Series preview: Orioles at Phillies, September 20 – September 22

The Phillies return home for a very crucial series against the Baltimore Orioles.

#Phillies return home to face the 102-loss #Orioles for a crucial three game series. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/mUHmfJemO5
— Philly Sports Reports (@PhlySprtsReprts) September 20, 2021

Yes, the Phillies are the worst team in baseball, but as we all remember they had a three-game series against the second worst team in baseball last month, and they managed to lose all three. So even though the Orioles do stink, it certainly isn’t a lock that they come away with three – or any – wins in this series.

But let’s hope I’m wrong!

Here are a few things to look out for this series.

An easy win on paper

On paper, the Phillies are the better team, by a lot.

Really the only thing in the Orioles’ favor is the Phillies scheduling a bullpen game when they don’t have many good relief pitchers. With John Means (3.41 ERA) and Chris Ellis (2.82 ERA) scheduled to start, the Orioles might actually have the starting pitching advantage in the first two games.

2 horrendous bullpens

It shouldn’t surprise you that a bad team would have a bad bullpen, and the Orioles’ relievers’ ERA is a worst in the majors 5.72.

The Phillies’ bullpen has avoided disaster the past few days, so they might actually have a late-game advantage in this series.

Pitching matchups

Game 1: Ranger Suárez (LHP, 6-4, 1.50 ERA) vs. John Means (LHP, 5-7, 3.41 ERA)
Game 2: TBD vs. Chris Ellis (RHP, 1–0, 2.39 ERA)
Game 3: Zack Wheeler (RHP, 14–9, 2.83 ERA) vs. TBD