San Diego Padres vs. Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview
With the series tied at one game apiece, the NLCS will shift to the City of Brotherly Love as the San Diego Padres (1-1) take on the Philadelphia Phillies (1-1). This game will be played at Citizens Bank Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:37 pm ET.
After losing Game 1, the Padres bounced back on Thursday, defeating the Phillies 8-5. Starter Blake Snell gave up four runs in five innings, but he was still able to pick up the win thanks to a strong offensive effort. The Padres hit three home runs, including Manny Machado’s third of the postseason.
Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola struggled in the start. He took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. Offensively, Rhys Hoskins homered, but the offense just wasn’t able to make up for the rough pitching.
The Padres are the slight favorites despite playing on the road. They are -116 to win, while the Phillies’ moneyline sits at -102. The runline features Philadelphia +1.5 (-172), and the over/under for total runs is 7.5.
Padres Look To Musgrove To Reclaim Series Advantage
After splitting the first two games, the Padres lost their home field advantage and will now look to Joe Musgrove to help them reclaim it.
This season, Musgrove went 10-7 in 30 games with a 2.93 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, and he struck out 184 in 181 innings. In two postseason games, he is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings of work.
Closer Josh Hader has also been paramount to the Padres’ success. Acquired at the trade deadline this year, Hader hasn’t allowed a run in 5.1 innings and has four saves in four chances this postseason.
At the plate, there are a number of Padres’ sluggers who have hit the ball well in the postseason. Trent Grisham (.286 avg, 3 HR, 5 RBI), Manny Machado (.306 avg, 3 HR, 6 RBI), and Josh Bell (2 HR, 4 RBI) have all performed admirably.
San Diego is still waiting for Juan Soto to break out. In 36 postseason at bats, he is hitting just .222 with no home runs and four runs batted in.
Phillies Look To Take Advantage Of Home Field
The Philadelphia Phillies were not particularly good this season away from home, as they finished at just 40-41 on the road. At home, though, they were a solid 47-34 and will look to use that advantage to gain the series edge.
On the mound for the Phillies is lefty Ranger Suarez. In 29 games, he went 10-7 this season with a 3.65 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, and he struck out 129 in 155.1 innings.
This postseason, Suarez has made just one start, going 3.1 innings and allowing one run on three hits. He did struggle with command in that start as he allowed five walks, but he will look to improve on his home record from the season when he went 4-4 with a 4.27 ERA.
At the plate, Bryce Harper has been Philadelphia’s best hitter this postseason. In 31 at bats, he is hitting .419/.455/.935 with four home runs, seven runs batted in, and eight runs scored.
Take San Diego To Win On The Road
Even though San Diego has lost four of its last six games against the Phillies, the Padres seem like the much safer bet with Joe Musgrove on the mound. It also doesn’t hurt that Musgrove went an impressive 7-3 with a 3.01 ERA on the road this year.
Take San Diego to win straight up at -116.
The UNDER 7.5 runs (-106) is also an interesting bet here, as it has hit seven of the last eight times these two have matched up at Citizens Bank Park.
