The Philadelphia Phillies will take on the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers this week for three games coming off a series sweep of the Nationals while the Rangers are coming off a series loss to the Angels.
Philadelphia Phillies (34-14) vs. Texas Rangers (24-24)
Game 1:
Date: Tuesday, May 21
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: NBCSP
Game 2:
Date: Wednesday, May 22
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: NBCSP
Game 3:
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 1:05 pm EST
Broadcast: NBC 10
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Ranger Suarez (8-0, 1.37 ERA) vs. Jon Gray (2-1, 2.08 ERA)
Suarez will make his tenth start of his fantastic season, he is 8-0 with a 1.37 ERA, a 2.73 FIP, a 0.76 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts in 59 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mets going five innings giving up two runs, none of which were earned on four hits; he walked two and struck out three. In his career against the Rangers, he has made one start going five innings giving up five runs, three earned on six hits; he walked two and struck out three. Gray will go for the Rangers he is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA, a 2.46 FIP, a 1.17 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts in 52 innings. In his last start, he faced the Guardians going 6.1 shutout innings giving up four hits; he walked two and struck out three. In his career against the Phillies, he is 5-3 with a 4.18 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts in 56 innings.
Game 2: Taijuan Walker (3-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Andrew Heaney (0-5, 4.43 ERA)
Walker gets the middle game he is 3-0 with a 4.91 ERA, a 5.74 FIP, a 1.40 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 22 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mets going 3.1 innings giving up two runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out one. In his career against the Rangers, he is 2-2 with a 4.12 ERA, a 1.55 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. Heaney goes for the Rangers he is 0-5 with a 4.43 ERA, a 4.16 FIP, a 1.23 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Angels going 3.2 innings giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits; he walked two and struck out five. In his career against Philadelphia, he has made one start going five innings giving up five runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out five.
Game 3: Zack Wheeler (5-3, 2.52 ERA) vs. Jose Urena (1-3, 3.29 ERA)
Wheeler gets the finale, he is 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA, a 2.76 FIP, a 0.97 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 60.2 innings. In his last start, he went 7.1 innings giving up two runs on three hits; he walked three and struck out six. In his career against Texas, he is 1-2 with a 2.43 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. Urena goes for the Rangers he is 1-3 in 13 appearances with three of those coming as starts with a 3.29 ERA, a 4.35 FIP, a 1.17 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Angels going six innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked one and struck out three. In his career against the Phillies, he is 3-7 with a 4.86 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Texas Rangers Leaders
Phillies:
AVG – Alec Bohm – .330
HR – Bryce Harper – 10
RBI – Alec Bohm – 42
IP – Aaron Nola – 65.0
ERA – Ranger Suarez – 1.37
K – Zack Wheeler – 71
Rangers:
AVG – Josh Smith – .284
HR – Adolis Garcia – 11
RBI – Adolis Garcia – 35
IP – Jon Gray – 52.0
ERA – Jon Gray – 2.08
K – Jon Gray – 52
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Texas Rangers Numbers
Phillies
AVG: .258 (2)
OPS: .749 (6)
R: 256 (1)
HR: 54 (7)
ERA: 3.17 (4)
K: 445 (1)
WHIP: 1.14 (5)
Rangers
AVG: .247 (10)
OPS: .705 (12)
R: 220 (10)
HR: 50 (12)
ERA: 4.11 (18)
K: 409 (10)
WHIP: 1.27 (16)
Wrap Up
This will be a big series test for the Phillies who have built up a solid lead in the National League East entering this series. Now if they should just based on the numbers take two out of three from the Rangers but we all know numbers don’t always work out but in the end I still like the Phillies to win this series.
