Latest news with #Phils
New York Post
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets vs. Phillies prediction, odds: MLB picks, best bets Friday
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Depending on how you look at it, this is either the best or worst time for the Mets to play a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. On one hand, you could say that a series with the Phils is just what the doctor ordered to snap the Mets out of their current funk. The Amazins have lost six in a row to the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves, which has allowed the Phillies to get on even terms with the Mets (45-30) atop the NL East. What better opponent to get back on track against than your biggest rival, who just happens to be tied with you for first place right before the midway point of the season? On the other hand, you could say this is terrible timing, as the Phillies are 8-2 in their last 10, and should be buoyant about their chances of pulling in front of the Mets in the standings. No matter how you look at it, you'll need to come to terms with the odds, which have the Phillies as a decided favorite for Game 1 of this pivotal series. Mets vs. Phillies odds Team Moneyline Mets +164 Phillies -196 Odds via FanDuel Mets vs. Phillies betting preview The reason that the Phillies are such a decided favorite is because they have Zack Wheeler on the mound opposite Blade Tidwell, who is making just the second start of his career. A former second-round pick in 2022, Tidwell has pitched to a 4.76 ERA in 13 outings for Triple-A Syracuse this season. He made his MLB debut on May 4 against the Cardinals, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. Obviously, having Tidwell start a game of this magnitude is not ideal for the Mets, let alone against Wheeler. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting The former Met has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since leaving Queens, but he could be putting together his best season yet. The 35-year-old has pitched to a 2.76 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 88 innings. Wheeler's peripheral numbers also stand out, as his 11.25 strikeouts per 9 innings would be a career-best, as would his 2.34 xERA. Zack Wheeler is averaging over 11 strikeouts per 9 innings this season. AP Mets vs. Phillies pick It may be a bit jarring to see the Phillies close to -200 against a team with the same exact record (and a much better run differential), but this pitching matchup is stacked in the home team's favor. As long as Wheeler is on point, the Phils should be able to get separation in this game and get home as comfortable winners. THE PLAY: Phillies -1.5 (+105, FanDuel) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
New York Post
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets vs. Phillies prediction, odds: Best bets for NL East clash
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Depending on how you look at it, this is either the best or worst time for the Mets to play a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. On one hand, you could say that a series with the Phils is just what the doctor ordered to snap the Mets out of their current funk. The Amazins have lost six in a row to the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves, which has allowed the Phillies to get on even terms with the Mets (45-30) atop the NL East. What better opponent to get back on track against than your biggest rival, who just happens to be tied with you for first place right before the midway point of the season? On the other hand, you could say this is terrible timing, as the Phillies are 8-2 in their last 10, and should be buoyant about their chances of pulling in front of the Mets in the standings. No matter how you look at it, you'll need to come to terms with the odds, which have the Phillies as a decided favorite for Game 1 of this pivotal series. Mets vs. Phillies odds Team Moneyline Mets +164 Phillies -196 Odds via FanDuel Mets vs. Phillies betting preview The reason that the Phillies are such a decided favorite is because they have Zack Wheeler on the mound opposite Blade Tidwell, who is making just the second start of his career. A former second-round pick in 2022, Tidwell has pitched to a 4.76 ERA in 13 outings for Triple-A Syracuse this season. He made his MLB debut on May 4 against the Cardinals, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. Obviously, having Tidwell start a game of this magnitude is not ideal for the Mets, let alone against Wheeler. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting The former Met has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since leaving Queens, but he could be putting together his best season yet. The 35-year-old has pitched to a 2.76 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 88 innings. Wheeler's peripheral numbers also stand out, as his 11.25 strikeouts per 9 innings would be a career-best, as would his 2.34 xERA. Zack Wheeler is averaging over 11 strikeouts per 9 innings this season. AP Mets vs. Phillies pick It may be a bit jarring to see the Phillies close to -200 against a team with the same exact record (and a much better run differential), but this pitching matchup is stacked in the home team's favor. As long as Wheeler is on point, the Phils should be able to get separation in this game and get home as comfortable winners. THE PLAY: Phillies -1.5 (+105, FanDuel) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Phillies Reaching Crossroads, Must Balance Today And The Future
