NL Series of the Week: Phillies Vs Dodgers

The top two teams in the National League meet up in Los Angeles this weekend for what is all but guaranteed to be an electrifying three-game series. As the NL East-leading Phillies (33-22) head out to Chavez Ravine to take on the NL West-leading Dodgers (37-19), there’s a lot to think about when trying to predict where this one will go.

So which of these dominant teams has the advantage? Which players should you keep an eye on? And what should you expect to see? Let’s take a closer look.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

The Dodgers are currently the best team in the NL, and the second best team in baseball, with only the Twins (.685) ahead of them in the PCT column. The Phillies, meanwhile, are trailing close behind them and are on very solid footing to hold their division right up to the playoffs.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Dodgers’ bats are again the best in the NL. With a team slash line of .264/.350/.466 and a .817 OPS. And once again, the only team with a better batting average is the Twins (.273), who of course have the advantage of the designated hitter. The Dodgers are also one of only four teams to have scored over 300 runs so far this season (Minnesota, Texas, and Boston being the others).

The Phillies bats, on the other hand, are unquestionably good, but not great. Hitting a respectable .247/.330/.421 with a .751 OPS (again, without a DH), Philly is good for fifth place in batting in the NL. But while the Dodger could conceivably muscle past just about any team by out-hitting them alone, the Phillies are a team that are going to require some defensive support.

Which is convenient, because that’s where the Phillies really shine this year. Lead by aces Jake Arrieta and Aaron Nola, the Phillies starting rotating, as of today, don’t have a single pitcher in their starting rotation who has a win percentage under .500. Arrieta so far has been reliable as usual this season, putting up a .556 with an ERA of 3.60. But it’s Nola who has really stood out for the Phillies this year. Despite an ERA of 4.18, Nola hasn’t been rung up for a single loss yet this year, while racking up 6 wins.

But, what the baseball gods giveth, the baseball gods taketh away. And unfortunately for the Phillies, despite their strong rotation, the Dodgers pitching staff is, once again, the best in the NL, with a team ERA of 3.64 compared to Philly’s 4.09.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

So the Dodgers have the clear advantage here, despite the Phillies being a perfectly respectable team. Probable pitchers haven’t been announced yet on the Dodger’s side, as of this writing, but Jake Arrieta is slated to get the start for the Phillies in the opener.

If you’re looking to put something down on the Phillies, that’s probably your best shot. This one could end up being a real wild ride, but expect the Dodgers to have the edge for the majority of the series.