It’s Wild Card Playoff time! The Phillies are in back-to-back years now in the playoffs, and it seems like old times! Isn’t it so much better when the Phils make the playoffs? Well, now we finally know who the opponent will be for the team with the Marlins getting the 5th Wild Card spot this afternoon, despite a loss vs. the Pirates, the Diamondbacks lost to the Houston Astros and thereby get a pass away from Philadelphia and it’s the Fish to face the Phils.
Who would you have liked to see the Phillies play? Both the Marlins and the Diamondbacks have had series that were close with the Phillies this year, but I think somehow the young Marlins have everything to play for in this series.
Embed from Getty ImagesYoung stars like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Luis Arraez will lead the charge for the Marlins when they come to Philadelphia in a best-of-three series beginning Tuesday night at 8:08 PM. They will face a decidedly veteran Phillies team with the likes of Bryce Harper Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber. It’s Red October for this Phillies team, they have been waiting for this chance to make the playoffs all year long.
This series is all about the young upstarts of Miami facing the veterans of Philly, and defending National League Champions of course. We cannot forget that the Phillies made it all the way to the World Series last year, only to lose, but it was getting there that was amazing.
A key to a Phillies win will be containing Luis Arraez, in his last 7 games, he has batted .462 and has hit 3 HR and 5 RBI. The Marlins will have their work cut out for them as well, trying to contain Kyle Schwarber, who has hit 47 HRs this year, which is one more than last season, and a personal best for him.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Phillies offense will face Jesus Luzardo, who has a postseason ERA of 5.91, but he was 10-9 in the regular season with a 3.63 ERA. The Marlins will face Zack Wheeler, who is 1-3 in the postseason with a 2.78 ERA, he was 13-6 with a 3.61 ERA in the regular season.
