Endgame: Phillies vs. Astros series preview
The Phillies need to win just one game to make the playoffs.
The Phillies are 159 games from the playoffs. They are one victory away from a return to the postseason.
The Phillies need to beat a 103-win team one out of three times to earn their way into the postseason.
The last time the teams met, the Astros came to Philadelphia for three games in 2017 and the Phillies won the series. Aaron Nola struck out ten batters in six innings in the finale.
The Houston Astros have won three of the last five World Series. They have been caught cheating once and are suspected of bending the rules on other occasions. The Astros are third in the AL in runs scored and have the league's best ERA.
Dusty Baker's team is playing to win despite the fact that the games are meaningless for them.
The Phillies are going to Houston to play the Astros. They need to win at least one game to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. Dusty Baker is not sitting anyone despite the fact that the team has won 104 games and clinched everything.
The Phillies should have an edge in motivation. Rob Thomson will be treating these games like playoff games. It wouldn't be surprising if the Astros players were looking ahead to the playoffs.
Phillies play the Astros in the first game of the series on Monday at 8:05 PM. Aaron Nola is expected to pitch well for the Phillies. If he falters, he could be traded.
Ranger Suarez will face Justin Verlander in Game 2 on Tuesday at 8:05 PM. Verler is a future Hall of Famer and favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award this season. Suarez went toe-to-toe with Max Scherzer earlier this year.
Game 3 is Wednesday at 4:10 PM. Bailey Falter will start for the Phillies against Framber Valdez. Valdes has been roughed up in his last two starts.
Framber has allowed 13 runs in his last two starts.
Wednesday is Yom Kippur. If the game is necessary, try to pray for the Fightins.
Geoff Jenkins hit two doubles in the first game at Nationals Park. SLDH was correct. Thanks to everyone who played along this season.
Philadelphia is a football city. The team that plays in the city is the Eagles. If the team wants to avoid becoming an afterthought, they need to make the playoffs this season.
It's not easy being a Phillies fan, but every so often they reward our faith.
