The Los Angeles Dodgers are visiting the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series starting Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park. The matchup is a juicy one with the Phillies riding a hot streak into first place in the NL East. That means we get to say it's a possible NLCS preview.
Here's viewing info for the three-game set, as well as three storylines.
Phillies vs. Dodgers
Tuesday, Aug. 10
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Aaron Nola (PHI) vs. Max Scherzer (LAD)
TV channel: NBC Sports Philadelphia, SportsNet LA | Live stream: fuboTV (regionally)
Wednesday, Aug. 11
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Kyle Gibson (PHI) vs. David Price (LAD)
TV channel: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SportsNet LA | Live stream: fuboTV
Thursday, Aug. 12
Time: 1:05 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: TBD (PHI) vs. TBD (LAD)
TV channel: NBC Sports Philadelphia, SportsNet LA | Live stream: fuboTV (regionally)
Phillies' winning streak on the line
The Phillies bring in an eight-game winning streak, and that's their longest since 2011. That 2011 team won 102 games and was also the last Phillies team to make the playoffs. Do they have something special going again? The Dodgers are a tough test. At 67-45, they are eight games better than the Phillies on the season and are loaded with all kinds of talent. They now have Mookie Betts and Corey Seager back from injury (though Betts was scratched from Tuesday's lineup) while Trea Turner has come off the COVID list and joined his new team.
The Phillies, though, have talent of their own and are playing with a swagger. They have outscored opponents by 26 runs in their eight-game winning streak and are 34-21 at home this season.
Scherzer making second Dodgers start
The pitching matchup Tuesday is a tasty one with Aaron Nola (7-6, 4.49 ERA) taking on Max Scherzer (9-4, 2.75). Scherzer is making his second start since being traded to the Dodgers right in front of the trade deadline. He earned the victory in his first one, throwing seven strong innings while striking out 10 against the Astros last week. He's plenty familiar with the ballpark and has had great success there with Washington. In 11 career starts in Citizens Bank Park, Scherzer is 8-1 with a 2.33 ERA. He's already made three starts there this season (including a pre-trade deadline start for the Nationals on July 30), pitching to a 1.45 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings.
Simply: Nola better have his A-game.
Awards watch
It's a star-studded affair. With Bryce Harper, Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts, there are three position players on that have won the MVP before (Andrew McCutchen is currently on the injured list). Harper has built himself into a candidate this season due to an impressive stretch for the last two months. He's currently slashing .302/.413/.570 (168 OPS+). On the Dodgers' end, Max Muncy should be in the mix while Betts is surging and Trea Turner could become the first player ever traded in an MVP season with a hot final two months. We won't see Cy Young frontrunner Zack Wheeler this series, but Scherzer is in the mix and Nola is capable of pitching at that level.
