Phillies Red Sox Series Preview - This Team Is Back
After writing over a week ago that the Phillies are unwatchable, this team is 6-3 after that with a run differential of +7 over that span. In that span the Phillies split a 2 game set with the Marlins due to a rain out in the rubber-match game 3 of the series, took 2 out of 3 from in my opinion the best team in the NL San Diego Padres, and took 3 out of 4 from the Cubs on the road exploding for 39 runs across that 4 game span. This team is officially getting hot.
After taking 3 out of 4 in Chicago the Phillies now travel to Boston to take on the red hot Red Sox. This Boston team has performed well above expectations posting a record of 54-34 through 88 games so far. They are hitting .258 as a team so far this year, pitching to a 4.00 era, and have a run differential of +61. They sit atop the loaded AL East holding a 2.5 game lead over the defending AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. Some notable players to look out for are J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers, and Xander Bogaerts. Slowing them down offensively will be a must in this series.
For the Phillies this series will come down to 3 players on this roster. Vince Velasquez, Matt Moore, and Aaron Nola. The three probable starters in this series. Will they all be able to pitch effectively enough to keep this team in the games. The lineup vs Garrett Richards, Martin Perez, and former Phillie Nick Pivetta will 100% be able to put up runs vs. these three guys especially with it now being 100%. The bullpen is always a worry especially against a lineup like Boston but if Velasquez, Moore, and Nola don't pitch well in these games it won't matter how any other player performs. This team will lose 2 maybe even all 3 games. But if they all give quality starts this team can win 2 maybe even all 3 games. The ball is in their court, let's see how they perform.
To conclude I predict this team to win 2 out of 3 games in this series. I believe they win tonight and Sunday but lose on Matt Moore's start on Saturday. This lineup is scorching hot right now and I believe this team will be able to pitch well enough to win the series and head into the break as a .500 ball club. Vinny V, Aaron Nola, and the rest of you guys I hope you prove me right and Joe Girardi I hope you start Brad Miller tonight. Can't wait to watch this series it should be a great weekend of baseball Let's Go Phils!