Dodgers vs Phillies Game Preview: Nola vs Lauer Matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers clash with the Philadelphia Phillies as pitchers Aaron Nola and Eric Lauer are both struggling. Today's game may mark a pivotal moment.
Video Transcript
A- a- and I'm looking forward to this Dodgers-Phillies game because you have Aaron Nola going for the Phillies, who the Phillies never win his games when he starts.
And then you have Eric Lauer, who everybody runs to the window to look to fade, like his name is Patrick Corbin.
The problem is- the Dodgers never lose any of his starts.
So something has gotta give in this game here.
Obviously, Nola not having the kinda year that we thought he would, whether it's on the road or at home.
In the weather last night, Dodgers squeaked one out, got one back.
What happens in this one, you think here, Craig?
Well, going back to last night, it was I, I, look, I don't know that the Phillies would've won, but they certainly gave the last couple outs away.
Oh.
Unfortunately, my good buddy, JT Realmuto, I mean, an, an all-timer for him.
I'm think he's gonna look back on that one, running back to second base when they threw the ball in a run down to third base.
Haven't seen that one in in a long time.
That was- So- Oof was not happy to see that for, for my guy there, JT, who is one of my favorites ever in the history of the game.
But, look, I, I, I think, you know, this is one of those games that probably comes right down to the end, Joe.
It feels like these teams on paper are pretty close.
Everyone wants to believe that the Dodgers will run away with everything, and they may for the division.
But as we saw in the World Series last year, when you get two very competitive teams and two teams that could be playing each other in the NLCS or maybe even, at any point in the postseason, you know it's gonna be a battle.
L- look, there's no question that Aaron Nola's not having his best season.
You would wonder, Joe- Mm-hmm if the Phillies acquired a pitcher next week, what would Aaron Nola be?
I mean, I, I think they owe it to Aaron Nola to keep him in that rotation, but I don't think, I don't know about you, but I don't think he's part of a postseason rotation that has Christopher Sanchez and Zach Wheeler and Jess Luzardo.
And if they get another, I don't know where that would leave Aaron Nola.
But certainly he's been one of the greatest pitchers in the history of their franchise.
It just doesn't look like he's got a ton left in the tank.
So I would play the first five in this one.
I would probably play LA, but I wouldn't guarantee that that's a win, 'cause it could be two to one in the fifth inning, and I certainly don't have full trust in the Dodgers' bullpen until they get some of those guys back healthy, namingly Edwin Daz, who seems like he'll be back in the next week or two.
So Dodgers' bullpen's still very strong, but to me, shoe's gonna drop eventually on Lauer, and the question is, can his left-handed arm get out Schwarber, get out Bryce Harper, get out Brandon Marsh?
Those are the kind of the key figures, I think, involved in that game today.
Yeah, and it's, I think it's gonna be one of two things.
Either it's gonna be a back and forth slugfest, or it's, it's just going to be, runs are gonna be tough to come by.
I don't think it's gonna be anything, in the middle here.
But i- as bad as that was with Realmuto last night, I'm not su- Ohtani trying to take second base- and then not hustling at home for the third out was just a, another one of those I've seen Little League teams execute this better than anything else.
But you went from a 10-7 game on Monday to the series opener to a 2-1 game last night.
Yeah.
What are we gonna get tonight with two less than stellar pitchers?
I think that should be a fun one.
That is coming up in just a little over an hour here.
