Phillies and Dodgers set for Crucial Series as Bullpen Concerns Plague Los Angeles
PHILADELPHIA – A pivotal series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers begins tonight, with both teams eyeing postseason positioning. While the Dodgers boast a formidable offense, recent struggles in their bullpen raise questions about their ability to close out games, a factor Phillies pitching coach Caleb Stahlecker highlighted on a recent episode of phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball show. ”I get the analytics side of baseball, but I’ve always thought roles have a huge impact. as a closer is just a different breed. They know how to get out of that corner when they get backed into it. And it’s different, those last three outs. I don’t think you can find on a computer how tough they are.”
The Dodgers entered the season as World Series favorites, even drawing comparisons to the dominant 1998 Yankees after an 8-0 start. Though, a wave of injuries to key pitchers – including Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Gavin stone – has forced manager Dave Roberts to constantly reshuffle his bullpen. Offseason acquisitions Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates have also underperformed, and a recent trade for Brock Stewart yielded another injury. Despite the pitching woes, the Dodgers still maintain a 91-win pace.
The Phillies will face a potent Dodgers offense that Joe Torre, manager of the 2000 Yankees, described as “better than our offense, without question.” torre cautioned, however, that past success doesn’t guarantee future results. “When you’ve won before,you know what it takes to win. But you can’t stop to admire, ‘Look what I did,’ as you lose it fast.”
This series offers a critical test for both teams. For the Phillies, it’s an opportunity to gain ground in the National League standings. For the Dodgers, it’s a chance to demonstrate their championship mettle despite the challenges to their bullpen and reaffirm their status as contenders.
