🛎️ Beer Muscles!

_{LAST GAME: PHILLIES 7 - PIRATES 6}

_{NEXT GAME: Phillies (Zack Wheeler) vs. Pirates (Luis L. Ortiz)}

_{Today, 6:40 EDT | NBCSP, 94WIP}

Good morning. I had absolutely no intention of making any reference to last night’s game. None. But then Garrett Stubbs went out and hit a three-run blast a night after getting tanked on regional television, and you know what, I feel obligated to acknowledge a job well done. 🍺 💪🏻

If you want to be a big man at night, you have to be a big man at game time. Stubbs was exactly that, hitting his first homer in 115 plate appearances this season.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot — Bryce Harper, Edmundo Sosa and a parade of relievers helped the Phillies win their 7th straight game.

See kids, you don’t always lose when you booze.

True story: I had a 6-foot Eastern Rat Snake fall out of the drop ceiling in my basement last spring.

Needless to say, I am not a fan of snakes.

Relatedly (unrelatedly), the Cubs blew yet another game in Atlanta last night, so it’s looking more and more likely that it will be the Diamondbacks who visit Citizens Bank Park next week.

Zack Wheeler will go for the Phillies in Game 1 and Aaron Nola in Game 2. No surprises here.

We will see if Arizona has the luxury of lining up ace Zac Gallen for a potential Game 1 start. If so, Merrill Kelly would likely get the ball for Game 2.

Let’s assume the standings hold form and take a look at some quick notes on how the projected starters matchup:

• Wheeler made two starts against the Diamondbacks this season, holding them to 4 earned runs over 12 innings, although he allowed 12 hits.

• Current Arizona hitters have had some career success against Wheeler, hitting a collective .292 with an .838 OPS. He has had problems with Tommy Pham (1.327 OPS in 15 PA) and Christian Walker (1.412 OPS in 17 PA). Don’t love that.

• In his only start against Arizona this season, Nola lasted 6 2/3 innings while allowing 4 earned runs. He also walked 1 and struck out 9.

• Arizona hitters are batting a collective .267 with a .726 OPS in their careers against Nola. Jake McCarthy (4-for-8, HR, 5 RBI, 1.750 OPS) has had some success, but Nola has also struck him out in half of those 8 ABs.

• In his lone start against the Phils this season, Gallen allowed a pair of earned runs in 5 2/3 IP, surrendering 5 hits and 2 walks to go along with 3 strikeouts. The South Jersey native has a 4.38 ERA in 3 career starts at Citizens Bank Park.

• As for Kelly, he gave up 3 runs in 6 innings in his only start against the Phillies this season. Collectively, they’re hitting .297 with a .795 OPS against him.

Our take: From a general standpoint, nothing truly jumps off the page about the Arizona offense.

Since the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks are 15th in OBP (.315), 24th in SLG (.392), and 21st in team OPS (.711). Meanwhile, the Phillies rank 7th in OBP (.337), 3rd in SLG (.462), and 5th in OPS (.799).

You have to feel like the Phillies have the advantage here.

2) 🙄 Is This Guy Serious?

You know how sometimes you come across something, and you absolutely know it portends misfortune? Like last year when those dudes out in San Diego did the “That’s What’s In?” song. You immediately knew the Padres were screwed.

That’s pretty much how I feel about this. Nobody should get ahead of themselves — a short series invites chaos — but a Spencer Strider vs. Phillies postseason matchup feels like destiny at this point.

Hm. How to feel about this…

• On one hand, Strider has owned the Phillies this season. In 4 starts, he is 4-0 with 2.42 ERA. He has struck out 38 Phillies across 26 innings while holding them to a .191 batting average. He has dominated.

• On the other hand, the loser vibes are so strong here that you should probably anticipate another postseason implosion.

Our take: Strider might be the only athlete — or person on earth — wanting to revisit 2020, longing for the magical postseason atmosphere of 11,000 fans crammed into a neutral site location. That’s baseball.

The good old days, as they are known by some. Apparently.

3)🔮 Tweet of the Day: The Simpsons Did It Again

[click to watch]

Our take: Well played. I often open up Twitter and immediately hate myself for having no social media creativity whatsoever. I provide Phillies stats and some fiery in-game Eagles tweets. That’s about it.

4)📊 Poll: Temperature Check

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

…

Results from our last poll: How will you watch Game 1 next week?

Your replies…

“I live five hours away, so more than one postseason trip to the Bank is unlikely. Last year it was NLCS Gm 5. Saving my trip for the WS this year!”

“I’ll be there no matter what. Just put in PTO for it today in case it’s an afternoon game.”

“Traveling from California for other reasons, but will be attending the game at all costs because it may very well be once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s RED OCTOBER BABY!”

“Got all of my postseason tickets purchased already since I'm a season ticket holder. First up, Wild Card Game 1!!! LFG!!!!”

…

5) 🔗 Link Roundup

• 😴 Aaron Nola won’t pitch again before Game 2, and he’s been better on extra rest this season in a small sample size.

• 🎤 Dan Baker intends to return next year for his 52nd season as the Phillies’ public address announcer.

• 🕰️ Good timing. Johan Rojas’ parents traveled to the U.S. to watch him receive the Paul Owens Award. He then hit a playoff-clinching walk-off.

• 💩 The Charmin toilet paper brand checked in on the Phillies-Pirates score bug.

• 👏 Trea Turner joined Marks and Reese on 94 WIP to talk about The Ovation and other topics.

• 🐊 Howard Eskin reports (I guess?) that someone tried to bring an alligator as a service animal into Citizens Bank Park last night.

• 🎙️ Scott Franzke had some fun with the Stubbs homer.

The newsletter today was written by: Bob Wankel (Follow on X)

Thanks for reading!