That Balls Outta Here
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Why the Phillies could actually upset the Dodgers in a wild-card game

By Jason Reed

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 10: Jean Segura #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies attempts to turn a double play against Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on August 10, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 5-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 10: Jean Segura #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies attempts to turn a double play against Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on August 10, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 5-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) – Philadelphia Phillies
(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) – Philadelphia Phillies /

1. Zack Wheeler pitches very well against the Los Angeles Dodgers

Zack Wheeler has been exceptional for the Phillies this season and would undoubtedly start a one-game wild-card game with the season on the line. While the Dodgers have a star-studded lineup, Wheeler has performed pretty well against the team’s hitters.

His overall career numbers against the Dodgers are not great as he has a career 6.00 ERA pitching at Dodger Stadium. However, the lineup constantly changes and this current group of Dodgers is not hitting that well against Wheeler.

Current Dodger hitters are hitting a combined .203 against Wheeler with a .642 combined OPS, seven home runs and 20 RBIs. The only player to really worry about is Cody Bellinger, who is 4-11 against Wheeler with four home runs and nine RBIs.

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He accounted for over half of the home runs and just under half of the RBIs. That would normally be a problem but Bellinger has been ice-cold at the plate this season and is actually one of the worst hitters in the big leagues. That crisis is adverted.

Trea Turner has a lot of plate appearances against Wheeler and is a lifetime 10-35 against him. The combination of Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, A.J. Pollock, Max Muncy, Will Smith, Justin Turner and Chris Taylor are also a combined 10-35 against Wheeler.

That is not terrible but that certainly is not elite. With how good Wheeler has been this season, he really could go into Chavez Ravine and throw 7-8 innings to keep the Phillies in the ball game. In his lone start against the Dodgers this season he threw six scoreless innings.

But what about the bats, especially against the NL Cy YounG frontrunner, Walker Buehler?

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