A look into the NLCS Phillies vs. Padres matchup

The Philadelphia Phillies will travel to San Diego tonight to face off against the Padres in Game 1 of the NLCS. The first pitch is set for 8:03 p.m.

The National Leagues’ first season with six playoff teams proved to be as hectic as a system like this can make it. However, this is one of the most unlikely meetings in the history of the NLCS. This is the first NLCS matchup between two teams with fewer than 90 wins, but it has plenty of star power.

The best-of-seven series will be played over eight days instead of the routine nine, resulting in a condensed schedule. Only Game 2 will have a rest day, adding pressure to pitching staffs and rotation decisions.

New series starts tomorrow.#RedOctober pic.twitter.com/62gjJ0ICiy

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 18, 2022

Phillies

Philadelphia’s offense showed out against the Braves. They scored seven, eight and nine runs in their three victories. The Phillies have generated big innings in a postseason where it has been challenging to put together an offense. The team won Game 1 of the wild-card series against the St. Louis Cardinals, scoring six runs in the ninth inning. Similarly, they beat the Braves in Game 3 of the divisional series with six runs in the third inning. That game came along with three more innings of three runs each.

Even with all of that, manager Rob Thomson is still perfecting the bullpen. Zach Eflin, who didn’t start his role as reliever until September, undermined ninth-inning responsibilities. He allowed seven hits and four runs in three innings against the Cardinals. Fortunately, the Phillies lead was significant enough in that game. However, in the tight game against the Braves, Eflin served as Seranthony Dominguez’s setup man. In contrast, Jose Alvarado has given up two home runs in the postseason after allowing just two during the regular season.

Nonetheless, Thomson has high hopes for his team heading forward.

Padres

Finding a strong bullpen has become increasingly important for postseason success, and manager Bob Melvin may have found it just in time. Before signing with the Padres, 31-year-old rookie Robert Suarez played in Mexico and Japan. He pitched six scoreless innings in the postseason, peaking at 101.5 mph. Additionally in the postseason, veteran Luis Garcia has reached 101 mph. Josh Hader has regained his mojo following a string of terrible errors earlier in the season with the Padres and the Brewers. This includes a six-run defeat late in August. Turning it around, Harder has contributed to 4 1/3 scoreless postseason innings, only allowing one hit.

To win the postseason, homeruns are a significant factor. Ranked 12th in the NL in home runs in the regular season, the Padres have hit nine home runs in seven games. Surprisingly, three of those have come from Trent Grisham, a batter whose regular season average was .184. Juan Soto is still looking for his power stroke, hitting just six home runs inn 52 games for the Padres.

First pitch for Tuesday’s game is set for 8:03 p.m.