Rocky Mountain Ball — Series Preview: Phillies at Rockies, May 24 – 26

The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies came into this season with extremely different expectations. The Rockies are rebuilding in a loaded NL West division. The Phillies are looking to rid themselves of the sour taste that a World Series loss, followed by a disappointing NLCS collapse, will leave with you. Roughly a third of the way through the season, having played each other once already, it is perfectly clear to see why the expectations were what they were.

The Phillies swept the three games from Colorado, though the bookend games were both one-run contests. In that series, the Phillies used a balanced offense and stellar starting pitching. Bryce Harper had four RBI while Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto both contributed three. Phillies starters combined to throw 22 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and amassing 27 strikeouts. The Rockies offense got what little life it had from Elias Diaz, who had four hits and a couple RBI, along with Michael Toglia, who hit a solo home run and contributed another RBI in a different game.

The Philadelphia Phillies cruise into Colorado, at the highest altitude in Major League Baseball’s standings, following back-to-back sweeps of the Nationals and Rangers. Meanwhile, Colorado enters this series with the second-worst winning percentage in baseball, 7.5 games behind the 4th place Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Casty-ing a Wider Net

Painfully looking back on the 2023 NLCS collapse, we can pinpoint a few things that went wrong. One of those contributing factors was Nick Castellanos‘ sudden downturn. Castellanos was seemingly hitting everything hard, and a long way, in the Atlanta series. In the blink of an eye, he wasn’t and it was evident watching the Phillies lineup. It created a void in the lineup, especially with Johan Rojas being an automatic out as well, that the Phillies couldn’t overcome.

At the beginning of 2024, it appeared to be more of the same. While his batting average still lingers just above the Mendoza line, Castellanos has slowly started putting together better at-bats and using more of the field. Over the last 7 days, he is batting .240 with 1 homer, 3 RBI, and 4 runs scored. Those numbers may not jump off the paper at you but the fact that Castellanos has a .748 OPS shows he isn’t chasing as drastically and the new patience is helping this lineup keep passing the baton.

Load Up Your Serving Trea

One thing I was worried about, and still am, is a long-term injury testing the depth of this Phillies roster. Then it happened. Trea Turner scintillated the Citizens Bank Park crowd when he sprinted from second on a passed ball and didn’t stop until he slid across home plate safely. The play was electrifying. The result is not so much. Turner was ruled out for potentially up to six weeks and we wondered what the Phillies would do. He was placed on the IL on May 4th. Since then the Phillies have gone 14-3, most recently sweeping the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers. Kody Clemens has come up and hit .290 (31AB) with ten RBI and seven runs in 10 games. Edmundo Sosa has a hit in all but two of his last ten games, contributing six RBI while playing great defense. None of these guys is Trea Turner. This Phillies team is proving right now they don’t need them to be.

Stay Steady on the Course

Over the last two seasons and postseasons, the Phillies have shown their talent. As Philadelphia fans, we saw it and knew it was there even without the magical gathering that is a championship parade. Baseball saw it as well and yet questions still hung in the air like a lazy fly ball in late June. Through 51 games, this team has answered the bell. Their 37-14 record is the best in the franchise’s 142-year history. The starting pitching has been almost indescribable, led by Ranger Suarez‘s 9-0 record with 1.36 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. Ranger is just the leader, as everyone from stalwarts Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, to back-end guys like Cristopher Sanchez and Spencer Turnbull, have given this team a chance every time they have taken the mound. Bench players get a chance to start and contribute three RBI day (hola Edmundo). This team is playing well enough that they don’t need it often but when they do, there is a guy ready to pick them up. A brilliant pitching performance when the bats can’t quite wake up or clutch late-game hitting the few times a pitcher has struggled. The ability to all contribute at a time when they are needed has been so fun to watch with this team. If they keep playing within themselves and for each other, ladies and gentlemen the next 110+ games have a chance to really be something to witness.

Game Times and Broadcasts

Friday, May 24, at 8:40 pm ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP

Saturday, May 25, at 9:10 pm ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP

Sunday, May 26, at 3:10 pm ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Cristopher Sánchez (LHP, 2-3, 3.31 ERA) vs. Ty Blach (LHP, 1-2, 5.14 ERA)

Game 2: Aaron Nola (RHP, 6-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Dakota Hudson (RHP, 1-7, 5.89 ERA)

Game 3: Ranger Suárez (LHP, 9-0, 1.36 ERA) vs. Cal Quantrill (RHP, 3-3, 3.59 ERA)

By the Numbers

• Records
• Phillies: 37-14 (best in MLB)
• Rockies: 16-33

• Run Differential
• Phillies: 93 (best in MLB)
• Rockies: -74

• Runs Scored Per Game
• Phillies: 5.43 (best in MLB)
• Rockies: 4.06

• Runs Allowed Per Game
• Phillies: 3.61
• Rockies: 5.57

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