Series Preview: Newly-managed Phillies welcome Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and the Angels to town for a 3-game weekend series
What a day for the Philadelphia Phillies and the first pitch hasn’t even been thrown yet.
In case you live under a rock, the Phillies parted ways with manager Joe Girardi this morning, after a tireless start to the 2022 season. Girardi finished his Phillies tenure with a 132-141 record and was never able to move the needle, something that this team desperately needed.
Former Phillies bench coach Rob Thomson was promoted to the manager position for the remainder of the season. Here’s what Dave Dombrowski the departure of Joe Girardi, and what to expect from Thomson.
“It has been a frustrating season for us up until this point, as we feel that our club has not played up to its capabilities. While all of us share the responsibility for the shortcomings, I felt that a change was needed and that a new voice in the clubhouse would give us the best chance to turn things around. I believe we have a talented group that can get back on track, and I am confident that Rob, which his experience and familiarity with our club, is the right man to lead us going forward.”
The Phillies are coming off a massive win vs the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, and are looking to build some momentum with a new voice leading the charge.
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Odds Boosts via FOX Bet
- Mike Trout or Bryce Harper Double +100
- Ohtani and Castellanos 1+ RBI Each 400
- Realmuto Stolen Base and Phillies WIN +900
- Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins 1 HR Each +1400
The Phillies offense is going to pick Chase Silseth alive tonight. The vibes are good throughout the clubhouse, the team is coming off a big win, and it seems like tonight’s game is going to go in our favor. Trout/Harper Double is my lock, but I’ll be sprinkling on Harper/Hoskins HR as well.
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Series Pitching Matchups
- Friday (7:05 EST): Zach Eflin vs Chase Silseth
- Saturday (7:15 EST): Zack Wheeler vs Michael Lorenzen
- Sunday (1:35 EST): Kyle Gibson vs Patrick Sandoval
Zach Eflin vs Chase Silseth
Zach Eflin is set to take the hill for the Phillies, looking to continue his dominance in Citizens Bank Park. Eflin has thrown four games at home this season, tallying a 1.57 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 23 innings. He’ll be going up against Chase Silseth, who is 1-1 on the year with a 3.07 ERA and 10 strikeouts. He’s made just three starts on the year, allowing five earned runs in 14.2 innings.
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The Phillies Need a Series Win BAD
Will this team end up letting me down, even after Joe Girardi gets fired? Absolutely. Girardi was never the only issue, but if multiple problems fly around your clubhouse, it’s usually on the manager. The team never had energy, they were always going through the motions, and it seems like this is the start of something good.
There’s no better time to sweep a series. Although the Angels started off hot, they’ve now lost eight in a row, and trail the Astros by 6.5 games in the AL West. Nick Castellanos, JT Realmuto, and Bryson Stott have all started to heat up over the last seven days after some major slumps hit those guys. Nick Maton rakes, and I couldn’t be more excited to see tonight’s lineup out on the field.
Los Angeles Angels
Although the Angels have struggled recently, they’re still a scary baseball team. They’re headlined by Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, with Taylor Ward having an outstanding season in right field as well. Ward is hitting .333/.445/.651 this season, with 10 HRs and 26 RBIs. Trout is down to .292 on the year but still leads the team with 13 HRs, while Ohtani leads with 32 RBIs.
Phillies Starting Lineup
Tonight’s lineup is beautiful. The young infield of Nick Maton, Bryson Stott, and Alec Bohm will get their first playing time altogether. JT is behind the plate, and Bryce Harper is back in the lineup.
Game 1 Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
| Angels | +1.5 (-200) | +108 | U9 (-122) |
| Phillies | -1.5 (+164) | -126 | O9 (+100) |
Final Pick: Phillies -1.5 (+164)
Series Prediction: Phillies take 2 of 3
Series MVP: Rhys Hoskins
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