The NL Wild Card Spot

The NL Wild Card Spot
By Ken Angland

With only three games left in the regular season there are only two teams batting for that wild card spot both in the AL and NL. In this NL wild card race the Dodgers have a two game lead against the Phillies. So, its here in simple terms that the Phillies must win to have a chance at getting in as a wild card team and the Dodgers must get in the “L“ column. Both teams play the three regular season games on the road. The Phillies have the better overall road record this season at 42-36 while the Dodgers are 36-42. Both teams have posted a winning record on the road lately as the Phillies are 7-5 in their last 12 road games and the Dodgers are 6-4 in the last 10 on the road. However, as written in this paragraph earlier the Dodgers have the advantage with a two game lead as the Phillies must win and pull for the opposing team the Dodgers are playing.

The Phillies have a three game road series against the Marlins after coming off a three game road series going 1-2. The Phillies are 11-5 overall against the Marlins this season (4-2 on the road). In the previous series between the two, the Phillies playing at home, got the 3-0 sweep. The Marlins have played sub-par baseball lately but this team will be looking to play the role of keeping the Phillies out of the playoffs. In Friday’s matchup Moyer, starting pitcher for the Phillies, is 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in his last three games. Moehler, starting pitcher for the Marlins, is 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA in his last three games.

The Dodgers have a three game road series against the Giants after coming off a three game road series going 3-0. The Dodgers are 10-6 against the Giants this season (4-2 on the road). In the previous series between the two, the Dodgers playing on the road, were 2-1. The Giants, as the Marlins did, have also played sub-par baseball lately. This team will also be looking to play role the a team out of the playoffs. In Friday’s matchup Ku, starting pitcher for the Dodgers, is 0-1 with a 3.44 ERA in his last three games. Lowry, starting pitcher for the Giants, is 0-2 with a 16.03 ERA in his last three games.

The Padres, in first place of the NL West, lead the Dodgers by one game. So, it could work out that the Padres get the wild card spot. The Padres would need to win only one game even if the Phillies go 3-0.

Ken Angland is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Ken_Angland.htm

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