NLCS Preview: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

About The Philadelphia Phillies:

The Phillies march into the NLCS by virtue of winning a four game series against the Colorado Rockies.

In the NLDS, the Phillies were led by six players hitting above .300 in the series.  Leading the charge were RF Jayson Werth (.357, two home runs) and Shane Victorino (.353, home run). 

1B Ryan Howard led the team with 45 home runs in the regular season, but he is sporting a goose egg in that category, despite a .375 average and six RBIs this postseason.

P Cliff Lee, who has been a boon for the team in the regular season, is 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA in two postseason starts (Game One and Four of the NLDS). This means he won’t pitch until Game Three, but P Cole Hamels (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will get the start.

Closer Brad Lidge has bounced back in some eyes, earning two saves in two appearances, after blowing 11 during the regular season.

Manager Charlie Manuel used the same lineup in all four NLDS games, and while the team showed up, hitting a combine .296 with 20 runs and four home runs, one wonders if any adjustments will be made against the Dodgers.

About The Los Angeles Dodgers:

Winners of the NLDS by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers are led by some fascinating pitching. The entire staff gave up a mere six runs in three games, led by Vicente Padilla (four hits, four strikeouts, zero runs in the NLDS Game Three). Closer Jonathon Broxton recorded a save and four strikeouts in three appearances.

The Dodgers also boast a strong lineup, led by RF Andre Ethier’s all around performance (.500 BA, six hits, five runs, two doubles, one triple, two home runs, three RBIs). SS Rafael Furcal has contributed six hits in twelve at bats (.500 BA) with two RBIs, and CF Matt Kemp has a home run and two RBIs.

LF Manny Ramirez is still working out of his late season swoon, and had a .308 batting average with three doubles and two RBIs in the series.

About The Series:

Déjà vu, anyone? The two teams met last season in the NLCS, under similar scenarios.  The Dodgers swept the Cubs (NL Central Champs) in 2008, and the Phillies took down the Brewers in four games.

The Phillies took last year’s NLCS in five games, and I don’t think the Dodgers are looking at a repeat performance here. They won the season series 4-3, but have not played each other since June.

Cole Hamels may have lost his first postseason start in the NLDS, but he has the Dodgers’ number. Last season, he went 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 13 strikeouts in the NLCS, and this season he gave up a mere one earned run in 16 innings, including a five hit shutout in Dodger Stadium.

Manny Ramirez will need to wake up if Los Angeles expects to win, and he did so in 2008, hitting .533 with two home runs and seven RBIs. 

The mid-season acquisition of Relief Pitcher George Sherrill to the Dodgers from the Baltimore Orioles could be the X-Factor in this series. Since being traded, he has given up two runs and 19 hits in 30 appearances, and holds left handed hitters to a mere .163 career average.

The Dodgers will go with a four-man rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Vincente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, and Randy Wolf. The Philles have Hamels in game one and Cliff Lee in game three, but have not decided on the rest of their rotation.

 

The Prediction:

Philadelphia won it in five last season, but it won’t be as easy this year. Both teams boast strong pitching and strong hitting, but even with their rotation confusion, the Phillies take it in seven games.

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MLB National League Division Preview: Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

About The Philadelphia Phillies:

This past season, the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their third straight NL East Division Title with a record of 93-69.

As defending World Series champions, they have a huge targets on their back. However, they field a team that is strong in many areas.

Offensively, they led the National League in runs scored and home runs, thanks to contributions from Ryan Howard (45 home runs, 141 RBIs) and Chase Utley (26 home runs, 93 RBIs, .282 average). They also boast one of the strongest pitching staffs, with two legitimate aces in mid-season acquisition Cliff Lee (7-4, 74 Ks, 3 Complete Games since the trade) and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.28 ERA, 168 Ks).

In addition to the two lefty aces, they could use mid-season replacement Pedro Martinez in the bullpen, allowing Joe Blanton or J.A. Happ to get the third game start.

However, with 11 blown saves, closer Brad Lidge is not who he was in 2008. Happ or Ryan Madson could take the role from him in the playoffs.

About The Colorado Rockies:

It’s another season of Rocktober for the Rockies, who clinched the wild card spot with a 92-70 record after being left for dead earlier this season.

The comeback Rockies rely heavily on young pitching and defense, knowing full well that their offensive stats are inflated due to the high elevation of their field.

The team finished sixth in the NL in ERA, a fine stat considering where they play. They are led by Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.98 ERA) and Aaron Cook (11-6, 78Ks). All five of their starters had ten or more wins, giving them great depth for the playoffs.

But with all that said, they are a young team with no real power hitters, and a lot of spent energy getting themselves into the playoffs. It will be tough to keep that momentum up, but if anyone can do it, they can.

The Matchup:

The Phillies won the season series 4-2, but Colorado won the previous two matchups.

Colorado had one of the best home records at 51-30, and opponents usually claim extreme fatigue after a few days in the thin air. However, Philadelphia counters that with a major league leading 48-33 record on the road, and going undefeated at home in the 2008 playoffs. 

Both teams boast strong pitching records, but Philadelphia easily has the power advantage, and can capitalize on one or two mistakes. However, if Philadelphia does not figure out their bullpen situation soon, they could open the door for a comeback or two from Colorado.

The Pick:

Philadelphia seems to have all the necessary tools (and a few extra ones) to give them a great shot at being the first repeat World Series winner since the New York Yankees (1998-2000).

Philadelphia in four games.

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