Coming into this season, the Philadelphia Phillies were pretty sanguine about their prospects for a deep run into the postseason. They were pretty much running back the same outfit that has been in the thick of playoff contention in recent years, making it to the World Series in 2022. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner would again lead the offense, while Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and an emerging Cristopher Sanchez would again front the rotation. Players such as OF Max Kepler and lefty starter Jesus Luzardo would fill notable gaps on either side of the ball. The bullpen, a longstanding club issue, would have a new face at the end of ballgames in Jordan Romano. Depending on the week, the Phils have looked like the best team in baseball or a complete also-ran. They started off 8-3, lost 10 of their next 15 to drop to .500, then went on a 21-5 tear, and then through Monday's games skidded into a 4-10 slide that landed them at 38-28, in 2nd place in the NL East, 4 1/2 games behind the Mets. Now fans in many locales would kill for such problems, but the Phillies truly are headed for a crossroads, facing key organizational decisions that will affect the franchise for years. Their nucleus, particularly on the position player side, has gotten old and relatively stale. They're heavily committed to the currently injured Harper, and to SS Turner in terms of dollars and years. Their other offensive star, Schwarber, is a free agent at the end of the season. C J.T. Realmuto, whose bat has stagnated but whose defense remains strong, is also a free agent at the end of the season. RF Nick Castellanos is signed through 2026, and has begun to decline a bit. All five aforementioned players are 32 or older. Their younger regulars, 3B Alec Bohm, 2B Bryson Stott and OFs Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas, haven't developed as expected at the MLB level. Starting pitching is the club's clear strength. Wheeler is arguably the game's best starter. Sanchez isn't too far behind and is signed long-term on a team-friendly deal. Lefty Ranger Suarez has missed some time this season, but has looked great since his return. He's a free agent at the end of this season. Nola got off to a rough start this season, then hit the injured list with a sprained ankle, and just yesterday his rehab was short-circuited by a rib cage injury. Then there's Luzardo, whose extremes in performance mirror his team's. After 11 starts, his record stood at 5-0, 2.15, with a 77/19 K/BB ratio in 67 innings. Then he gave up an unfathomable 20 earned runs over 5 2/3 innings in his next two starts, more than doubling his ERA to 4.46. Plenty of the bullpen's warts were covered up by Jose Alvarado (4-1, 2.70, 7 SV, 25/4 K/BB in 20 IP) before he was suspended for 100 games for using a banned performance-enhancing substance. Under the terms of his suspension, he will not be allowed to pitch in the 2025 postseason. Romano moved back into the closer role since the loss of Alvarado, and has alternated awesome and awful performances - his ERA is an unsightly 7.40 to date. Bubbling under the major league surface is an exciting minor league system that one way or the other holds the key to the Phillies' future. Do players like SS Aidan Miller, OF Justin Crawford, C Eduardo Tait, RHP Andrew Painter, RHP Mick Abel and 2B Aroon Escobar represent the Phils' future, or will they be dealt to salvage the club's present? More likely it will be a combination of the two. This trading deadline has unique, defining traits of its own compared to previous years. In the American League, specifically, there is a heavy imbalance, with buyers far outnumbering sellers. Even in the NL, where the likely playoff field is a bit tighter, only the Marlins, Pirates and Rockies are clear bottom-feeders. It's going to be tough - and expensive - for a club like the Phillies to meet their needs in the trade market. How might the Phils approach the deadline? - Bullpen - This is the easiest area to identify, and the hardest one to fix. A guy like the Orioles' Felix Bautista could be available, but the price would be outlandish. In addition, the Phils' track record off adding bullpen arms has been abysmal. Relievers run hot and cold - unless you're getting an elite guy like Bautista (and even he hasn't be quite as elite this season), it might be best to stand pat or to make minor deals with minimal prospect cost. - One More Everyday Bat - The Philly lineup has gotten stale. At this point it doesn't appear that Marsh or Rojas are ever going to hit, and they've got become redundant. Kepler is what he is - make a mistake, and he might make you pay, and that's about it. If the Phils can create a package with non-elite prospects (say, taking at least Painter and Miller off of the table, and likely one or two more), they might be able to score a non-elite, team controlled everyday OF that could add a jolt to their