Best Sports Picks Phillies

Observations: Phillies Pound Braves in Blowout Win

July 1, 2022
financialfreedomllc20

The Phillies salvaged the final game of a disappointing series against the Braves with a 14-4 blowout win. After two frustrating nights for the Phillies in which plenty went wrong, almost everything went right in the finale.

Aaron Nola was solid. Kyle Schwarber homered. Again. The slumping Nick Castellanos broke a month-long home run drought with an opposite field blast that busted the game open.

On a higher level, losing two out of three to a playoff contender at home can’t be deemed anything but disappointing, but some perspective, a deep breath, and a reset may be in order here.

Since Bryce Harper exited a scoreless game against the Padres last Saturday night, the Phillies are 3-2 against two teams playing well above a 90-win pace.

No, it hasn’t been a week that has anybody ready to clear the schedule for early October, but if the ask of the Phillies is to tread water in Harper’s absence, then grabbing the final game against the Braves was important.

For me, this is one of those games that doesn’t exactly require a dramatic build to tell the story. It was a convincing win, one that featured plenty of encouraging swings following two nights featuring few of them.

Let’s jump into some observations.

Right From the Start

It’s a pretty simple formula. If the Phillies’ best hitters swing the bat the way they are capable of swinging the bat, they will stay in the postseason conversation leading up to the trade deadline.

The trio of Schwarber, Castellanos, and Rhys Hoskins combined for three homers, four runs scored and seven runs batted in.

But it wasn’t just the Phillies’ best hitters swinging it in this one, as each starter collected at least one hit.

Schwarber Puts Exclamation Point on Amazing Month

Schwarber began play on June 1 slashing just .185/.311/.410.

After a month in which he smashed 12 homers and knocked in 27 runs, Schwarber will begin July at .217/.338/.511.

No wonder Rob Thomson joked after the game that tomorrow is June 31.

After 77 games, Schwarber is tracking a 47-homer pace. He’s also on track to set career highs in extra-base hits, runs batted in, runs scored, and walks.

Castellanos Ends Homerless Streak

If Schwarber’s June was memorable then Castellanos’ month was anything but, though it did end on a high note.

After failing to homer in any of his first 108 plate appearances of the month, he went deep to right for his eighth homer of the season and first since May 30 — all the way back when Joe Girardi was still in town.

Also encouraging for the Phillies was that each of Castellanos’ two hits left the bat with an exit velocity over 100 mph, notable for a player who has seen his hard-hit percentage take a considerable dip this season.

Of course, the key for Castellanos will be finding some form of consistency, but perhaps this game will get him going a bit.

A Legend Is Born

Fine. Maybe not, but it was a pretty good night for Phillies rookie Darick Hall.

His first two major league hits, his first two major league homers.

The first came in the fourth inning against Braves reliever Jesús Cruz when he launched a 407-foot shot out to right.

He added a second blast in the eighth against position player Mike Ford.

Let’s Talk About the Gregorius Play

If there was a down note for the Phillies in this one, it was the second inning mistake of Didi Gregorius, one that allowed the Braves to plate the game’s first run.

Nola looked like he would escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam unscathed, but Gregorius lost track of the outs and turned a potential double play into a run.

I wrote about the play in full detail in an earlier post, but the short version is that this obviously can’t happen.

That his teammates immediately went off and pummeled Braves pitching shouldn’t draw attention away from the mistake. If we’re being honest, players get benched for lesser offenses, but the Phillies’ considerable infield depth issues and/or the forgiving nature of Thomson kept Gregorius in the game.

After the game, Thomson explained that Gregorius knew better and that was enough.

Should Thomson have benched him?

A case can be made, but given how well the Phillies have played under their interim manager, he has clearly earned the benefit of the doubt.

To Gregorius’ credit, he doubled in the bottom of the frame, helping spark the Phillies’ seven-run inning, but this also isn’t the first time that we’ve seen a bizarre play by the shortstop this season.

Two weekends ago in Washington, he had an opportunity to secure the final out of a win, but a poor throw sailed by Hoskins, causing the game to go to extras in an eventual win.

Maybe that play can be chalked up to a physical error, but his approach felt casual, especially given the circumstances.

A Case for Vierling

Matt Vierling has earned the right to play every day, at least right now.

That’s not a take I thought I would have about a month ago, but here we are.

Vierling, who reached base three times Thursday night, closed June going 15-for-48 (.313) with a .365 on-base percentage.

Given the noted struggles of both Mickey Moniak and Odubel Herrera, giving Vierling some extended run feels like a no-brainer.

Enough from Nola

I’m not a big “he pitched to the score” guy, but with a comfortable lead throughout, Nola did his job.

He pounded the strike zone, throwing just 27 of his 110 pitches for balls. He also gave up a totally bogus earned run on the Gregorius gaffe before getting touched up for a pair of homers once the game was well in hand.

Nola is one of a handful of starting pitchers with a WHIP south of 1.00, and he’s probably right on the fringe of an all-star nod.

 

The post Observations: Phillies Pound Braves in Blowout Win appeared first on Crossing Broad.

https://www.crossingbroad.com/2022/06/observations-phillies-pound-braves-in-blowout-win.html

#fantasyfootball #Sports #Betting #sportsbetting #sportsbettingadvice #freepick #freepicks #sportsbettingtips #handicapping #predictions #sportspredictions #NFL #esports #espn #NBA #NHL #sportsprediction #ncaa #mlb #WNBA #prediction #nhl #nhlplayoffs #nhlpicks #nbapicks #NBAPlayoffs #NFLPlayoffs #espnsports #bettingsports #bettingtips #bettingonline #bettingexpert #basketball #football #soccer #hockey #sportspicks #ncaabasketball #foxsports #cbssports #soccerpredictions #sportingbet