Last season, the Phillies caught fire in the playoffs, putting together an outstanding postseason run to win the NL pennant.
This year, they might do the same thing. Philadelphia is 16-9 in August, scoring 156 runs (6.2 per game) while allowing 96 (3.8).
Bryce Harper is cooking, and Trea Turner has finally started to hit again.
The defense has rounded into form now that Kyle Schwarber is the designated hitter.
The bullpen looks excellent, too, now that Jose Alvarado is back in the fold.
The Phils boast a 2.10 bullpen ERA over the past two weeks.
Cristopher Sanchez, Wednesday’s starter versus the Angels, boasts a 3.33 ERA across 13 starts this season, and the Phillies have won four straight games with him on the mound.
Meanwhile, the Angels have collapsed entirely.
They have lost 18 of their 25 games in August behind the league’s worst OPS (.646), and Shohei Ohtani tore his UCL.
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Reid Detmers, a capable pitcher in the first half, has pitched to a 7.88 ERA over his past eight starts.
Both Sanchez and Detmers are left-handed, giving Philadelphia a monster offensive advantage — the Phillies boast a 129 wRC+ against lefties in August, while the Angels have a 54 wRC+, meaning the Phillies have generated runs at a 73 percent better rate against the side during the stretch.
Sanchez and the Phillies should cruise past Detmers and the Angels on Wednesday.
The pick: Phillies moneyline (-155, bet365)
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