Howdy, Champs — Series Preview: Rangers at Phillies, May 21 – 23
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
For the first time in their 62-year history, the Texas Rangers won a World Series in 2023. Their season started at home, hosting the Phillies. Jacob deGrom started for Texas, and the Phils knocked him for five runs in four innings. It seemed like the 2022 National League champions had stayed hot going into the new season. Until they were not. The Rangers rallied for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth, ultimately scoring eleven.
The next two games, the Phils were outscored 18-4 in the following two games in Arlington, 16 of those runs coming on Saturday. They were swept. It was an absolutely horrendous way to start the season.
And now, about 13 months later, they match up again at Citizens Bank Park for a three-game set.
Was there a chance these teams met in the 2023 World Series? Maybe. But we will settle for some late-May baseball. Anyway, the Phillies are scorching hot.
Are we for real?
The Phillies are 34-14. That is the best record in baseball. It ties the franchise record for the best start to a season since 1993. They have a five-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
They are first in runs scored (256), second in RBIs (243), third in walks (186), third in batting average (.258), and third in OBP (.336).
You read that right.
But wait, there is more.
The pitching staff has the fourth-lowest ERA in the majors at 3.17, the sixth-fewest earned runs allowed, and has given up the third-fewest home runs. Ranger Suarez will pitch Game 1, Taijuan Walker is projected to go in Game 2, and Zack Wheeler is expected for Game 3.
And let’s hear it for the bullpen. Their team bullpen ERA is 3.17 with a 1.14 WHIP.
There is a solid reason the Phillies are first in MLB’s Power Rankings this week.
But I know you have all heard about the Phillies’ easy schedule. Has it been particularly easy? Yeah. I am not going to lie to you. But the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants would all be .500 or better if they did not get swept or lose the series to the Phils. It shows you something.
Also, the Braves lost three of four to the Padres this weekend, while blowing a 5-0 lead in Game 1 of their doubleheader on Monday.
The Mini Rocket
With Trea Turner on the IL, I wrote last week how Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa had been coming up big in his absence.
Now, how about Kody Clemens?
In 11 games and 29 plate appearances, he has a slash line of .321/.345/.821 with an OPS of 1.166. Do not forget he has nine hits, seven runs, three doubles, a triple, three homers, and ten RBIs.
Clemens, like his father, has a knack for the moment. He hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth with two outs against the Nationals Saturday night.
Bryce Harper walked the game off in the tenth.
It looks like Turner could be back earlier than expected. He took batting practice Tuesday, has practiced some shortstop, and looks pretty good. This will probably kick Clemens off the roster, however. And it stinks because he has been hitting incredibly right now. But I just do not think there is a spot for him right now.
Clemens is probably a Major League player. For the Phils right now, though, there is no room. Could they carry 14 position players and 12 pitchers? Perhaps. That would be the only way I see him fit until the trade deadline in August.
Tough go for the reigning champs
It has not been all exemplary for the reigning champion Rangers in 2024.
They started the season pretty strong but have bumbled along the way, dropping seven of their last 10 and 15 of their last 28.
They are coming off a series loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Before that they lost two of three to the Cleveland Guardians and before that were swept by the Colorado Rockies. In fact, the Rangers are the first team to lose a series to the Rockies this season.
Much of their problems go onto their starting rotation. Nathan Eovaldi had a 2.61 ERA a groin injury sidelined him. Cody Bradford was cruising until a “rib stress fracture” sent him to the IL. And they still have deGrom, who signed a five-year $185 million contract with Texas ahead of last season and by June needed Tommy John surgery. So he is still out.
They obviously have injury problems. Headlining the list is Adolis Garcia, who has a forearm issue. He is listed as day-to-day and is out of the lineup Tuesday.
But even with all of this, the Phils are still in for a good test. Jon Gray takes the bump in Game 1 and he has a 2.08 ERA over 52.0 innings and a 1.36 ERA in his last six starts.
With all of this blubber about their schedule being easy, the Phillies have a good opportunity to diminish some of that talk this week.
Here are Game 1’s lineups:
Game Times and Broadcasts
Tuesday, May 21, at 6:40 pm ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP
Wednesday, May 22, at 6:40 pm ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP
Thursday, May 23, at 1:05 pm ET on NBC, 94.1 WIP
Probable Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Ranger Suarez (LHP, 8-0, 1.37 ERA) vs. Jon Gray (RHP, 2-1, 2.08 ERA)
Game 2: Taijuan Walker (RHP, 3-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Andrew Heaney (LHP, 0-5, 4.43 ERA)
Game 3: Zack Wheeler (RHP, 5-3, 2.52 ERA) vs. Jose Urena (RHP, 1-3, 3.29 ERA)
By the Numbers
- Records
- Phillies: 34-14 (best in MLB)
- Rangers: 24-24
- Run Differential
- Phillies: 80
- Rangers: 6
- Runs Scored Per Game
- Phillies: 5.33 (best in MLB)
- Rangers: 4.58
- Runs Allowed Per Game
- Phillies: 3.67
- Rangers: 4.46
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