This isn't fully a David-and-Goliath matchup: Miami won the season series, including taking two of three in both series in Philadelphia.
A year after party-crashing to the National League pennant and reaching the World Series despite lacking home-field advantage in every matchup, thewill get to host a postseason party of their own. The crowd at Citizens Bank Park figures to be lively for a team that is deeper, wiser and more dangerous than the one that pushed thecame alive in the second half and reminded fans why Philadelphia forked over $300 million for him this past winter.
Full-year numbers don’t really capture what’s going on in Miami, but with Luzardo and Garrett, they at least have two starters who are capable of pitching great games. The wild card — almost literally — is Cabrera, who has really good stuff but also had a higher walk ratewho threw 70 innings this season. It’s fun watching his Marlins-branded 93 mph power change, but the walks will determine his success., the Phillies probably have the best bullpen in the National League.
The reputation says the Marlins should have a pitching advantage, but park- and roster-adjusted numbers say it’s the Phillies staff that’s ahead. —The Phillies believe they are built for a short series — just like they were last October — and it’s hard to argue against that logic. They have a deeper stable of pitchers to trust this time. They are postseason-tested after a magical run in 2022 that resulted in an NL pennant. And, this time, they are starting at home.
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