Looking To Rebound — Series Preview: Giants at Phillies, April 14 – 17

After a long week in Atlanta, it appears that the Phillies packed the malaise and brought it to St Louis, losing another series. After a hot start, the Phillies have gone 2-4 this week and have more questions than they started the season with. Home cooking might be what the Phils need, but the visitors coming into town are one of the hottest teams in baseball, the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco isn’t the same mediocre team that they have been since 2017. Under new President of Baseball Operations, Buster Posey, the Giants have an identity, and much like their PBO, and manager Bob Melvin, the identity is one of a hard-nosed team that relies on timely hitting and small ball with a little power added in. They brought in veteran players, Willy Adames and Justin Verlander, but are largely using the same cast of characters that played under .500 baseball last season. In the past, the Giants haven’t had much offense to cause fear, but those days appear to be over. I didn’t think I’d say this, but this is a potential playoff preview.

Don’t Underestimate the Giants’ Offense

The Giants’ offense is more like death from a thousand cuts than one threat. The unit is led by Korean star Jung Hoo Lee, Wilmer Flores, Heliot Ramos, and Mike Yastrzemski. They have scored 5 runs per game compared to the 4.29 runs per game the Phillies have this season. Adames, Matt Chapman, and Patrick Bailey have gotten off to a slow start, and the last thing the Phillies need is for these guys to get hot in Philadelphia.

The matchup of the Phillies’ starters and the Giants’ offense is a key to a series win for the Phils. It is only natural to hope that we don’t see Rob Thomson walking out to take the ball from the starters, because the bullpen has been lackluster thus far. Jordan Romano is the easy target, but he’s far from the only one — Joe Ross, Jose Ruiz, and Carlos Hernandez have all pitched poorly out of the pen. That must be rectified soon if the Phillies want to make a stand in the NL East.

Get into the Giants’ Bullpen

Bryce Harper has historically hit the Giants, who are pitching well, specifically the bullpen, and the Phils must get into the Giants’ bullpen if they want to win. The rub is that the Giants’ bullpen has been great this year, but there is one huge flaw: they only have one lefty, Erik Miller, and that should be something that makes Harper and Kyle Schwarber happy. Trea Turner has hit the Giants well historically, so there is some hope that the Phillies’ offense will find some consistency.

Past only having one lefty in the pen, the Giants have had inconsistency from former closer Camilo Doval, Lou Trivino, and Spencer Bivens. Putting the ball in their hands is paramount to a series win. Though the Giants starters have been solid, Verlander and converted closer Jordan Hicks have stumbled so far, both with an ERAs around 6, both of which will get starts in this series.

Bohm, Marsh, and Nola’s Early Goings

The frustration is getting obvious for Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Aaron Nola.

Bohm and Marsh have been struggling. Over the past 7 games, they have 2 hits combined. Maybe home cooking is what will get them over the hump, or maybe extra video study for both is necessary. Both look completely out of sync all season, and it shows in the weak contact both have made.

Marsh is out of the lineup on Monday and could be out for the next three games. Johan Rojas will most likely play all three in center field.

Nola is the only Phillies starter who hasn’t lived up to the billing this season. He has been leaving fastballs up and not finishing breaking pitches, leaving them flat and very hittable. His average exit velocity against is up to 91, up from 88 last season, also, batters have been hitting the ball harder, as made clear by the 2% rise in hard contact this season. He’s just not missing bats like he has in the past; his chase percentage needs to improve and be closer to his 2024 numbers. If he leaves pitches up and unfinished against the Giants’ offense, they will hit him hard like other teams have so far this season.

Continue The Hot Starts of Sosa and Castellanos

Edmundo Sosa has truly been the spark plug of the Phillies’ offense, and defense for that matter, so far this season. For the Phillies to win this series, he and Nick Castellanos will have to continue to swing it like they have been.

Harper is another who is in need of a good series to go on a run. Since he hits the Giants well historically, this is something that we can be hopeful of.

Sosa looked great in St. Louis, and on Saturday, Castellanos had a great game, including a heartwarming moment with a young Phillies fan after a great catch. Keeping them both going is important to the Phillies.

Game Times and Broadcasts

Monday, April 14, 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Tuesday, April 15, 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia +, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Wednesday, April 16, 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Thursday, April 17, 4:05 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia+, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Taijuan Walker (RHP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Landen Roupp (RHP, 0-1, 3.60 ERA)

Game 2: Jesus Luzardo (LHP, 2-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (RHP, 0-0, 6.92 ERA)

Game 3: Aaron Nola (RHP, 0-3, 5.51 ERA) vs Robbie Ray (LHP, 3-0, 2.93 ERA)

Game 4: Cristopher Sanchez (LHP, 1-0, 3.12 ERA) vs Jordan Hicks (RHP, 1-1, 5.87 ERA)

By the Numbers

• Records
• Phillies: 9-6
• Giants: 11-4

• Run Differential 
• Phillies: 7
• Giants: 23

• Runs Scored Per Game 
• Phillies: 4.00
• Giants: 5.00

• Runs Allowed Per Game 
• Phillies: 2.73
• Giants 3.47

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