Dodgers and Phillies Rubber Match A Potential NLCS Preview

The National League’s top two teams face off in the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers aim to rebound from last night’s 6-2 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies as young pitchers Tyler Phillips and Gavin Stone take the mound in Los Angeles. 

The Phillies have been scuffling lately and are eager to reverse their fortunes after losing seven of their last ten games. 

Tuesday night’s victory over Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers gave the Phillies a much-needed boost at the plate. Both Edmundo Sosa and Kyle Schwarber homered for the Phils.

The Phillies currently lead the National League in the race for the No. 1 seed, and a series win over the Dodgers would be a big boost in this potential NLCS preview. 

As the two top teams in the NL gear up for Wednesday’s showdown, the Phillies hope for another strong performance from Tyler Phillips to secure a series win. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, buoyed by Freddie Freeman’s return, look to build momentum heading into the weekend.

Here’s a breakdown of the odds, probable pitchers, and a look at the current NL Pennant odds. 

Tonight’s Odds

The hometown Dodgers come into the rubber match as -140 favorites on DraftKings. The Phillies are +120 on the money line. On the run line, the Dodgers are -1.5 at +150, and the Phillies are +1.5 at -165. The total currently sits at 9. Both enter tonight with young rookies on the bump who got off to fast starts but have been roughed up recently. 

With injuries to Taijuan Walker and Spencer Turnbull, the Phillies’ rotation was in flux, but Tyler Phillips emerged as a potential solution. 

The 26-year-old rookie stepped in for the ineffective Michael Mercado and had a stellar July, highlighted by a complete game shutout against the Guardians. Phillips started his career with an impressive 1.80 ERA over his first four starts.

However, his success was abruptly halted over the weekend when he was surprisingly roughed up by the Mariners in Seattle. As the Phillies look to stabilize their rotation, they hope Phillips can quickly bounce back and return to his early form.

Dodgers & Phillies NL Pennant Odds

Despite leading the Dodgers in the NL Pennant race, the Phillies are still the second favorite in the NL to win the pennant at +240. 

Tonight, the Dodgers will counter with rookie right-hander Gavin Stone. Stone began the season in impressive form but has recently hit a rough patch. Last month, he struggled to a 6.27 ERA across four starts and allowed five runs on eight hits in his most recent outing against Oakland.

A concerning trend for Stone is his vulnerability to home runs; he has given up a homer in each of his last five starts, including two in each of his previous two games. Additionally, his strikeout numbers took a significant dip in July. While Stone has primarily pitched to contact this year, the decline in strikeouts has made it easier for opponents to square him up as the season has progressed.

Despite trailing the Phillies in the NL, the Dodgers are the odds-on favorite to win the NL pennant at +155.