A thrilling matchup unfolds on Monday as the top teams from the National League face off. The NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies (89-59, 1st in NL East) travel to Milwaukee to take on the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers (86-62, 1st in NL Central) in the opening game of their three-game series. The Phillies recently triumphed over the New York Mets with a score of 6-4, marking their fourth win in five games. With 14 games left in the regular season, Philadelphia holds an eight-game lead in the NL East. Meanwhile, the Brewers celebrated a high-scoring victory against Arizona, winning 15-8, and are on a three-game winning streak, leading the NL Central by 11 games. Notably, Philadelphia will be without two pitchers and position players Rodolfo Castro and Edmundo Sosa, while Milwaukee is missing eight pitchers and left fielder Christian Yelich.
This article was prepared before the teams’ Sunday games.
Phillies’ Strong Performance on Both Offense and Defense
The Philadelphia Phillies excel in several key offensive categories. They rank 4th in batting average at .258, 5th in runs scored with 723, and 6th in both on-base percentage (.327) and slugging percentage (.426). Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 35 home runs and 95 RBIs, while Bryce Harper contributes with 25 home runs. Alec Bohm follows closely with 89 RBIs. Philadelphia’s offensive depth shows with four players achieving between 82 and 95 RBIs. The team has recorded 264 doubles, 22 triples, and 180 home runs, totaling 466 extra-base hits in 148 games.
On the pitching side, Philadelphia ranks 2nd in Quality Starts with 74, 6th in WHIP at 1.22, 7th in ERA at 3.75, and 16th in batting average allowed at .241. Zack Wheeler leads the pitching staff with 15 wins, 199 strikeouts, and an impressive ERA of 2.60. For Monday’s matchup, the Phillies will start Ranger Juarez, who has a season record of 12-6 with a 3.05 ERA, 134 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.13.
Brewers Showcase Their Strengths in Batting and Pitching
The Milwaukee Brewers also demonstrate strong performance at the plate. They rank 4th in on-base percentage at .328, 6th in runs scored with 716, and 8th in batting average at .250. Willy Adames tops the team with 32 home runs and 107 RBIs, while Rhys Hoskins and William Contreras contribute with 24 home runs and 88 RBIs, respectively. Milwaukee features four players with RBIs between 72 and 107. The team has achieved 231 doubles, 28 triples, and 167 home runs, resulting in 436 extra-base hits in 148 games.
In terms of pitching, Milwaukee ranks 3rd in ERA at 3.62, 8th in WHIP at 1.23, and 29th in Quality Starts with only 40. Colin Rea leads the Brewers with 12 wins, while Freddy Peralta stands out with 184 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.75 among starting pitchers. Aaron Civale will take the mound for Milwaukee on Monday, entering the game with a record of 6-8 and an ERA of 4.57, alongside 136 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.32.
Best Bets for the Clash Between Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers
Recent performance favors the Philadelphia Phillies, who have won four of their last five games and nine of thirteen in September. This season, the Phillies have had the upper hand over the Brewers, having swept them in a three-game series earlier in June. Ranger Suárez, the Phillies’ starter, has shown inconsistency, alternating between strong starts and less impressive outings. His last performance saw him allowing 12 hits and four runs in just 5.1 innings, although the Phillies secured a 9-4 victory against Tampa Bay. Milwaukee’s Aaron Civale has faced challenges in three of his last four starts, giving up 15 hits and eight runs over 21.1 innings. With the Phillies holding the 4th best team batting average and 6th best slugging percentage, combined with a 7th best ERA, they appear well-positioned for this matchup.
