Preview: Aaron Nola looks to pitch the Phillies to the playoffs for the first time since 2011
With the Magic Number sitting at 1, the Phillies take the field tonight at 8:10 EST vs. the Houston Astros looking to snap their 10-year playoff drought.
Aaron Nola (10-13, 3.36 ERA), the longest tenured player on the Phillies roster, will get the ball for the Fightins, going up against Lance McCullers Jr (4-1, 2.38 ERA).
The Phillies got a big win on Sunday, as the bats lit up Patrick Corbin and the Nationals early for an 8-1 win in just seven innings due to Hurricane Ian. That win dropped the magic number to two.
The Brewers and Marlins squared off in the series finale on Sunday night, and after 12 innings of baseball, Miami would hold onto the win, taking 3 of 4 from Milwaukee and helping drop the Phils’ magic number to one. The Marlins and Phillies were obvious friends yesterday, as the Phillies’ Twitter account changed their name to “Miami Marlins Stan Account”, followed by a quality video from Miami.
Read more: Where the Phillies stand after taking 3 of 4 from Washington >>
This final series won’t be easy for the Phils, as the Astros are sending their best three arms to the mound, even though they’ve locked up the #1 seed in the American League. The Phillies bats woke up in Washington, and they’ll need to stay above water for just three more games (or one more win).
Although we don’t want to rely on other teams, the Diamondbacks kick off their series tonight with Milwaukee, sending Tommy Henry to the mound vs. Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff.
Series Pitching Matchups
- Monday: Aaron Nola vs. Lance McCullers Jr.
- Tuesday: Ranger Suarez vs. Justin Verlander
- Wednesday: Bailey Falter vs. Framber Valdez
Aaron Nola vs. Lance McCullers Jr.
Aaron Nola is 10-13 on the year with a 3.36 ERA and 226 Ks, which is 5th in all of baseball. Nola holds a 3.20 ERA away from Citizens Bank Park, while hitters hold a batting average of just .235 against the Phillies ace. Lance McCullers Jr. has made just 7 starts this season but holds a 2.38 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
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Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
| Phillies | -1.5 (+172) | +104 | O7.5 (-102) |
| Astros | +1.5 (-210) | -122 | U7.5 (-120) |
Prediction
The Hunt for Red October ends tonight. Phillies +104 to my grave.
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