier.
First pitch is set for 8:03 PM/Eastern from Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia, PA. The game will be broadcast on Fox and the Fox Sports app with Joe Davis and John Smoltz on the call. Locally, the game can be heard on SportsRadio 94 WIP with Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, and Tom McCarthy.
Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.35 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (2-1, 4.57 ERA)
Javier’s Last Outing: 10/22 at NYY (ALCS Game 3 ) 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Nola’s Last Outing: 10/28/22 at HOU (WS Game 1) 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Postponed due to rain. Game 3 will now take place Tuesday, November 1.
The Houston Astros scored 5-runs against Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler to take Game 2 by a score of 5-2. The ‘Stros win tied the World Series at one game a piece. The series now shifts to Philadelphia for the next three.
The Phillies will send Noah Syndergaard to the mound against Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. First pitch is set for 8:03 PM/Eastern however weather could be an issue on Monday night.
Let’s not get too crazy, the Philadelphia Phillies are sitting in an advantageous position with the World Series tied at one heading to South Philly on Monday. They are undefeated, 5-0, at The Bank and they’ve stolen home field from the Houston Astros.
That should not be understated.
But they’ve done it with both ace’s pitching well below expectations. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler allowed 5-runs each in less than 10-total innings pitched in Game 1 and Game 2. This forced Phillies manager Rob Thomson to get creative with the bullpen, and by extension, the starting rotation.
This isn’t sustainable if the Phillies want a parade down Broad St in the next week or so. And now, thanks to the lackluster performances by Nola and Wheeler, the Fightin’s will be forced to go deeper into their pitching staff as the World Series hurdles towards critical mass.
There is no margin for error heading into Game 3 and Game 4 with Noah Syndergaard and Ranger Suarez on the mound.
Continue reading “World Series: Phillies Pitching Depth to be Tested as the Series Shifts Back to Philadelphia”
The Philadelphia Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the World Series thanks to a comeback, extra innings win on Friday night. The loss was the Houston Astros first in the 2022 Postseason.
The Phillies will send Zack Wheeler to the mound looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead heading back to Philadelphia. Houston will look to lefty Framber Valdez to even the series.
Zack Wheeler (1-1, 1.78 ERA) vs. Framber Valdez (1-0, 1.42 ERA)
Wheeler’s Last Outing: 10/23/22 vs SD (NLCS Game 5), 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 1 HB, 8 K
Valdez’s Last Outing: 10/20/22 vs NYY (ALCS Game 2), Win, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 9 K
Continue reading “World Series Game 2: Zack Wheeler vs. Framber Valdez”
It’s hard to believe, but here we are talkin’ Philadelphia Phillies baseball at the end of October. Fans are hanging on every pitch and every at-bat of the Fightin’s quest to bring home a third baseball World Championship. But in their way will be the two-time, reigning and defending American League Champion Houston Astros.
The Phillies will send Aaron Nola to the mound to take on the Astros’ Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series. First pitch is set for 8:03 PM/Eastern on Fox Sports.
Aaron Nola (2-1, 3.12 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (1-0, 6.30 ERA)
Nola’s Last Outing– 10/19/22 at San Diego (NLCS Game 2), Loss, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 6 K, 1.10 WHP
Verlander’s Last Outing– 10/19/22 at New York-AL (ALCS Game 3), Win, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 HB, 1 BB, 11 K, 1.50 WHIP
Continue reading “2022 World Series Game 1: Aaron Nola vs. Justin Verlander”
It’s hard to believe it, but the Philadelphia Phillies (9-2) are four wins away from the third World Championship in franchise history. The path to another title runs through the two-time defending American League Champion Houston Astros (7-0). In fact, Houston has represented the AL four of the last six seasons.
The series, a rematch of the classic 1980 NLCS, has been billed as David versus Goliath.
But this David –the 2022 Phillies– carries a big stick and is filled with a dangerous, never say die confidence. That makes them an incredibly dangerous team as the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres found out.
While Houston is being billed as the Goliath, the pressure is squarely on the Astros. Houston’s last two trips to the World Series have ended with white hot NL East teams –the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves, respectively– celebrating a championship on the field at Minute Maid Park. Houston’s only title in their six-season AL dominance was overshadowed by a cheating scandal that brings into question the legitimacy of that title.
Continue reading “2022 World Series Preview: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros”
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson joined SportsRadio 94 WIP’s Midday Show with Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie and hinted that Aaron Nola would start World Series Game 1 for the Fightin’s.
Now the move has become official.
The final two teams in the National League postseason bracket are the two most improbable, the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Diego Padres. The last two teams in —the Phillies and Padres were the two National League Wild Card representatives— are the last two teams standing.
This marks the first time in modern National League Championship Series history that no division winner and two sub 90-win teams will play for the pennant.
The Phillies swept the NL Central division champion St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Wild Card Series. The Fightin’s followed with a dominate 3-1 division series win over the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves.
Not to be outdone, the Padres eliminated two 100-win teams on their path to the NLCS. The Friars knocked out the New York Mets 2-1 in the NLWCS and the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 in the NLDS.
The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t have to wait long to find out their opponent for the 2022 NLCS. The San Diego Padres used a 5-run 7th inning to knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phillies and Padres —the last two NL teams in— will battle in the NLCS beginning Tuesday in San Diego.
Here’s what we know so far:
Continue reading “Here’s your 2022 NLCS Schedule”
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