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00:02 Once again, for the reigning National League pennant winners,
00:06 taking on a divisional foe here in this wild card series, the Philz and the Marlins.
00:12 Tonight in the city of brotherly love, it's Zach Wheeler getting the start for
00:17 Philadelphia, Jesus Lizardo on the other side for the Marlins.
00:20 But DRS, as we break down this series here, it was actually Miami that had
00:25 the slight edge in the season series against their divisional foe in Philadelphia.
00:30 Winning seven of the 13 games, including taking the series just a few weeks back
00:35 in Philly midway through September, winning two of three.
00:39 That was important for the Phish DRS, because in a difficult portion of their
00:44 schedule, Miami stayed afloat now into the postseason for
00:47 the first time since the COVID shortened year in 2020.
00:52 But Donnie, the momentum is on the side of Philadelphia.
00:55 How do you think these divisional foes match up now in the postseason?
00:59 >> I think they match up well, but the Phillies, obviously,
01:01 the better team and they're at home in Citizens Bank Park.
01:03 One of the best atmospheres for playoff baseball across.
01:06 It's gonna be fun to watch it play out.
01:08 But having said that here, I'm on the record as saying, Ben,
01:10 I actually thought the better matchup for the Philadelphia Phillies is the Miami
01:13 Marlins as opposed to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
01:15 In the short series with the ability to throw Zach Gallin and Merrill Kelly,
01:19 that's an advantage for Arizona.
01:20 Not saying it's an advantage that they're better than the Phillies pitchers, but
01:23 that's a pretty good one-two combination.
01:25 With the Marlins, we're not getting a great one-two combination.
01:28 Are you getting a solid one?
01:28 Yes, every team in the playoffs right now has a solid rotation and
01:32 also has a solid bullpen to back it up.
01:33 Otherwise, you don't make the playoffs through 162 game schedule.
01:37 But having said that and breaking this baseball game down,
01:39 the Phillies are the better team tonight.
01:40 The Phillies will be the better team Wednesday night.
01:42 And if they need to be on Thursday, they'll be the better team.
01:44 Is that always a recipe for success?
01:47 No, because it's a short playoff series.
01:48 And sometimes you say, okay, the better team over seven games is gonna show its
01:52 greatness, whereas you only need a game or two to upset the apple cart early on.
01:55 But also, taking with the Marlins, I used to joke in the past, Ben,
01:58 for the past four years, boy, if the Philadelphia Phillies could just take
02:01 the Marlins off the schedule and play the Braves every night,
02:04 they would be much better.
02:05 Cuz the Phillies seem to have the Phillies roster down pat over the past
02:08 couple years in just beating them in that empty environment down in Florida.
02:12 Now, having said that as well, Ben, they're not going to Florida.
02:15 All three games, if need be, will be in Philadelphia.
02:18 That is a major, major advantage.
02:20 There is no play a game at home, then go on the road, then come back here.
02:24 All three in your building, throughout any series, any team in the league.
02:27 When you have a series at home,
02:28 your expectation is to win two of the three games.
02:31 That's my expectation for the Phillies.
02:33 And it probably will go three games, but
02:34 the Phillies are the better ball club here for me, Ben.
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