lineup. Marlins' OF Jesus Sanchez is such a player. He missed the beginning of the season with a strained oblique, and is just beginning to round into form. He has always hit the ball extremely hard, and while he is more of a corner outfielder than a CF, he could get the job done defensively in the middle of a much smaller outfield in Philly. I wouldn't give up any of the Phils' very best prospects named above for him, but would put an attractive package together and potentially add an MLB OF to it. Sanchez has three more years of team control including this one. - Minor Leaguers - I wouldn't move Miller or Painter under any circumstances. Tait is nearly untouchable as well - the transition from Realmuto to him could be a seamless one. Escobar is one of this season's breakout prospects, and will be asked for often. The Phils know him better than anyone, and will know when someone is overpaying. Ditto Abel, who has looked great in early MLB opportunities after stagnating for an extended period in the upper minor leagues. The minor leaguer I think that' they're most likely to move is Crawford, whose speed is clearly ready for the majors, but whose bat might not be. - Major Leaguers - The Phils could get really frisky and attempt to move some of their pending free agents for more established big leaguers. Moving an elite defensive catcher like Realmuto might be a bridge too far, but I'm certain that Castellanos would available in a deal that brought back a more complete outfielder. Who knows, Stott or Bohm could go in an old-fashioned 'challenge' trade that bring back a comparable player at the same position. Suarez is needed in their rotation right now, and you can never have too much starting pitching, but if Abel and Painter both emerge as reliable big leaguers and Nola comes back strong before the deadline, the lefty could be made available. So this could go in any number of directions. Bottom line, the Phillies still intend to win in 2025, but they will shortly have to decide whether they need to deal from their future to give themselves their best chance. No doubt, team President Dave Dombrowski and GM Preston Mattingly will be trying to find that middle road where the club contends now and in the foreseeable future.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A disastrous return to Citi Field for Phillies' scuffling offense
A disastrous return to Citi Field for Phillies' scuffling offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia NEW YORK — The last possible result the Phillies would have wanted from their first series back at Citi Field since the 2024 NLDS was exactly what took place this week in Queens. Advertisement Loss. Loss. Walk-off loss. Monday night, the Phillies were held scoreless until the top of the ninth inning and fell, 5-4. Tuesday night, they were again unable to pick up the big hit needed to knot up a close game and the Mets broke it open late, just as they did the night before and three times last October. The Phillies lost, 5-1. Wednesday afternoon, with ace Zack Wheeler on the mound and needing a win to salvage the three-game set, the Phillies fell behind in the second inning, tied it in the fourth and lost, 4-3, in the bottom of the 10th after taking a brief lead. The Phillies are 13-12 and already trail the Mets by five games in the NL East without a chance to make up direct ground until hosting them the third week of June. Advertisement The offense isn't hitting for power or coming through much situationally. The Phillies have one home run in their last five games, Bryson Stott's three-run shot off Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning Monday night. The Phils had just three extra-base hits in the three losses to the Mets and 19 of their last 20 hits have been singles. It's not as if they've been without chances. The Phillies have had plenty of baserunners but haven't been able to advance them. They're 7-for-their-last-34 (.206) with men on base and one of those hits didn't produce a run late Wednesday afternoon when Max Kepler singled with two outs in the eighth and Nick Castellanos was thrown out at home by Juan Soto. The Phillies ran out of time to challenge whether Castellanos' fingers touched the plate just before the tag but he appeared to be out anyway. Castellanos put the Phils ahead in the top of the 10th with an RBI single past a drawn-in infield but the Phillies stranded the bases loaded with a pair of flyouts. The Phils have been held scoreless in 26 of the last 30 innings. Bryce Harper went 1-for-11 against the Mets. Trea Turner was 1-for-12. Kyle Schwarber's home runs can mask other issues but he's gone deep just once in his last 60 plate appearances. Advertisement 'They've been through this before,' manager Rob Thomson said prior to the game. 'I feel like everybody around us is panicking. … We're fine. 'Guys' numbers historically, there's a lot of slug in that lineup. And we're gonna go through another time during the course of the year when we don't slug. And maybe one more time where we don't slug. It's just the way the game is.' They'll board a plane to Chicago on Wednesday evening and the next task is no easier against a Cubs offense that has slugged a ton, entering the day with 24 more runs than any team in baseball.
