NL Playoffs Bracket Prediction: Phillies Poised to Run October?
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
NLCS: No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies OVER No. 4 San Diego Padres in 6 Games
A potential NLCS rematch from 2022 between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres would be must-see TV, and it’s fair to judge both these teams as equals as of now. In a seven-game series, these clubs will trade gutshots as both offenses can go on absolute tears, and both pitching staffs can lock it down. We’ll look for the Phillies to take care of business in Games 1 and 2, as Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola should be able to control what they need to in their home ballpark, paving the way for Philadelphia to play without pressure in San Diego where they’ll steal a game on the road. Heading back to Citizens Bank Park for Game 6, the Phillies will finish the job, something they couldn’t do last season. This team is well aware of their 2023 NLCS collapse, so they’ll ensure they don’t make the same mistake twice.
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Wild Card: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers OVER No. 6 New York Mets in 3 Games
The New York Mets have been one of the trendy picks to have a lengthy postseason run as a low seed. However, the Milwaukee Brewers deserve more respect than they’ve been given. Offensively, while the Brewers might not look pretty on paper, they continue to exceed expectations, and we have no reason to expect that slow down against a Mets’ pitching staff that’s likely to be fatigued. On the mound, while the Brew Crew may enter with an unproven starting pitching staff, Pat Murphy has managed these guys exceptionally well, going to his elite bullpen at all the correct times. The Brewers and Mets have developed a little bad blood as this season has progressed, so we expect this series to come down to Game 3, where we’re counting on the home team to prevail.
Wild Card: No. 4 San Diego Padres OVER No. 5 Atlanta Braves in 2 Games
The San Diego Padres have been the best team in the National League for the past three months, and the Atlanta Braves now enter the postseason in a nightmare scenario. They just used all their top bullpen arms on Monday to ensure they make the postseason, have to fly across the country, and will be without their NL Cy Young pitcher, Chris Sale, to kick off the series. The Padres have been playing better baseball anyway, so we’ll trust the better team with all the circumstances in their favor.
NLDS: No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies OVER No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers Mets in 4 Games
The Philadelphia Phillies enter the postseason as arguably the NL’s most complete team from top to bottom, even as they don’t enter October as the hottest team. They’ll welcome a matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS as they’ll feel fully confident that they have the pitching matchup in the first two games at home with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola taking the mound with the expectation that they’ll find a way to win either Game 3 or Game 4 in Milwaukee with their bats. We’ll give the Brewers credit for stealing Game 3, but overall, we expect the Phils’ talent to be too much for the Brewers to overcome.
NLDS: No. 4 San Diego Padres OVER No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 Games
A matchup between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers may be the best series in the postseason. Still, we expect the Padres to dominate the Atlanta Braves. On paper, it’s fair to judge both offenses as equal, and without getting too much into it, we’re touting them to split the first four games. Heading into a hypothetical Game 5 matchup in Los Angeles for all the marbles, I trust what the Padres can throw on the mound far more than what the Dodgers can put out. No matter how great the top of the Dodgers’ lineup may be, the Padres have the bats to equal them while having the combination of pitchers to get the best of them.
NLCS: No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies OVER No. 4 San Diego Padres in 6 Games
A potential NLCS rematch from 2022 between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres would be must-see TV, and it’s fair to judge both these teams as equals as of now. In a seven-game series, these clubs will trade gutshots as both offenses can go on absolute tears, and both pitching staffs can lock it down. We’ll look for the Phillies to take care of business in Games 1 and 2, as Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola should be able to control what they need to in their home ballpark, paving the way for Philadelphia to play without pressure in San Diego where they’ll steal a game on the road. Heading back to Citizens Bank Park for Game 6, the Phillies will finish the job, something they couldn’t do last season. This team is well aware of their 2023 NLCS collapse, so they’ll ensure they don’t make the same mistake twice.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Wild Card: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers OVER No. 6 New York Mets in 3 Games
The New York Mets have been one of the trendy picks to have a lengthy postseason run as a low seed. However, the Milwaukee Brewers deserve more respect than they’ve been given. Offensively, while the Brewers might not look pretty on paper, they continue to exceed expectations, and we have no reason to expect that slow down against a Mets’ pitching staff that’s likely to be fatigued. On the mound, while the Brew Crew may enter with an unproven starting pitching staff, Pat Murphy has managed these guys exceptionally well, going to his elite bullpen at all the correct times. The Brewers and Mets have developed a little bad blood as this season has progressed, so we expect this series to come down to Game 3, where we’re counting on the home team to prevail.