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Phillies turn to Jesus Luzardo to stop undefeated Dodgers in October-like April game
Jesús Luzardo knows what pitching at Citizens Bank Park in a playoff atmosphere is like. He's done it before, wearing the colors of a division rival. He lasted four innings and lost in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. Luzardo will get a taste of it for the first time in a Phillies uniform tonight as he makes his home debut in a rare October-like April game in Philadelphia. The Phils welcome the undefeated Dodgers to the Bank for an early-season three-game series featuring two NL heavyweights. "The fans get loud. The atmosphere gets really good, really intense, and I think that's something that drags a lot of players and brings the best out of people," Luzardo told CBS Philadelphia's Pat Gallen on an episode of " Gallen of Questions ." "If you're on the opposing side, it's definitely tough. On the home side, I think it adds that extra level of motivation for you." "You can just feel the atmosphere. You can feel the city. How excited the fans are. Just the city in general," Luzardo added. "Everyone knows the team, is excited about the team. Looking forward to coming to games. It's something that I've never been a part of." Two years ago, Luzardo was the Marlins' Game 1 starter after a breakout season. He had a 3.58 ERA and 28.1 K% in a career-high 178 2/3 innings in 2023. Injuries struck in 2024, limiting the 27-year-old southpaw to 66 2/3 innings and just 12 starts while seeing his ERA balloon to 5.00. His velocity on his fastball was affected, seeing his four-seamer's average speed drop from 96.7 mph in 2023 to 95.2 mph in 2024. "It was tough, just going through a whole year not feeling like myself," Luzardo said. "I felt like letting your teammates down, not being able to go out there and throw every five days. … Now I'm happy to be back 100% feeling good, back to feeling myself." The injury history didn't scare off the Phillies, who acquired the lefty from Miami in a December trade . Luzardo, who's been off social media for over a year, said he was caught off guard by the trade despite knowing his name was being floated around in rumors. "I was away from all the noise, so when I got that call, it kind of shocked me," Luzardo said. "At the same time, I was surprised and excited, looking forward to coming to a team like this with this much talent. Harper called me within maybe 30 seconds of the trade. "Wheeler reached out. A bunch of guys reached out. Schwarber reached out," he added. "It was cool to see the older and veteran guys reaching out and making sure I felt welcomed." Luzardo struck out 11 batters and allowed two runs over five innings in his Phillies debut last week, an 11-6 win over the Nationals . His fastball had his pop back, averaging 96.9 mph and maxing out at 98.9 mph. In his first start with the Phillies, Luzardo showed off a new sweeper he worked on over the winter and in spring training. He threw the sweeper 22 times, with a 70% whiff percentage, and struck out five batters with it. "It took all spring for me. First, having the body get accumulated to a new pitch," Luzardo said. "It's different on the body in general in the way you throw it. Once your body gets used to it. Building it into the bullpen sessions and building it into games and trying it in different scenarios, different counts, different hitters. And really just fine-tuning it to see where it works and where it doesn't. I think throughout spring, we did a good job with that. We had good and bad results with it, but that's what spring is for." Luzardo said his goal for the 2024 season is to make 33 starts for the Phils, but most importantly, it's staying on the field. "For me, I think the health is the biggest thing," Luzardo said. "I just want to be healthy all year." Hours before making his home debut in Philadelphia, Luzardo announced that for every batter he strikes out this season, the Jesús Luzardo Family Foundation will donate $100 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. If you're looking to watch tonight's Phillies vs. Dodgers game in Philadelphia on cable TV, you're out of luck. Tonight's game is the first of two Apple TV+ games for the Phillies in the first half of the 2025 season. Fans looking to watch tonight's game featuring the 5-1 Phillies against the 8-0 Dodgers, they'll need an Apple TV+ subscription. If you don't have an Apple TV+ account, fans can listen to the game on SportsRadio 94WIP. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.
